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."
Rejoice
ajj Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, rejoice, his eyes are big axes
Oh, rejoice, his arms are burning witches
oh, rejoice, his hands perform hexes
Rejoice despite this world will hurt you
And rejoice despite this world will kill you
and rejoice despite the fact this world will tear you to shreds
And rejoice, the bed you sleep in is burning
oh, rejoice, the sky's fucking falling
oh, rejoice, the world we know is turning
oh, rejoice, your father's been calling
rejoice although this world will devastate you
and rejoice although this world will penetrate you
and rejoice although you will not survive
rejoice you'll never make it out alive
And rejoice, your hair it smells like burning hair
oh, rejoice your nails all got chewed off
oh, rejoice and holy fuck you're bleeding there
oh, rejoice, you burned your whole beard off
Rejoice despite this world will hurt you
And rejoice despite this world will kill you
and rejoice despite the fact this world will tear you to shreds
rejoice because you're trying your best
The lyrics to AJJ's song "Rejoice" may seem contradictory with the use of the word "rejoice" in juxtaposition with descriptions of painful or unpleasant experiences. However, the song is a commentary on the harsh realities of life and the need to find joy even in the midst of suffering. The opening lines describe God's punishment for sins, with ears as stitches, eyes as big axes, and arms burning witches. This imagery may allude to religious persecution and the punishments handed down by a vengeful God.
But despite the bleak tone of the lyrics, the chorus urges listeners to "rejoice" despite the world's cruelty. The use of "rejoice" takes on a sarcastic tone, as if to say that even in the face of overwhelming hardship, one should still try to find some glimmer of positivity. The later verses describe personal struggles, with the bed burning, the sky falling, and physical harm coming to oneself. Perhaps the line about the father calling is a reference to issues with family or a higher power.
Overall, "Rejoice" is a song about hope and resilience in the face of despair. It acknowledges the brutal realities of life but encourages listeners to keep going and find joy where they can.
Line by Line Meaning
Rejoice, rejoice, God's ears are stitches
Be glad, be glad, for God is always listening
Oh, rejoice, his eyes are big axes
Celebrate, for God keeps a keen eye on everybody
Oh, rejoice, his arms are burning witches
Rejoice, for God's strength is enough to burn up all wickedness
oh, rejoice, his hands perform hexes
Find joy, for God has the power to perform miraculous feats
Rejoice despite this world will hurt you
Be happy even though the world can create pain
And rejoice despite this world will kill you
You should celebrate despite the fact that the world may cause your death
and rejoice despite the fact this world will tear you to shreds
Find joy, despite the fact that the world can cause mayhem in your life
rejoice because you're trying your best
Rejoice at the fact that you are doing all that you can to reach your goals
And rejoice, the bed you sleep in is burning
Be glad that even though the place you lie is aflame you still slept
oh, rejoice, the sky's fucking falling
Celebrate even though the world seems to be deteriorating
oh, rejoice, the world we know is turning
Find joy, even though the world is turning and changing
oh, rejoice, your father's been calling
Be happy, because your father is looking for you
rejoice although this world will devastate you
Find joy despite the fact that this world can be dangerous and overwhelming
and rejoice although this world will penetrate you
Be happy despite the fact that the world can penetrate and expose your vulnerabilities
and rejoice although you will not survive
Find joy in spite of the fact that you will not live forever
rejoice you'll never make it out alive
Celebrate the fact that the journey ends with death, and still try to make the most of it
And rejoice, your hair it smells like burning hair
Be happy despite the strange smell from your hair caused by burning
oh, rejoice your nails all got chewed off
Find joy despite the fact that your nails were chewed off due to stress
oh, rejoice and holy fuck you're bleeding there
Celebrate the fact that you are still alive despite the bleeding
oh, rejoice, you burned your whole beard off
Find joy in the fact that you can still keep going despite the loss of your beard
Writer(s): BONNETTE SEAN-CLAUDE VINCENT
Contributed by Elliot L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kaliaarkenia8595
[Verse 1]
Rejoice, rejoice God's ears are stitches
Rejoice, His eyes are big X's
Rejoice, His arms are burning witches
Rejoice, His hands perform hexes
[Chorus]
Rejoice despite the fact this world will hurt you
Rejoice despite the fact this world will kill you
Rejoice despite the fact this world will tear you to shreds
Rejoice because you're trying your best
[Verse 2]
Rejoice, the bed you sleep in is burning
Rejoice, the sky's fucking falling
Rejoice, the world we know is turning
Rejoice, your father's been calling
[Verse 3]
Rejoice although this world will devastate you
Rejoice although this world will penetrate you
Rejoice although you will not survive
Rejoice you'll never make it out alive
[Verse 4]
Rejoice, your hair it smells like burning hair
Oh rejoice, your nails all got chewed off
Rejoice, and - holy fuck! - you're bleeding there
Oh rejoice, you burned your whole beard off
@felixc543
@BLANK I think I meant differently than how you read it, but it's because I'm very bad at communication and knowing me, I wrote my comment sleep deprived- basically I originally heard it when I was in a super rough place;
When I originally heard it it felt like it was cynically reflecting on forcing positivity and saying it was futile to try and bring joy into life when it's a shitshow
I don't know for sure what the original intention was, but now I take from it that sometimes refusing to let the shittiest things in life dictate how you react is the only control you still have
Idk, I've just been doing what I can to accept that some things are gonna be shitty no matter what and if I can find ways to fight back against that I won't be in a worse place than I was before, so why not try
I try to Rejoice if only to prove I still can
Sorry to be Fake Deep or whatever, I just like the song
@kaliaarkenia8595
[Verse 1]
Rejoice, rejoice God's ears are stitches
Rejoice, His eyes are big X's
Rejoice, His arms are burning witches
Rejoice, His hands perform hexes
[Chorus]
Rejoice despite the fact this world will hurt you
Rejoice despite the fact this world will kill you
Rejoice despite the fact this world will tear you to shreds
Rejoice because you're trying your best
[Verse 2]
Rejoice, the bed you sleep in is burning
Rejoice, the sky's fucking falling
Rejoice, the world we know is turning
Rejoice, your father's been calling
[Verse 3]
Rejoice although this world will devastate you
Rejoice although this world will penetrate you
Rejoice although you will not survive
Rejoice you'll never make it out alive
[Verse 4]
Rejoice, your hair it smells like burning hair
Oh rejoice, your nails all got chewed off
Rejoice, and - holy fuck! - you're bleeding there
Oh rejoice, you burned your whole beard off
@bonesfloodedwithdreams
Thank you :)
@sleekthegeek6669
@Casey Cottonwood rejoice god's ear's are stanchions
a stanchion is a big beam (god is deaf as a post)
rejoice, his eyes are big Xs (and he's also blind)
@_winter7745
@sleek the geek I heard stanchions exactly like you said until I really listened to this video and looked at the stitches lyric. I think he actually is saying "exes" (used to think it was axes) and "stitches" (used to think it was stanchions). He has a thick accent but comparing them to the way he says 'witches' and 'hexes' I think OP is right.
I'll still forever hear "stanchions" which are also tall cones meant for looping caution tape across, shaped like horns. There are also stanchion horns, which are elongated horns like for the hard of hearing. This does kind of contrast with the deaf idea, so I'm thinking it's stitches.
@TapdotWater
I've always loved the way "your best" is sung. The oscillation makes it come out like "your har-best," as though it were both your best and your hardest at the same time.
@justbrowsing9697
This is one of my comfort songs... that probably says something about my mental health lol.
It's just so harsh and real, yet hopeful. This world is brutal and broken, but we're together in this painful life. Together till our inevitable end, not to be feared but accepted. Hell, maybe even rejoiced
Taking comfort in death, that this pain I feel will at some point end. Weirdly comforting to my mentally unwell ass
@tylerp3327
Rejoice in the fact your taste in music has not been affected. Hope you’re doing better man.
@crisptomato9495
Kind of reminds me of Camus’ take on Sisyphus, and how you should embrace suffering and meaninglessness instead of fruitlessly trying to overcome it.
@Kas3-
Fake deep yt comments😭
@justbrowsing9697
@Kas3- don't call me out like that >:/