Andrew Jackson Jihad was formed after its original drummer, Justin James White, approached Sean Bonnette and Ben Gallaty, who had just left Rodan (not the Rodan of Kentucky fame) and The Sub-Standards. Since then, many significant Arizona musicians have sat in with the remaining duo of Sean and Ben, including John De La Cruz of Fatigo and Asleep In The Sea's Owen Evans. Dylan Cook also plays mandolin regularly with the band.
According to Songfacts, Bonnette, who is also the lyricist of the band (with upright bass player Ben Gallant handling most of the production and some vocals as well) volunteered at a suicide prevention hotline for teenagers for eight years, and worked with homeless men and women in the Phoenix, Arizona area. These experiences gave him a sometimes bleak, but at moments, hopeful outlook on life, often reflected in the band's lyrics.
On Halloween 2005, Andrew Jackson Jihad covered Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea album in its entirety at CounterCulture Cafe.
Their biggest performance to date has been in their hometown with Flogging Molly and Authority Zero on St. Patrick's Day 2006.
On April 15, 2006, the band played as part of the 2006 New Times Music Showcase, nominated for Best Americana Band, and won a 2006 Best of Phoenix later that year.
Besides their local shows, where they have become arguably the most prominent representative in Arizona of the DIY ethic, they have also toured in clubs and basements across the Western United States, appearing at such venues as the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles, CA. One show in Kimberly, Idaho saw the band in a cowboy bar and leaving the premises as soon as possible after the show.
Andrew Jackson Jihad also performed at St. Augustine, Florida's second annual Harvest of Hope Festival in 2010. They played a dual set with Bomb the Music Industry!
People II: The Reckoning
Andrew Jackson Jihad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We know this to be true
Everything is difficult except what’s in front of you
But it’s complicated even under your nose
Bullshit math equations
Your highs and your lows
And your manic depression
Your parasympathetic nervous system reacts
And you’re in fight or flight mode
How’s the world so small when the world is so large?
And what made the world
Could I please speak to who’s in charge?
Everything is real
But it’s also just as fake
From your daughter’s birthday party
To your grandmother’s wake
And your bipolar illness
It comes and it goes
Your parasympathetic nervous system reacts
And you’re in fight or flight mode
I’ve tried to know which words to sing so many times
I tried to know which chord to play
And I tried to make it rhyme
I tried to find the key that all good songs are in
And I tried to find that notes to make that great, resounding din
But there’s a bad man in everyone
No matter who we are
There’s a rapist and a Nazi living in our tiny hearts
Child pornographers and cannibals, and politicians too
There’s someone in your head waiting to fucking strangle you
So here’s to you Mrs. Robinson
People love you more
Oh nevermind
In fucking fact Mrs. Robinson
The world won’t care whether you live or die
In fucking fact Mrs. Robinson
They probably hate to see your stupid face
So here’s to you Mrs. Robinson
You live in an unforgiving place
In "People II: The Reckoning," Andrew Jackson Jihad explores the concept of the human condition and how it affects our understanding of the world. The song opens with the statement that nobody knows everything, which sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics. The next lines describe how everything in life is difficult, even the things that seem easy. The song emphasizes that life is complicated and that there are often hidden factors that affect our experiences.
The following lines delve into mental illness, specifically manic depression and bipolar disorder. The lyrics describe how these conditions come and go, and how the body reacts to them through the parasympathetic nervous system. The song suggests that the world is both real and fake, and that people often struggle to understand the difference. The final lines of the first verse describe how life is filled with contradictions and that it is difficult to know what is really going on.
The second verse of the song explores the darker aspects of humanity. The lyrics suggest that there is a "bad man" in everyone, even if we don't want to admit it. The song identifies rapists, Nazis, child pornographers, and cannibals as examples of this darkness. The lyrics suggest that these tendencies are hiding inside every human being, waiting to be unleashed. The final lines of the song mention Mrs. Robinson, a character from the movie The Graduate. The lyrics imply that even someone who is loved by many people may still face hatred from others. These lines suggest that life is unforgiving and that everyone must find a way to cope with its challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Nobody knows everything
It is impossible for anyone to know everything about anything.
We know this to be true
This is a universally accepted and acknowledged fact.
Everything is difficult except what’s in front of you
All things become difficult except the ones that are within close proximity or things that are straightforward to complete.
But it’s complicated even under your nose
Nothing is simple, not even things that are immediately apparent to a person.
Bullshit math equations
The complexities involved in mathematics are difficult to understand and involve a considerable level of deception.
Your highs and your lows
The range of good or bad emotions that a person experiences throughout their life.
And your manic depression
A severe mood disorder characterized by both manic and depressive episodes.
It comes and it goes
It is a sporadic disease that occurs frequently.
Your parasympathetic nervous system reacts
The autonomic nervous system that regulates essential body functions such as involuntary movements.
And you’re in fight or flight mode
It is the situation in which a body can either fight its way through the problem or flee from it entirely.
How’s the world so small when the world is so large?
The world is a vast place, yet it feels as if everything is achievable without difficulties.
And what made the world
What is the source of the world’s creation?
Could I please speak to who’s in charge?
May I please meet or talk to the person in charge?
Everything is real
Everything that exists is genuine.
But it’s also just as fake
It may also be construed as a facade or a charade.
From your daughter’s birthday party
A personal occasion that is genuinely significant to a person's life.
To your grandmother’s wake
A solemn occasion that is sad and mournful.
And your bipolar illness
A mental health illness causing considerable mood swings, ranging from euphoria to depression.
I’ve tried to know which words to sing so many times
An attempt to find the correct words to use while performing music.
I tried to know which chord to play
An attempt to find the correct harmony while playing music.
And I tried to make it rhyme
An attempt to create a lyrical melody that flows together.
I tried to find the key that all good songs are in
An attempt to find the perfect melody to help create an engaging and memorable song.
And I tried to find that notes to make that great, resounding din
An attempt to create a loud and tuneful sound that grabs attention.
But there’s a bad man in everyone
There is a malicious side in every person.
No matter who we are
Regardless of someone's status, character, or rank, this is true.
There’s a rapist and a Nazi living in our tiny hearts
Our heart has both the tendency to harm others sexually and to hold hateful beliefs.
Child pornographers and cannibals, and politicians too
People of power, no matter what their intentions, can fall into patterns of evil deeds.
There’s someone in your head waiting to fucking strangle you
A figurative way of portraying the inner struggle within oneself.
So here’s to you Mrs. Robinson
A sarcastic phrase uttered in a mocking tone, almost full of spite and anger.
People love you more
You are well-liked, and people have appreciation for you.
Oh nevermind
An abrupt transition when the singer decides against conveying the previous statement.
In fucking fact Mrs. Robinson
A refrain is repeated with full intensity and venom.
The world won’t care whether you live or die
The world is indifferent to a person's life and death.
They probably hate to see your stupid face
An insult to a person that is likely to make them angry and uncomfortable.
You live in an unforgiving place
A descriptive phrase to highlight the cruelty and severity of the situation at hand.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kingjules8744
… Nobody knows everything
We know this to be true
Everything is difficult
Except what's in front of you
But it's complicated even under your nose
Bullshit math equations
And your highs and your lows
And your manic depression
It comes and it goes
Your parasympathetic nervous system reacts
And you're in fight-or-flight mode
… How's the world so small when the world is so large?
And what made the world, could I please speak to who's in charge?
Everything is real but it's also just as fake
From your daughter's birthday party to your grandmother's wake
And your Bipolar illness, it comes and it goes
You parasympathetic nervous system reacts
And you're in fight or flight
You're in fight or flight
You're in fight or flight mode
… I've tried to know which words to sing so many times
And I've tried to know which chords to play
And I've tried to make it rhyme
And I've tried to find the key that all good songs are in
And I've tried to find the notes to make that great resounding din
… But there's a bad man in everyone
No matter who we are
There's a rapist and a Nazi living in our tiny hearts
Child pornographers and cannibals, and politicians too
There's someone in your head waiting to fucking strangle you
… So here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
People love you more, oh never-mind
Oh, never-mind
In fucking fact, Mrs. Robinson
The world won't care whether you live or die
You live or die
In fucking fact, Mrs. Robinson
They probably hate to see your stupid face
Your stupid face
So here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
You live in an unforgiving place
@ricky.888
In fucking fact, Mrs. Robinson always gets me.
@alexmalhavok8624
One of my favorite outro's ^!!!
@haylei2804
Love You.
@Eleanore.Rigbyy
Its my favorite part. Always makes me go FUCK YOU to Mrs.Robinson lmao
@tatianayoung4700
Most school teachers lol
@daniellee691
Same
@lilpancakes6228
Mrs. Robinson diss track
@embernoble8510
I must now find someone called Mrs. Robinson and sing this to her
@masdavis236
They were feeling some kind of way about the Beatles
@Seewhathappens101
SCREAMING 🤣🤣🤣