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!
S.O.S.
Andrew Jackson Jihad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you don't know sorrow
And you don't know what it's like
To have to watch somebody die
So don't pretend to act like you know me
And pick apart what you don't understand
The book is long
It's full of sentences you can't comprehend.
Comprehend
You don't know struggle
You don't know sorrow
You don't know what it's like
To watch somebody die
So don't pretend to act like you know me,
And pick apart what you don't understand.
The book is long,
Descriptive and haunting
It's full of sentences you can't comprehend.
Comprehend
Comprehend, oh
So what's it like to have that comfort
To know you'll always be covered
To know someone will be there?
Well I've never had that comfort
Or the luxuries of being covered
So night after night, after night, after night, after night, after night
I'll be staying up late.
Fighting off the shakes
Puking out the window,
Repressing things you can never know.
I'll be staying up late
Fighting off the shakes
Puking out the window,
Repressing things you can never know.
Things you can never know
Things you can never know
Things you can never know
In this song, AJJ’s frontman Sean Bonnette addresses the experience of grief and the trivialization of it. He highlights how those who have never experienced deep sorrow and loss cannot even begin to understand the emotions and mental anguish that comes with it. Bonnette is calling out people who act like they know what he is going through, despite having never been in his shoes. He then delves into the luxury we take for granted- the comfort that comes with knowing you have a support system or a safety net. Bonnette explains how he has never had that luxury and is left alone to deal with his struggles. The repetition of “Things you can never know” emphasizes his unrelenting pain and the idea that some emotions and feelings cannot be put into words or shared with others.
Bonnette then goes on to describe his coping mechanisms, which seem extreme and a far cry from the comfort that other people have. He depicts the use of substances and the physical effects it has on his life- from sleepless nights to violently purging. The repetition of “I’ll be staying up late/Fighting off the shakes/Puking out the window” further emphasizes how he is pushed to the brink in his struggles, with no end in sight. Bonnette's use of vivid and visceral descriptions throughout the song forces the listener into the same headspace, making the mere concept of loss and grief feel all too real.
AJJ’s “S.O.S.” has a strong message that demands empathy from those who think they know what it feels like to experience loss and grief. Here are some interesting facts about the song:
· The title “S.O.S.” comes from how the chorus sounds like a distress signal
· The song was released in 2006 on their album “People Who Can Eat People Are The Luckiest People In The World”
· The album featured guest appearances from Jeff Rosenstock and Laura Stevenson among others.
· The album was self-financed by the band and recorded in their hometown of Phoenix, Arizona.
· The song samples spoken word from Tupac Shakur's mother, Afeni Shakur.
· The album’s title comes from a Kurt Vonnegut novel, “Breakfast of Champions.”
· The song was featured in season 2 of the Netflix show “BoJack Horseman”
· The music video for the song was directed by Sean Bonnette and features him walking through a public area on a cloudy day with dogs in tow
· The song has been covered by a number of artists, including Frank Turner and Allison Weiss
· AJJ has since re-recorded the song with a fuller band sound in a live setting.
Chords: G, C, D, Am (Capo 7th Fret)
Line by Line Meaning
You don't know struggle
You lack experience with significant hardships.
And you don't know sorrow
You lack experience with deep sadness.
And you don't know what it's like
You lack empathy for others in difficult situations.
To have to watch somebody die
To witness someone's life end.
So don't pretend to act like you know me
Do not act like you understand my experiences.
And pick apart what you don't understand.
Do not criticize things you cannot grasp.
The book is long
Life's struggles are significant.
Descriptive and haunting
Life's hardships can seem overwhelming and lasting.
It's full of sentences you can't comprehend.
You cannot fully grasp the difficulty of life's struggles.
Comprehend
Understand the gravity of the situation and empathize with those experiencing hardship.
So what's it like to have that comfort
What does it feel like to have something to rely on?
To know you'll always be covered
To know that someone will always protect and support you.
To know someone will be there?
To be sure that someone will be by your side to help.
Well I've never had that comfort
I have never had the experience of being fully supported.
Or the luxuries of being covered
I was never given the benefit of protection or support.
So night after night, after night, after night, after night, after night
Repeating hardship that comes every day, and every night.
I'll be staying up late.
I will be staying up past reasonable hours of the night.
Fighting off the shakes
Trying to subdue the anxiety and stress that plague your body.
Puking out the window,
Vomiting out of the window in a careless, desperate manner.
Repressing things you can never know.
Suppressing emotions and experiences that cannot be understood by others.
Things you can never know
Experiences that will be forever beyond your understanding.
Contributed by Julian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Galac2dactyl
This vid has 0 dislikes because nobody can deny that this cover is perfection.
Dinba
Thing don't usually turn out to be this awesome.
Martin Alvarez
I found this split 7" at an anarchist book store in Lawrence, KS years ago. I think I gave them a $4 donation. Best purchase ever.
Dinba
I guess we all would love an AJJ/Of With Their Heads split, though AJJ did one with Apocalypse Meaow which features OWTH members.
whitewater503
Better than the original, I think.
Barrel Shape
@JJohnson1988 aha. I was about to say 'ajj went electric? when did this happen?'
Maniac
Lmao this comment before knife man?
Jeremy Johnson
@himynameischr1s Partners in 818 split.