Baby, I'm an Anarchist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxvGkG8K210&feature=related


Through the best of times,
Through the worst of times,
Through Nixon and through Bush,
Do you remember '36?
We went our seperate ways.
You fought for Stalin.
I fought for freedom.
You believe in authority.
I believe in myself.
I'm a molotov cocktail.
You're Dom Perignon.
Baby, what's that confused look in your eyes?
What I'm trying to say is thatI burn down buildings
While you sit on a shelf inside of them.
You call the cops
On the looters and piethrowers.
They call it class war,
I call it co-conspirators.

'Cause baby, I'm an anarchist,
You're a spineless liberal.
We marched together for the eight-hour day
And held hands in the streets of Seattle,
But when it came time to throw bricks
Through that Starbucks window,
You left me all alone.

You watched in awe at the red,
White, and blue on the fourth of july.
While those fireworks were exploding,
I was burning that f*cker
And stringing my black flag high,
Eating the peanuts
That the parties have tossed you
In the back seat of your father's new Ford.
You believe in the ballot,
Believe in reform.
You have faith in the elephant and jackass,
And to you, solidarity's a four-letter word.
We're all hypocrites,
But you're a patriot.
You thought I was only joking
When I screamed "Kill Whitey!"
At the top of my lungs
At the cops in their cars
And the men in their suits.
No, I won't take your hand
And marry the State.

'Cause baby, I'm an anarchist,
You're a spineless liberal.
We marched together for the eight-hour day
And held hands in the streets of Seattle,
But when it came time to throw bricks
Through that Starbucks window,
You left me all alone.



Against Me! Released “Baby, I’m an Anarchist” in 2002 on the album Reinventing Axel Rose. Front Man Tom Gabel wrote the song and sung it on the album to depict the strained ties between his apostrophe, probably a girlfriend, with liberal views and his own anarchist beliefs. The song utilizes a distorted sound with simple chords and strained vocals to emphasize urgency, while the lyrics are made up of few rhymes but rather metaphors and frequent allusions to historical events to examine the difference between liberals and anarchists. Coupling these aspects along with Tom Gabel's raspy voice and occasional yell makes this piece similar to a fight song, where it’s tempting to sway with anyone around you and do the occasional fist pump. While the musical composition is important to the song the lyrics are critical; making the listener often question themselves regardless of their political ideals because everyone has distrusted the government at one point or another.

Anarchism has many liberal tendencies, so distain of the political right is often more frequent than the left but Gabel quickly confuses the listener, almost as a test of commitment, by saying “Through the best of times, through the worst of times, through Nixon and through Bush.” Despite the fact that Nixon and Bush were both from the right Gabel uses these two presidents in a satirical manner to emphasize the fact that regardless of who’s in charge an anarchist is still unhappy. If he was to say that “best of times” was someone from the left like Kennedy, then that would be picking sides, and that’s not anarchism. Gabel continues with alluding to 1936 and The Spanish Civil War in which the moderate to radical right tried to overthrow the government but was crushed by Francisco Franco’s Soviet backed leftist party. Franco would later go on to rule the country with a dictatorship and killing any political opposition. This allusion is where Gabel states the break between liberals and anarchists happened, with the gap ever widening. The distance between this gap is recognized through the metaphor of “I’m a Molotov cocktail, and you’re a Don Perigon”, which is a type of fine French wine. The metaphor nods to the fact that anarchists are typically the ones quick to take to the streets and riot while a liberal sits on the sidelines often idol. In the chorus Gabel goes on to show the similarities of the two sides while also showing strong differences of expressing each side’s plight.

'Cause baby, I'm an anarchist, You're a spineless liberal.We marched together for the eight-hour dayAnd held hands in the streets of Seattle, But when it came time to throw bricksThrough that Starbucks window, You left me all alone.

The mention of Starbucks is also an allusion a historical event, the Battle of Seattle which occurred in 1999 when a “black bloc” or a group of anarchist protesters all wearing black smashed out windows of several businesses during the WTO meetings being held in Seattle that year. The act was supposedly anti-capitalistic and pro labor union.

The second verse goes on to use more metaphors like “Eating the peanuts, that the parties have tossed you.” to stab at the fact that anyone willing to follow a political party is a sheep and blind to their true motives. Gabel then in a despicable voice shouts;
“In the back seat of your father's new Ford.You believe in the ballot,Believe in reform.”

Which is how most Americans wish to handle their problems, but this man is an anarchist, so to him these are unacceptable and weak steps towards revolution. Tom Gabel’s carries on to broaden the political scene with three powerful lines that can be applied to virtually anyone with any political beliefs.

And to you, solidarity's a four-letter word.We're all hypocrites,But you're a patriot.You thought I was only jokingWhen I screamed "Kill Whitey!"

To say solidarity is a four-letter word is to say it’s obscene and vulgar, something that should be silenced and not allowed. This metaphor slaps anyone who supports one side of an issue. This line hits the root of anarchism suggesting that fellowship and common responsibility rather than government control over the people is the purest human state. Later shouting “Kill Whitety” shows proof of support for the solidarity agenda because anarchists desire to see the class society disappear. To “Kill Whitety” should not be taken as, to kill the white man, but rather destroy the system where the white man frequently comes out on top. With such radical statements Gabel quickly shields himself from criticism by saying “we’re all hypocrites, but you’re a patriot” by instantly denying anyone room to find fault. Gabel covers his flaws by nodding to the fact that some of his ideals are contradictory, and then he uses “but you’re a patriot” to quiet anyone who would claim their ideals are better, or even correct. The second verse ends Gabel in a voice that sounds disgusted yet amused, singing, “No I won’t take your hand, and marry the state.” once again using metaphor to show disgust in ones ability to follow an overbearing system. Finally when the chorus comes in the for the second time it begins with a heavy Em chord which provides the song a much deeper sound that emphasizes the difference between Gabel’s “baby” and himself. Despite similar goals, their ways of reaching them are much different.

“Baby, I’m an Anarchist” uses almost no rhymes other than a few near rhymes such as “Ford” and “reform” because this song is not about being catchy to the ear but rather a message to the world. The metaphors and allusions to events are rather the most important tools Gabel utilizes, enabling him to not only describe the difference between the liberal left and the radical anarchist but also show proof of his claims and how and each react in times of political strife.