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
Night Letters
Propagandhi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a night of sickening death
You went running for your life
And never went home again
I spend sleepless nights as my head
Swims, worrying about you
I am adept at cold, you have traveled so far from home and sorrow
Has followed every step of the way
You're caught between this life and the one left behind
I see it's burning you inside
Like some exploding sun
Your mind constantly returns
To a place that's not so fucking cold
But on fire with war
You're starting over from scratch
Sending your money home
You're working as hard as you can
While life hangs in the air
I see distant lights up ahead
But I'm worrying about you
It's all taking its toll
And you can't concentrate
You are being crushed by the world
I have gotten lucky so far
We sit at the end of this night dialing
An answer finally reached through a long distance line
News of threatening night letters
Stones tossed over the fence
Your loved ones taunted by murderers
Tell them it's three years that they'll have to wait
As their whole world implodes
The song Night Letters by Propagandhi tells the story of someone who has fled from their home country due to war and is now living in a foreign country, facing the struggles of adapting to a new life while worrying about the safety of their loved ones left behind. The first verse sets the tone for the story, with the singer having to flee on a night of "sickening death" and never being able to return home. The singer expresses their concern and empathy for the singer, spending "sleepless nights" worrying about their safety.
The lyrics describe the struggles of the singer, who works the night shift to avoid being alone but is constantly haunted by the memories of their past and the war that has torn apart their home. They are "caught between this life and the one left behind," and the singer sees their pain burning "like some exploding sun."
The chorus describes the singer's efforts to start a new life, working hard and sending money home, but also feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders. The second verse indicates that the singer receives threatening night letters and their loved ones are taunted by murderers, adding to the chorus's sense of unease and tension. The last line, "As their whole world implodes," emphasizes the devastation that war can bring to people's lives and the world as a whole.
Line by Line Meaning
Your world was blown right apart
Your life was destroyed
On a night of sickening death
Amidst a terrifying incident
You went running for your life
You fled, afraid for your survival
And never went home again
You're in permanent exile
I spend sleepless nights as my head
I worry constantly
Swims, worrying about you
About your well-being
You work the night shift so you won't be alone
Your loneliness scares you
I am adept at cold, you have traveled so far from home and sorrow
I can handle the cold better than you who's far from home and loved ones
Has followed every step of the way
Sorrow haunts you
You're caught between this life and the one left behind
You're torn between present struggles and past memories
I see it's burning you inside
You're suffering silently
Like some exploding sun
Your pain is overwhelming
Your mind constantly returns
You can't escape your thoughts
To a place that's not so fucking cold
To a time and place that was warmer, happier
But on fire with war
It was still turbulent and violent
You're starting over from scratch
You're rebuilding your life
Sending your money home
You support your loved ones from afar
You're working as hard as you can
You're striving to succeed
While life hangs in the air
Survival is uncertain
I see distant lights up ahead
There's hope in the future
But I'm worrying about you
I can't stop worrying about you
It's all taking its toll
The struggle is exhausting
And you can't concentrate
You're distracted by your worries
You are being crushed by the world
You're overwhelmed and struggling to cope
I have gotten lucky so far
I have been fortunate
We sit at the end of this night dialing
We talk late into the night
An answer finally reached through a long distance line
We get a response after a long wait
News of threatening night letters
Threatening messages received at night
Stones tossed over the fence
Hateful actions taken
Your loved ones taunted by murderers
Your family is targeted and harassed
Tell them it's three years that they'll have to wait
Tell them to hold on for three more years before things improve
As their whole world implodes
As their lives fall apart
Contributed by Jacob K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.