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."
brave as a noun
ajj Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could kill all my best friends
I could follow stylish trends
And God knows I could make amends
But I've got an angry heart
Filled with cancers and poppy tarts
If this is how you folks make art it's fucking depressing
And it's sad to know that we are not alone
And it's sad to know there's no honest way out.
I'm afraid to leave the house
I'm as timid as a mouse
I'm afraid if I go out, I'll outwear my welcome.
I am not a courageous man
I don't have any big lasting plans
I'm too cowardly to take a stand
I wanna keep my nose clean.
And it's sad to know that we're not alone in this
And it's sad to know there's no honest way out
In this life we lead
We can conquer everything
If we could just get the braves to get out of bed in the morning.
The lyrics of AJJ's song "Brave as a Noun" speak to the struggles and anxieties of everyday life. The opening lines "I could go off the deep end, I could kill all my best friends, I could follow stylish trends" illustrate the temptation to succumb to destructive behavior and consumer culture. However, the following lines "But I've got an angry heart, filled with cancers and poppy tarts" reveal the darkness and turmoil within. The singer is struggling to reconcile their desire to conform with their own angry and depressed state.
The chorus of the song laments the difficulties of life, acknowledging that we are not alone in our struggles, and there is no easy way out. The verse, "I'm afraid to leave the house, I'm as timid as a mouse, I'm afraid if I go out, I'll outwear my welcome" highlights the singer's fear and anxiety, which prevents them from taking action or standing up for their beliefs. The song concludes with a call to action, an assertion that if we can muster the bravery to face the day, we can overcome anything.
Overall, "Brave as a Noun" is a powerful anthem for those struggling to find their place in the world, battling depression, and anxiety, and searching for the courage to live their truth. The song's raw honesty and vulnerability make it compelling and relatable, while its catchy melody and upbeat tempo add an uplifting quality that leaves the listener feeling inspired.
Line by Line Meaning
I could go off the deep end
I am capable of making extremely reckless and unpredictable decisions
I could kill all my best friends
I could turn against the people who know me best and cause harm to them
I could follow stylish trends
I could adopt superficial and shallow ideas that are popular in society
And God knows I could make amends
I could make an effort to correct my past mistakes and apologize to those I have wronged
But I've got an angry heart
I harbor intense and negative emotions within me
Filled with cancers and poppy tarts
My negative emotions are fueled by harmful thoughts and experiences
If this is how you folks make art it's fucking depressing
If this is what passes for creative expression, it is disheartening and bleak
And it's sad to know that we are not alone
It is unfortunate that many people struggle with similar problems
And it's sad to know there's no honest way out.
It is sad to realize that there is no easy or straightforward solution to our problems
I'm afraid to leave the house
I feel anxious and afraid to venture outside
I'm as timid as a mouse
I lack confidence and have a tendency to avoid confrontation
I'm afraid if I go out, I'll outwear my welcome.
I am worried that people will grow tired of my presence if I spend too much time around them
I am not a courageous man
I do not possess bravery or a willingness to take risks
I don't have any big lasting plans
I lack ambition and do not have any significant long-term goals
I'm too cowardly to take a stand
I lack conviction and am unwilling to take a firm position on important issues
I wanna keep my nose clean.
I want to avoid getting into trouble or attracting negative attention
In this life we lead
In the existence we experience
We can conquer everything
We can overcome any obstacle or challenge
If we could just get the braves to get out of bed in the morning.
If we could find the courage to face our problems and take action, we could accomplish great things
Writer(s): BONNETTE SEAN-CLAUDE VINCENT
Contributed by Bella M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.