The band broke up in 2023 following sexual assault allegations against Sane and their social media accounts being deleted. Various sources close to the band state that the breakup was made exclusively by Sane, with the other band members being unaware of the allegations until after.
1000 Miles
Anti-Flag Lyrics
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No food or money it′s all pay to play
Drive all night to work an eight hour day
Seven years of playing shows, where it ends no one knows
There's confusion in my head, I wish I was in my bed
Driving in a beat up van, you wanna criticize the band
You don′t know what we go through, FUCK YOU
Where we'll end up no one knows
Another city, another town
Another transmission run into the ground
But you gotta keep going as fast as you can
Seeing the world from the back of a van
How long will we sit at home, get me to the open road
I can't pay my fucking rent, all my money has been spent
Homeless for the next few weeks, can we stay with you to sleep
I′d rather make this my life, it′s better than working nine to five
The lyrics of Anti-Flag's song "1000 Miles" speak of the struggles and hardships of being a musician on the road. The lyrics portray a harsh reality in which playing music and pursuing one's passion comes at the cost of sleepless nights, little money, and criticism from those who have not experienced what the band has gone through. The singer discusses the tough times of wanting to be in his own bed instead of a van, not having enough money for food or rent, and the uncertainty of the future. However, despite these struggles, the singer still chooses to continue his journey and travel a thousand miles to pursue his dream.
The song touches on themes like passion, resilience, and the cost of chasing one's dream. The chorus "1000 miles away from home, where will we end up no one knows" speaks to the unknown future of the band and how far they have come from home. The bridge "I'd rather make this my life, it's better than working nine to five" is a common sentiment shared by many artists who choose to pursue their passion over traditional careers. The lyrics remind listeners that chasing dreams often comes with a price, but it can be worth it in the end.
Line by Line Meaning
Another show, another fight, another beer, another sleepless night
The band continually plays shows, gets into fights, drinks beer, and struggles to sleep in unfamiliar places.
No food or money it's all pay to play
Despite playing shows, the band members do not have any money for food because they are not paid enough.
Drive all night to work an eight hour day
The band often drives through the night to reach the next location where they will be playing a show, and then work an eight-hour day preparing for and performing at the show.
Seven years of playing shows, where it ends no one knows
The band has been playing shows for seven years and has no idea where their careers will take them.
There's confusion in my head, I wish I was in my bed
The band members are tired and overwhelmed, and wish they were sleeping in their own beds.
Driving in a beat up van, you wanna criticize the band
The band is driving a rundown van, and people who do not understand their situation often criticize them.
You don't know what we go through, FUCK YOU
The band is frustrated with people who do not understand their struggles and criticizes them for it.
1000 miles away from home
The band is far from their home base.
Where we'll end up no one knows
They are unsure where their career will take them in the future.
Another city, another town
The band travels to various locations to play shows.
Another transmission run into the ground
The band's vehicle, likely the transmission, stops working and breaks down.
But you gotta keep going as fast as you can
Despite struggles, the band must keep going and move quickly to get to their next destination.
Seeing the world from the back of a van
The band experiences the world from the perspective of the van they are constantly traveling in.
How long will we sit at home, get me to the open road
The band is tired of staying at home and wants to get back on the road and playing shows.
I can't pay my fucking rent, all my money has been spent
The band is struggling financially and cannot afford to pay their rent despite having earned some money from their shows.
Homeless for the next few weeks, can we stay with you to sleep
Due to financial struggles, the band members are essentially homeless and have to rely on others for a place to stay.
I'd rather make this my life, it's better than working nine to five
Despite the struggles and uncertainty, the band members prefer being musicians and traveling on the road to working a traditional nine-to-five job.
Writer(s): Warren Ellis, Jim White, Mick Turner
Contributed by Ryan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.