This musical collective has historically had over 30 members, including former members of Dexys Midnight Runners. Usually one can expect to see about nine or ten members on-stage when they perform. The group is led by singer Jack Terricloth and guitarist Lucky Strano, who have been the most constant members throughout the group's history. Terricloth is known for his pointed commentary during shows: his monologues have touched on politics, his transformation from the "old school," and baiting of bouncers which usually end up with the band buying drinks for the whole staff.
Members have also played in Sticks and Stones, Guignol, The Hold Steady, Nanuchka, Kid Casanova, Anti-Social Music, Morning Glory, Planned Collapse, Star Fucking Hipsters, The Dresden Dolls, and have been guests on Mischief Brew, stellastarr*, Public Radio International and Leftöver Crack recordings, as well as having The Casualties, along with Paul Maroon of Jonathan Fire*Eater on guitar, make a guest appearance on the recording of "Our Candidate".
Their lyrics often concern historical and/or biographical subject matter, such as Weimar-era Germany, Peter Lorre, Jeffrey Lee Pierce of The Gun Club, Paul Robeson, Leni Riefenstahl, Dante Alighieri, Jonathan Fire*Eater and other personages deemed to be of historical significance. Other songs deal with the terrifying, exulting, magical, and awful aspects of life that "make it more than waking up and going to work every day". One notable composition is a three-song cycle about love and loss in a temporary autonomous zone which appears on the 2002 album Just the Best Party. The lyric pattern and subject matter of the song cycle are similar to The Wild Party.
Jack Terricloth died in May 2021, but the band continues to live on through the establishment of the Jack Terricloth Foundation, a not for profit organization dedicated to preserving Jack's legacy. In October 2023, the band's first posthumous album, Valhalla, Definitely, was released, a collection of previously unheard material refined by the current members of the Society.
Only Anarchists are Pretty
The World/Inferno Friendship Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll see you outside in a few days or in a few weeks
And if you should be shot trying to escape
I'll know that for the lie that's written on its face
And if we don't live to be old and faint
It will be because we got lazy and forgot to get away
When we were young, you were the best thing going
Watching you strut down the street telling everyone to go to hell
With a flash of the ankle, snarl of the lip
I see you in the street and gasp
A lot of gossip and glances, I'd had enough
I grasped you gently by your arm and said,
"Hey, I got a crush"
You caught both my eyes and you gave me a push
You said, "Hey, you got one back"
And the room caved in
With a flash of the ankle, snarl of the lip
I see you in the street and gasp
'Cause Only Anarchists Are
Only Anarchists Are
Only Anarchists Are Pretty
After a lot of gossip and glances,
Your boyfriend got upset
He punched me squarely in my snout and said,
"Hey! You got a debt!"
I turned my eyes into slits and I gave him a kick
I said, "Hey! You want one back?"
And the room caved in
With a flash of the ankle,
Snarl of the lip I see you in the street and gasp
'Cause Only Anarchists Are
Only Anarchists Are
Only Anarchists Are Pretty
The World/Inferno Friendship Society's song "Only Anarchists are Pretty" is a song about rebellion and standing up against oppression. The song is essentially an anthem for anarchists and their way of life. The lyrics talk about being arrested for one's beliefs and how that won't stop them from fighting for what they believe in. The singer talks about the possibility of being shot and killed for trying to escape but that they won't let that stop them. The song talks about the idea of dying young but being unapologetic about it because they will have lived their life to the fullest and fought for what they believed in.
The song transitions into a love story of sorts, with the singer talking about their crush and how they finally mustered up the courage to tell them. The lyrics describe the crush in a very punk rock way, with a "flash of the ankle, snarl of the lip." The singer talks about the push and pull of the relationship, with both parties having a crush on each other. The lyrics then take a darker turn when the crush's boyfriend becomes jealous and violent towards the singer.
Overall, the song is a rebellion against societal norms and the oppression of the government. It celebrates individuality and the strength that comes from standing up for what you believe in, no matter the consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
If we should be arrested before we sleep
In the event that we are captured in the night
I'll see you outside in a few days or in a few weeks
We can expect to reunite on the other side soon
And if you should be shot trying to escape
If you are wounded trying to break free
I'll know that for the lie that's written on its face
I'll recognize that as the falsehood it is
And if we don't live to be old and faint
And if we don't make it to old age
It will be because we got lazy and forgot to get away
It will be our own fault for not escaping when we could
When we were young, you were the best thing going
You were the greatest thing when we were in our youth
And I struggled mightily to keep my hands to myself
I fought hard to resist my desires
Watching you strut down the street telling everyone to go to hell
Observed how you confidently walked and talked to others
With a flash of the ankle, snarl of the lip
Your striking appearance caught my attention
I see you in the street and gasp
I become breathless upon seeing you
A lot of gossip and glances, I'd had enough
I became tired of hearing rumors and seeing looks from others
I grasped you gently by your arm and said, 'Hey, I got a crush'
I took hold of your arm and confessed my feelings to you
You caught both my eyes and you gave me a push
You reciprocated my feelings and pushed me forward
You said, 'Hey, you got one back'
You told me that you felt the same way
And the room caved in
Everything around us seemed to disappear
After a lot of gossip and glances,
Again, after much rumor and staring,
Your boyfriend got upset
Your partner became angry
He punched me squarely in my snout and said, 'Hey! You got a debt!'
He hit me in the face and demanded payment
I turned my eyes into slits and I gave him a kick
I narrowed my gaze and kicked him back
I said, 'Hey! You want one back?'
I asked if he wanted me to return the hit
Only Anarchists Are Pretty
In our current society, only those who reject authority and control are seen as attractive
Contributed by Sydney O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
hannah
If we should be arrested before we sleep
I'll see you outside in a few days or in a few weeks
And if you should be shot trying to escape
I'll know that for the lie that's written on its face (well, alright)
And if we don't live to be old and faint
It will be because we got lazy and forgot to get away
When we were young, you were the best thing goin'
And I struggled mightily to keep my hands to myself
Watching you strut down the street telling everyone to go to hell
With a flash of the ankle, snarl of the lip
I see you in the street and gasp
A lot of gossip and glances, I'd had enough
I grasped you gently by your arm and said
"Hey, I got a crush"
You caught both my eyes and you gave me a push
You said, "Hey, you got one back"
And the room caved in
With a flash of the ankle, snarl of the lip
I see you in the street and gasp
Cause Only Anarchists Are
Only Anarchists Are
Only Anarchists Are Pretty
After a lot of gossip and glances
Your boyfriend got upset
He punched me squarely in my snout and said
"Hey! You got a debt!"
I turned my eyes into slits and I gave him a kick
I said, "Hey! You want one back?"
And the room caved in
With a flash of the ankle
Snarl of the lip I see you in the street and gasp
Cause Only Anarchists Are
Only Anarchists Are
Only Anarchists Are Pretty
Luna B
If we should be arrested before we sleep
I'll see you outside in a few days or in a few weeks
And if you should be shot trying to escape
I'll know that for the lie that's written on its face
And if we don't live to be old and faint
It will be because we got lazy and forgot to get away
When we were young, you were the best thing going
And I struggled mightily to keep my hands to myself
Watching you strut down the street telling everyone to go to hell
With a flash of the ankle, snarl of the lip
I see you in the street and gasp
A lot of gossip and glances, I'd had enough
I grasped you gently by your arm and said,
“Hey, I got a crush”
You caught both my eyes and you gave me a push
You said, “Hey, you got one back”
And the room caved in
With a flash of the ankle, snarl of the lip
I see you in the street and gasp
‘Cause Only Anarchists Are
Only Anarchists Are
Only Anarchists Are Pretty
After a lot of gossip and glances,
your boyfriend got upset
He punched me squarely in my snout and said,
“Hey! You got a debt!”
I turned my eyes into slits and I gave him a kick
I said, “Hey! You want one back?”
And the room caved in
With a flash of the ankle,
snarl of the lip I see you in the street and gasp
‘Cause Only Anarchists Are
Only Anarchists Are
Only Anarchists Are Pretty
P.M. Seymour
Jack, we will never forget you, thank you for everything
Bobby Campbell
RIP One of best live bands of all time.
KittyDoesThings
Rest in peace Uncle Jack, I'll always be grateful to World/Inferno for playing a part in my existence
rtdropbox
Rest in peace, Jack. Anarchists make some of the best music.
hannah
If we should be arrested before we sleep
I'll see you outside in a few days or in a few weeks
And if you should be shot trying to escape
I'll know that for the lie that's written on its face (well, alright)
And if we don't live to be old and faint
It will be because we got lazy and forgot to get away
When we were young, you were the best thing goin'
And I struggled mightily to keep my hands to myself
Watching you strut down the street telling everyone to go to hell
With a flash of the ankle, snarl of the lip
I see you in the street and gasp
A lot of gossip and glances, I'd had enough
I grasped you gently by your arm and said
"Hey, I got a crush"
You caught both my eyes and you gave me a push
You said, "Hey, you got one back"
And the room caved in
With a flash of the ankle, snarl of the lip
I see you in the street and gasp
Cause Only Anarchists Are
Only Anarchists Are
Only Anarchists Are Pretty
After a lot of gossip and glances
Your boyfriend got upset
He punched me squarely in my snout and said
"Hey! You got a debt!"
I turned my eyes into slits and I gave him a kick
I said, "Hey! You want one back?"
And the room caved in
With a flash of the ankle
Snarl of the lip I see you in the street and gasp
Cause Only Anarchists Are
Only Anarchists Are
Only Anarchists Are Pretty
hollin220
Thanks man
Alan Sutton
Heard this for the first time in 2006, i was fifteen. Crushing over a punk girl who introduced World inferno to me. Ended up making a complete fool of myself and never spoke to her again. Gotta love being a dumb kid.
hollin220
Cherish those memories. As we get older they fade away
Takeshi Kitano
@hollin220 Yeah, but those memories make me cringe for me even til this day.
hollin220
TheDude234576 hahaha no doubt man. I recently found photos of myself from mid / late 2000s and its pretty uncomfortable lol. For me it feels like a lifetime ago. I miss the innocence and the raw emotion to want to be as different and wacky as possible