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!
Temple Grandin
Andrew Jackson Jihad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Open up your ugly mouth and sing the words, it's how you spit 'em out
In the days before the damage no one knew if we were happy
In the days before the damage dying wasn't nearly even easy now
So open up your murder eyes and see the ugly world that spat you out
Stevie Wonder did the bullshit
Write a nice pop song about it
Cut the world in half I bet that you will go and find a sleeping giant
Turn the page just to wake him up and then turn the page and then turn the page to kill him
In the days before the damage boredom was the same as waiting
In the days before the damage water was the only form of raining
In the days before the damage human beings were the ones who did the chasing
Open up your murder eyes and see the ugly world that spat you out
Hellen Keller did the bullshit
Hellen Keller did the bullshit
To break through your isolation
Temple Grandin did the bullshit
Temple Grandin did the bullshit baby
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
The song “Temple Grandin” by Andrew Jackson Jihad is a commentary on the state of the world and society. The opening lyrics, “Open up your murder eyes and see the ugly world that spat you out / Open up your ugly mouth and sing the words, it's how you spit 'em out”, suggest that the world is a violent and cruel place, and that in order to survive, you have to use your voice to fight back. This sentiment is echoed later in the song, when the lyrics urge you to “find a nicer way to kill it”, meaning to find a way to overcome the hardships of the world without resorting to violence or aggression.
The song also references several historical figures, including Stevie Wonder, Hellen Keller, and Temple Grandin. Each of these figures is associated with overcoming personal struggles, and their stories are used to illustrate the themes of the song. The lyrics “Stevie Wonder did the bullshit / Write a nice pop song about it” suggest that even in the face of adversity, it is possible to create something beautiful and positive. Hellen Keller is described as having “done the bullshit / To break through your isolation”, implying that she was able to connect with others and overcome her own personal struggles. Finally, Temple Grandin is referenced as having “done the bullshit baby / Find a nicer way to kill it”, suggesting that she was able to overcome obstacles in a humane and compassionate way.
Overall, the song “Temple Grandin” is a powerful commentary on the state of the world and our place in it. Through its use of historical figures and its powerful lyrics, it encourages the listener to confront the difficulties of life head-on, and to find a way to create a better world for themselves and others.
Line by Line Meaning
Open up your murder eyes and see the ugly world that spat you out
Realize and acknowledge the harsh reality of the cruel world that caused your pain and struggles.
Open up your ugly mouth and sing the words, it's how you spit 'em out
Express yourself vocally and unapologetically, as it is your way of releasing your emotions.
In the days before the damage no one knew if we were happy
Before the tragedy and hardship, it was uncertain whether or not we were content with our lives.
In the days before the damage dying wasn't nearly even easy now
Dying was not as difficult back then compared to the present, where the harsh world makes it harder to survive.
Stevie Wonder did the bullshit
Stevie Wonder wrote songs about the deceptive and negative aspects of the world.
Write a nice pop song about it
Create something catchy and upbeat, despite the dark subject matter, to bring attention to these issues.
Cut the world in half I bet that you will go and find a sleeping giant
If you were to divide the world in two, there would still be a force to be reckoned with, waiting to be awakened.
Turn the page just to wake him up and then turn the page and then turn the page to kill him
Provoke and stir up this powerful force only to destroy it time and time again.
In the days before the damage boredom was the same as waiting
Before the struggles, being bored was just a form of anticipation and nothing more.
In the days before the damage water was the only form of raining
Before the damage, the only type of precipitation was rain in its natural form.
In the days before the damage human beings were the ones who did the chasing
Before the hardships, humans were the ones actively pursuing their goals, rather than being forced to struggle.
Hellen Keller did the bullshit
Hellen Keller was able to overcome her own obstacles and challenge the negative aspects of society.
To break through your isolation
To surpass individual struggles and find connections with others, despite any isolation or limitations.
Temple Grandin did the bullshit
Temple Grandin found a way to work with animals more humanely and efficiently, despite society's negative views on her autism.
Find a nicer way to kill it
Search for a more humane and positive way to overcome the world's negative aspects and struggles.
Find a nicer way to kill it
Continuously search for a better solution to these issues.
Find a nicer way to kill it
Don't give up or settle for less when it comes to finding a positive solution to societal problems.
Find a nicer way to kill it
Keep searching for ways to combat and overcome the harmful aspects of the world, in a kind and effective manner.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Wewillgetthereeventually
The album is amazing everyone. You will not be let down. Oh, and this is the song meaning - I think.
Open up your murder eyes
And see the ugly world that spat you out
(Open your corrupted eyes to the world that you were not excepted into)
Open up your ugly mouth
And sing the words as I
Spit 'em out
(Open up your corrupted / obsessive mouth and sing along to their songs)
In the days before the damage
No one knew if they were happy
In the days before the damage
Dying wasn't nearly easy now
(In the days before the breakthrough and popularity of the band, no one knew they had enough to be happy - and they could also do what they want, even die - but now so many fans depend on them - giving them alot more of a job like responsibility)
So open up your murder eyes
And see the ugly world that spat you out
(So open up your eyes and realize you had it better then, even though you had it rough - now he is an adult and hates the responsibilities)
Stevie Wonder did the bullshit
Stevie Wonder did the bullshit, baby
Write a nice pop song about it
(Stevie wonder was a popular and happy artist - he is jealous)
Cut the world in half I bet that
You will go and find a sleeping giant
Turn the page just to wake him up
And then turn the page
And then turn the page
To kill him
(No one knew inside of him their was a giant band and fandom on the horizon, so cut him in half to wake up the emotions put in the band. Turn the page to success and turn the page to regret)
In the days before the damage
Boredom was the same as waiting
In the days before the damage
Water was the only raining
In the days before the damage
Human beings were the ones
That did the chasing
(In the days before their popularity they had to wait for success - though it was boring. Before popularity it only rained water, now it rains responsibilities and money and all the consumer bullshit. Before popularity the band hand to chase down gigs and opportunities, now its fans chasing them)
Open up your murder eyes
And see the ugly world that spat you out
(So open up your eyes and realize you had it better then, even though you had it rough - now he is an adult and hates the responsibilities)
Helen Keller did the bullshit
Helen Keller did the bullshit
Break through your isolation
(Hellenic Keller another emblem that made a change - he was jealous. But finally one day he broke through the small opportunities and made it big.)
Temple Grandin did the bullshit
Temple Grandin did the bullshit, baby
(Another emblem)
Find a nicer way to kill it
(Find a better way to grow up, instead of suffering through it)
@elliotb.1872
Open up your murder eyes and see the ugly world that spat you out
Open up your ugly mouth and sing the words it's how you spit them out
In the days before the damage no one knew if we were happy
In the days before the damage dying wasn't nearly easy now
So open up your murder eyes and see the ugly world that spat you out
Stevie Wonder to the bullshit
Stevie Wonder to the bullshit, baby
Write a nice pop song about it
Cut the world in half I bet that you will go and find a sleeping giant
Turn the page just to wake him up, and then turn the page
And then turn the page to kill him
In the days before the damage boredom was the same as waiting
In the days before the damage water was the only raining
In the days before the damage human beings were the ones that did the chasing
Open up your murder eyes, see the ugly world that spat you out
Helen Keller to the bullshit
Helen Keller to the bullshit
Break through your isolation
Temple Grandin to the bullshit
Temple Grandin to the bullshit, baby
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
@notverynice5238
Open up your murder eyes and see the ugly world that spat you out
Open up your ugly mouth and sing the words, it's how you spit 'em out
In the days before the damage no one knew if we were happy
In the days before the damage dying wasn't nearly even easy now
So open up your murder eyes and see the ugly world that spat you out
Stevie Wonder did the bullshit
Stevie Wonder did the bullshit, baby
Write a nice pop song about it
Cut the world in half I bet that you will go and find a sleeping giant
Turn the page just to wake him up and then turn the page and then turn the page to kill him
In the days before the damage boredom was the same as waiting
In the days before the damage water was the only form of raining
In the days before the damage human beings were the ones who did the chasing
Open up your murder eyes and see the ugly world that spat you out
Hellen Keller did the bullshit
Hellen Keller did the bullshit
To break through your isolation
Temple Grandin did the bullshit
Temple Grandin did the bullshit baby
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
Find a nicer way to kill it
@sideonedummy
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@gregbenjamin5395
That rug really brings the room together.
@trumpsmicropenis12
China-man has entered the chat
@tedarcher9120
I wonder why they have a soviet carpet lol
@thatONEmachine
@@trumpsmicropenis12 THE CHINA MAN IS NOT THE ISSUE!
@thatONEmachine
Did it not?
@Gamma5232
I never looked at the lyrics, but always heard "Temple Grandin do the bullshit" not "Temple Grandin to the bullshit". Looking that up, and understanding that phrase puts the song in a whole new light for me. Before, I thought it was ~"doing these things (writing songs, breaking isolation, and being humane) is bullshit". Now I understand it as "do these things in spite of the bullshit". Jeez, I love these guys.
@obiwansh1nobi
Every song they've released off of Christmas Island so far has been so fucking solid.
@scareddoge9942
Second best AJJ album so far
@crasyparty
lies