Current members:
Chris Hannah – vocals, guitar (1986–present)
Jord Samolesky – drums (1986–present)
Todd Kowalski – bass, vocals (1997–present)
Sulynn Hago – guitar, vocals (2015–present)
Former members
Scott Hopper – bass, vocals (1986–89)
Mike Braumeister – bass (1989–91)
John K. Samson – bass, vocals (1991–97)
David Guillas – guitar, vocals (2006–2015)
1993 - How to Clean Everything
1996 - Less Talk, More Rock
2001 - Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes
2005 - Potemkin City Limits
2009 - Supporting Caste
2012 - Failed States
2017 - Victory Lap
Anchorless
Propagandhi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
through a veil of childish cries.
Southern Manitoba prarire's pulling at the pant-leg of your bad disguise.
So why were you so anchorless?
A boat abandoned in some backyard.
Anchorless in the small town that you lived and died in.
I've got an armchair from your family home.
Got your P.G. Wodehouse novels and your telephone.
Got that way of never saying what you really feel.
I don't want to live and die here where we're anchorless.
The lyrics to Propagandhi's song Anchorless paint a picture of a small town where the singer's friend is dying. The friend is described as being anchorless, like a boat abandoned in a backyard. There is a sense of melancholy and nostalgia in the words as the singer reflects on their memories of the friend and the town. The reference to P.G. Wodehouse novels, plates and stainless steel, and a telephone from the family home all add to the feeling of longing for something lost.
The line "got that way of never saying what you really feel" is particularly poignant. It suggests that the friend was not forthcoming with their emotions, perhaps leading to a disconnect between them and those around them. The sense of being anchorless in this small town is palpable throughout the song. The singer doesn't want to live and die there and seems to be searching for something more.
Overall, the lyrics to Anchorless are a reflection on life, death, and the sense of being lost. The use of metaphor and imagery adds depth to the words and helps to create a vivid picture in the listener's mind.
Line by Line Meaning
They called here to tell me that you're finally dying,
The singer received a phone call informing them that the person they're singing about is dying.
through a veil of childish cries.
The singer received the news amidst the sound of children crying in the background of the phone call.
Southern Manitoba prarire's pulling at the pant-leg of your bad disguise.
The person being sung about is from Southern Manitoba where the prairie is revealing their true identity, despite them trying to hide it.
So why were you so anchorless?
The artist is questioning why the person being sung about was so lost and aimless in life.
A boat abandoned in some backyard.
The artist compares the person being sung about to a neglected and forgotten boat in someone's backyard.
Anchorless in the small town that you lived and died in.
The person being sung about felt disconnected and lost in the small town they lived and died in.
I've got an armchair from your family home.
The singer has a piece of furniture from the person being sung about's family home.
Got your P.G. Wodehouse novels and your telephone.
The artist has the person being sung about's books and telephone.
I've got your plates and stainless steel.
The artist has the person being sung about's kitchenware.
Got that way of never saying what you really feel.
The person being sung about had a tendency to hide their true feelings from others.
I don't want to live and die here where we're anchorless.
The singer doesn't want to live and die without direction or purpose like the person being sung about did.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kam Kazaly
This was always my fave Propaghandi song. I remember being in a broke-ass punk band that supported them in Brisbane, Australia back in the 90's. We had just done a gig supporting Conflict, who acted like rock stars, immediately heading off with the groupies. the Propaghandi guys actually seemed interested in hanging out and having a beer, seeing what we were trying to do there.
R R M
i havent heard this song in probably 15 years, and the other day suddenly started singing it in my head. The mind is amazing
Sven D
I haven't heard this for like 8 years and it just randomly popped into my head
Kem Matthew
I have always loved propagandhi but hated when I was faced with the loss of Samson. I loved the way he would change up an entire songs way and rhythm.
chuckb
you can feel that big time on Showdown, great song.
Savage Lynel Butt Plug
I loved Propagandhi's mix of Chris Hannah's political lyrics and John K. Samsons love songs. Shame John's not in the band anymore.
Bob D
Samson grew into his own with The Weakerthans IMO. Shame we lost Propagandhi but still some good came outta it.
Savage Lynel Butt Plug
@rth095 I liked today's empires tomorrow's ashes. After that they kinds changed and I'm not a big fan of the new sound.
rth095
When they lost John, they lost me.
Catherine Nado
It's perfect.