Ballad of JJ Decay
Anti-Nowhere League Lyrics

Well, gather around now, you boys and listen to the man
The singer is calling for attention to share a message.

He says we’ve fought divided but united we will stand
The singer argues for group unification against a common threat.

We’ll sacrifice the older ones, they’re living in the past
The singer suggests that older generations are holding progress back.

We’ll burn up their religions and we’ll all be free at last
The artist suggests that religions are a hindrance to freedom and must be destroyed.

We’ll put a hat upon his head and then we’ll call him God
The artist is mocking the human tendency to idolize leaders.

And then we’ll share our health in him like peas do in a pod
The singer is warning against blindly following a leader without personal thought or agency.

This is the story of a man with a future in his head
The singer introduces the narrative's protagonist and his aspirations.

But no one ever listens to him when he’s dead
The artist laments the tendency for important messages to go unrecognized until it's too late.

We’re all getting older
The artist recognizes the inevitability of aging.

The light is on and bolder
The artist suggests that the reality of aging is becoming increasingly apparent.

We’ll follow him throughout the land obeying his command
The singer is describing the followers' devotion to the singer.

We’ll dance a sort of hatred that we think we understand
The artist suggests the followers blindly follow the artist's message and develop hatred towards others without fully understanding why.

The children came a-running from their houses of decay
The singer suggests that the singer's message resonated more with younger generations opposed to the stagnant views of older generations.

And laid the trust upon a fool who found a better way
The singer is being sarcastic and suggests the singer is not actually a reliable source of guidance.

He preach the words of wisdom with his hands and with his mouth
The singer is describing how the singer communicates his message.

Then everyone believed him and then he believed himself
The artist suggests that the artist's followers blindly accept his message, causing him to develop a delusional belief in his own message's strength.

This morning I had another talk
The artist is shifting the narrative towards a new character.

With the German chancellor, Herr Hitler
The singer is referencing a prominent historical figure.

Here is the paper which bears
The singer has a physical document to reference.

His name upon it as well as mine
The artist has a signed agreement with Hitler.

We regard the agreement signed last night
The artist is describing the context of the agreement with Hitler.

As symbolic of the desire of our two peoples
The artist suggests the agreement symbolizes mutual desire for peace.

Never to go to war with one another again
The singer suggests the agreement promises to prevent future conflict.

The year had come and gone and everyone began to see
The artist is describing the passage of time and a shift in perspective.

Why did we follow such a fool in such a mindless way?
The singer is criticizing the followers' unthinking devotion to the singer.

Let’s turn our hatred to this man, we know he’s just a fraud
The singer suggests that the singer was never a trustworthy figure to begin with.

We crucify him with the rest and find another God
The singer suggests that the singer is punished for his deceitful ways and replaced with a new leader.

How many times have you heard someone is coming here to say
The artist is shifting the narrative again towards a different scenario.

That from your hell on earth that you will love until your grave
The artist suggests that people often cling to, and defend their miserable situations.

This is the story of a man with nothing in his head
The singer introduces a new character with no clear aspirations or meaningful thoughts.

And no one’s gonna listen to you when you’re dead
The singer suggests that the character has no message or impact on others, even in death.