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!
Randy's House
Andrew Jackson Jihad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dying like a living ghost
Now I'm lying on the ground not making a sound
Thinking I love you the most
And I hope our candles flicker and die
So that our hearts don't burn to the ground
Down, down, just like Randy's house
When you kissed me on the cheek with a gun
I became a setting sun
Now you're heading west bound while I'm lying on the ground
Thinking you were the one
And I hope our candles flicker and die
So that our hearts don't burn to the ground
Down, down, just like Randy's house
The opening lines of Andrew Jackson Jihad's song Randy's House paint a picture of a person in a state of despair, someone who is grappling with negative emotions and feeling like a "living ghost." The singer of the song is lying on the ground, consumed with thoughts of their love for another person. The lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness and resignation, as if the person feels powerless to change their situation or express their love to the object of their affection.
The next verse hints at a potential threat of violence, as the person describes being kissed on the cheek by someone holding a gun. This sudden shift in the tone of the song creates a feeling of fear or unease, as the listener is left to wonder about the motivations of the gun-wielding kisser. The singer, meanwhile, is left behind as the other person "heads westbound," implying a sense of abandonment or betrayal.
The final stanza brings the metaphor introduced earlier in the song full circle. The candles that were mentioned before are now tied to the hearts of the two people in the song, and the fear is that they will burn out completely, leaving the hearts vulnerable to destruction. The final line, "down, down, just like Randy's house," could be taken as a reference to a specific location or event, but it also serves as a powerful image of destruction and hopelessness. The song ultimately conveys a sense of helplessness in the face of powerful emotions and unpredictable events, leaving the singer feeling like the world is collapsing around them.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got the rotten apple core feeling
I feel sick and disgusted with myself
Dying like a living ghost
I feel like I'm slowly losing myself and fading away
Now I'm lying on the ground not making a sound
I'm lying down and not saying anything, lost in thought
Thinking I love you the most
I realize that I love you more than anyone else
And I hope our candles flicker and die
I hope that our love fades away and ends
So that our hearts don't burn to the ground
So that we don't hurt each other in the process
Down, down, just like Randy's house
Our relationship will end badly, just like Randy's house burned down
When you kissed me on the cheek with a gun
You showed me love, but also had the potential to hurt me
I became a setting sun
My love for you slowly faded away
Now you're heading west bound while I'm lying on the ground
You're moving on while I'm still stuck, unable to let go
Thinking you were the one
I thought you were the perfect person for me
Contributed by Leah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.