Government Issue (often just G.I.) was an American hardcore punk band origi… Read Full Bio ↴Government Issue (often just G.I.) was an American hardcore punk band originating from the Washington DC scene, formed in 1980 and signed to Dischord Records. Many early songs were straightforward hardcore, clocking in at under the one-minute mark. Still, they later progressed into a more melodic song-focused outfit (citing The Damned as key to gaining this catchy sound) and often with lyrics critical of the short-sighted behavior of the scene they aided in creating.

Given the long-running nature of the band, many participants in the D.C. hardcore scene had gone through G.I.'s membership. Government issue featured Brian Baker of Minor Threat, as well as Mike Fellows of Rites Of Spring and many others.

The G.I.s, as they were known, became one of the longest-running bands in the D.C. hardcore scene. After numerous line-up changes, the band broke up in 1989, vocalist John Stabb (aka: "Fruit Loops", he also had a band called Betty Blue in the mid-'90s, around 96-98, not sure of the status of that group, however) and guitarist Tom Lyle formed an experimental outfit called Glee Club and made two records. In addition, Tom Lyle made two solo records that were a more straight-ahead hard rock in 1990 and 1992.

Tom Lyle, Bassist J. Robbins, and drummer Peter Moffett regrouped to record two unrecorded G.I. songs. This was released as the Rollkicker Laydown E.P.

Bassist Jay Robbins went on to form Jawbox. Robbins later began Burning Airlines with G.I. drummer Peter Moffett.

Stabb formed the D.C. quintet The Factory Incident in 2000.

Anarchy is Dead
Government Issue Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We all used to walk down the streets
Yelling anarchy to everyone we'd see
It used to be the punks favorite plea
But it don't mean nothing to me

Anarchy is dead
Anarchy is dead
Anarchy is dead

Anarchy is dead
Groups like Crass still believe in it
That's why their music's fulla shit

It's not music is just a sermon
Groups like Crass are all just vermin

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Government Issue's song Anarchy is Dead are a commentary on the disintegration and disillusionment with the anarchy movement within the punk scene. The first stanza captures the essence of the punk scene in the 1980s, where the ideology of anarchy was the rallying cry of rebellious youth. The second stanza reflects the realization that the idealistic fervor and belief in anarchy have dissipated, and it has lost its potency and relevance. The repetition of the phrase "anarchy is dead" emphasizes the death of the movement as something factual and undisputed.

The last two lines of the song reveal the band's disagreement with other punk bands like Crass, who upheld the anarchy movement as a fundamental aspect of their music. The line "It's not music is just a sermon" implies that the band believes that these other punk bands' music has lost its artistic and musical value, becoming merely a platform for preaching their ideology. The line "Groups like Crass are all just vermin" suggests that Government Issue considers these bands to be noxious pests or parasites.

Line by Line Meaning

We all used to walk down the streets
We all used to openly show our support for anarchy

Yelling anarchy to everyone we'd see
We used to shout about anarchy to anyone who passed by

It used to be the punks favorite plea
Saying anarchy was a popular slogan among punks

But it don't mean nothing to me
However, I no longer believe in anarchy

Anarchy is dead
The idea of anarchy is no longer relevant in today's society

Anarchy is dead
Anarchy is irrelevant and does not have any impact

Anarchy is dead
The concept of anarchy is outdated and no longer has any value

Anarchy is dead
The idea of anarchy is no longer significant or meaningful

Groups like Crass still believe in it
However, some groups like Crass still support anarchy

That's why their music's fulla shit
This is why their music is not genuine, as it promotes anarchy

It's not music is just a sermon
Their music is not meant for entertainment, but to preach about anarchy