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!
Self Esteem
Andrew Jackson Jihad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And everybody is afraid of me
And I can't make eye contact with anyone I see
This place is taking all my self-esteem
And everybody is afraid of me
And I'm afraid to go out in the streets
Reminders of my failures everywhere that I will be
And people freak me out
People make me scared
People make me so damn self-aware
I get bronchitis twice a year at least
My lungs aren't the way that they should be
And I smoke more than a motherfucking chimney
I declare war on my body
And I'm a liar and I am a thief
Taking things from those better than me
Pathetic little man with some pathetic little dream
I hope you all can forgive me
The lyrics of Andrew Jackson Jihad's Self Esteem tackle the topic of self-worth and how it can be diminished in various circumstances. The first stanza describes how the singer's sense of self is being eroded by their surroundings. This could be interpreted as them being in an environment that is unsupportive of their growth or somewhere that undermines their confidence. The lack of eye contact with others indicates a level of discomfort in social situations, perhaps stemming from this feeling of inadequacy.
The second stanza expands on this idea and highlights the singer's fear of interacting with others. They describe being reminded of their failures everywhere they go, indicating a negative obsessive tendency to dwell on the past. The repetition of the phrase "everybody is afraid of me" shows how this has become a self-fulfilling prophecy - the lack of confidence is being projected onto others as fear. The final stanza adds a layer of physicality to the singer's issues, describing a destructive relationship with their body as well as moral failings such as lying and thievery. The line "pathetic little man with some pathetic little dream" seems to indicate a sense of self-loathing, as if they believe themselves to be unworthy of success.
Overall, the song is a bleak portrayal of negative self-talk and the impact it can have on one's mental health. It touches on themes of anxiety, self-doubt, and feelings of isolation, all of which are common issues faced by many people.
Line by Line Meaning
This place is taking all my self-esteem
The current environment I'm in is having a detrimental effect on my self-worth
And everybody is afraid of me
I project an intimidating persona that causes others to fear me
And I can't make eye contact with anyone I see
I avoid direct eye contact because of my insecurity and lack of confidence
And people freak me out
The behavior of others makes me uncomfortable and uneasy
People make me scared
In certain social situations, being around other people fills me with fear
People make me so damn self-aware
Being around others causes me to become overly conscious of my every move and thought
I get bronchitis twice a year at least
My physical health is poor, as evidenced by frequent bouts of bronchitis
My lungs aren't the way that they should be
There is an ongoing issue with the health of my lungs
And I smoke more than a motherfucking chimney
Despite the state of my health, I have a serious addiction to smoking
I declare war on my body
I have a self-destructive attitude and do not take care of my physical health
And I'm a liar and I am a thief
I have a history of deceit and stealing from others
Taking things from those better than me
I feel envious of those who are more successful or better off than I am, and may even resort to stealing from them
Pathetic little man with some pathetic little dream
I see myself as small and insignificant, with no noteworthy aspirations
I hope you all can forgive me
I am remorseful for my past actions and hope to be forgiven by those I've wronged
Contributed by Arianna N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.