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.
Emigre
Anti-Flag Lyrics
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Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out
Next they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out
And then they came for me
This is autonomy- my american dream
Stepped over on the street, stars and stripes blinding me
Their contagious air we breath, my american dream
This is the second time, we will not fall in line
No you can't stop this exodus
No you won't stop this exodus
No you can't stop this exodus
No you won't stop this exodus
A hooded prisoner on the bay, these truths let freedom ring
A child Darfur refugee, home of the free and brave
The ghosts of war who will not sleep, these truths let freedom ring
The poor who drown in bigotry, will mark your grave
This is the second time, yeah, it's the second time, we will not fall in line
No you can't stop this exodus
No you won't stop this exodus
No you can't stop this exodus
No you won't stop this exodus
Fight forever more, the movement of the people
Fight forever more, the voice of the emigre
Fight forever more, the movement of the people
Fight forever more, no concession, no compromise
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out
And then they came for me
No you can't stop this exodus
No you won't stop this exodus
No you can't stop this exodus
No you won't stop this exodus
This is the second time, we will not fall in line
The opening lines of Anti-Flag's song "Emigre" reference a famous poem by Martin Niemöller, which reflects on the dangers of staying silent in the face of oppression. The lyrics describe a progression of authoritarianism, where various groups are targeted and oppressed by those in power, and each time the singer fails to speak out until they themselves become a target. The use of the phrase "my American dream" in the second verse is interesting, as it suggests a disillusionment with the American system and the way it perpetuates inequality. The lines "Classism the black plague, will mark your grave" reinforce this idea, as do the references to prisoners on Guantanamo Bay and refugees from Darfur. These lines draw attention to the fact that even in a country that promotes itself as being free and just, there are still those who are excluded and oppressed.
The chorus of the song focuses on the idea that those who are oppressed will continue to fight for their rights, and will not be silenced. The repetition of "No you can't stop this exodus/No you won't stop this exodus" reinforces the determination of those who are fighting for justice, and suggests that they will not be defeated. The final verse once again references Niemöller's poem, reminding the listener of the importance of speaking out against oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out
I remained silent when they took away the communists
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out
I remained silent when they took away the socialists
Next they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out
I remained silent when they took away the trade unionists
And then they came for me
Now they have come for me, and there is no one left to speak out for me
This is autonomy- my american dream
The ability to act freely and pursue my own goals is what I believe the American Dream should be
Stepped over on the street, stars and stripes blinding me
I am being ignored and trampled on despite my loyalty to my country and its flag
Their contagious air we breath, my american dream
The oppressive system they enforce permeates every aspect of life and is antithetical to my version of the American Dream
Classism the black plague, will mark your grave
The destructive force of classism will ultimately lead to those who enforce it causing their own downfall
The second time, we will not fall in line
This isn't the first time we've experienced oppression, and we refuse to submit like we did before
No you can't stop this exodus
They can't stop us from leaving or fighting back
No you won't stop this exodus
Our determination cannot be broken
A hooded prisoner on the bay, these truths let freedom ring
Even the prisoners who are oppressed are still fighting for freedom, and these ideas will continue to be spread
A child Darfur refugee, home of the free and brave
Even refugees from other countries see the United States as a place of freedom and bravery, despite the injustices they may face here
The ghosts of war who will not sleep, these truths let freedom ring
The traumatic experiences of war continue to haunt those who have fought, and the search for freedom still rings true to them
The poor who drown in bigotry, will mark your grave
Those who hold bigoted beliefs will ultimately be remembered for their cruel treatment of the poor
Fight forever more, the movement of the people
We will always fight for the movement of the people
Fight forever more, the voice of the emigre
We will always fight for the voice of the emigre
Fight forever more, no concession, no compromise
We will never concede or compromise our fight for freedom and justice
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Christopher Lee Barker, Patrick C. Bollinger, Justin Cathal Geever, Christopher Mark Head
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind