According to Songfacts, Bonnette, who is also the lyricist of the band (with upright bass player Ben Gallant handling most of the production and some vocals as well) volunteered at a suicide prevention hotline for teenagers for eight years, and worked with homeless men and women in the Phoenix, Arizona area. These experiences gave him a sometimes bleak, but at moments, hopeful outlook on life, often reflected in the band's lyrics.
On Halloween 2005, Andrew Jackson Jihad covered Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea album in its entirety at CounterCulture Cafe.
Their biggest performance to date has been in their hometown with Flogging Molly and Authority Zero on St. Patrick's Day 2006.
On April 15, 2006, the band played as part of the 2006 New Times Music Showcase, nominated for Best Americana Band, and won a 2006 Best of Phoenix later that year.
Besides their local shows, where they have become arguably the most prominent representative in Arizona of the DIY ethic, they have also toured in clubs and basements across the Western United States, appearing at such venues as the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles, CA. One show in Kimberly, Idaho saw the band in a cowboy bar and leaving the premises as soon as possible after the show.
Andrew Jackson Jihad also performed at St. Augustine, Florida's second annual Harvest of Hope Festival in 2010. They played a dual set with Bomb the Music Industry!
In 2016, the band officially changed their name from "Andrew Jackson Jihad" to AJJ (a moniker that many of their fanbase had been using to refer to them for several years). In a statement on the band's website, Bonnette wrote "1.) We are not Muslims, and as such, it is disrespectful and irresponsible for us to use the word jihad in our band’s name. 2.) We no longer wish to be a living reminder of president Andrew Jackson. Interesting historical figure as he was, he was an odious person and our fascination with him has grown stale."
No More Tears
ajj Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No more crying
No more sighing, lying or dying
No more HIV
No more tweaking
No more drugs or immune systems being weakened
Just happy times and half assed rhymes and mimes
But most of all I want no more tears
No more bad times
No more bummers
No more SUV's and no more Hummer's
No more racism
No more discrimination
No more fat dumb fucks keeping people out of our nation
We're all on big band across this land and we should sing in tune
Let us grow the balls to break the walls
We've got to do it soon
But most of all I want no more tears
No more crying
No more sighing, lying or dying
The song No More Tears by AJJ speaks about the artist's desire for a world free of tears, bad times, and discrimination. The opening lines "No more tears, no more crying, no more sighing, lying or dying," express the artist's frustration with the negative aspects of life. They want an end to HIV, drugs, and weakened immune systems. They yearn for happy times and carefree moments, like mimes.
AJJ speaks about the need for a world without racism, discrimination, and prejudice. They want to see an end to people being kept out of nations based on their race or size. The artist believes that it is time to break down barriers and come together as a united band across the land.
The song concludes with the artist reiterating their desire for a world without tears, crying, or dying. The artist wants a world of happiness, where we all sing in tune and come together to break down walls.
Overall, the lyrics to No More Tears by AJJ are a call for unity and a world free of negativity. It is a message of hope that inspires listeners to work towards a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
No more tears
I don't want to cry anymore, I want to be happy.
No more crying
I don't want to cry anymore, I want to be happy.
No more sighing, lying or dying
I don't want to feel sad or hopeless, I don't want to be dishonest or die.
No more HIV
I don't want to face the challenges and pain of living with HIV.
No more tweaking
I don't want to struggle with addiction and its consequences.
No more drugs or immune systems being weakened
I don't want to damage my immune system or face the consequences of drug use.
Just happy times and half assed rhymes and mimes
I want to have fun and make jokes and perform silly acts.
Because mimes are dears
I appreciate the art of miming and enjoy watching performances.
But most of all I want no more tears
Above all, I want to be happy and not cry anymore.
No more bad times
I don't want to experience any more negative or unpleasant events.
No more bummers
I don't want to be disappointed by negative events or situations.
No more SUV's and no more Hummer's
I don't want to contribute to environmental damage and pollution caused by gas-guzzling vehicles.
No more racism
I don't want to see discrimination based on race or ethnicity.
No more discrimination
I don't want to see discrimination based on any factor like gender or sexual orientation.
No more fat dumb fucks keeping people out of our nation
I don't want to see people denied entry to our country based on hateful or discriminatory beliefs.
We're all on big band across this land and we should sing in tune
We are all part of this great nation and should work together and cooperate.
Let us grow the balls to break the walls
Let's be bold and fearless enough to break down barriers and overcome obstacles.
We've got to do it soon
We need to act quickly and not waste any more time.
Writer(s): BONNETTE SEAN-CLAUDE VINCENT
Contributed by Christian T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.