I Was A Teenage Anarchist lyrics

Even though i have many idealistic views about how great anarchism could be, i really identify with this song. I often feel as though the system's on autopilot, and that we'll never really be able to change it. Too few in america really care for or know the deep flaws and injustices in the system even as they experience the injustice themselves.

The minority of people who are willing to do something drastic to change the system would be branded terrorists and their dissent would be crushed, i feel as though there is no way to make enough of the populous aware of the widespread injustice for our numbers to ever be a true threat to the status quo, and so i refuse to call myself an anarchist outright. I wish the world could be that way, but i have no hope and no reality-based reason to believe that it really could be that way in my lifetime, or possibly ever.

-captainegypt.

Tom gabel is sad about the fact that he didn't think for himself as a young adult, and that it led to his current life situation in which he has to publicly, through song, state his identity because celebrity has stripped him of it.

Its a great song by a great band! I have been huge in the punk scene since 1985. This band was one of the first breaths of fresh air in years. I like everything they have ever put out. Why don't you stop trying to break down the song and shut up and listen. You might just understand what the hell he is trying to say!

This song is autobiographical. It describes the singers experiences in the early 00s and his association with plan it x records, which is a riot-folk label. It is directly describing his alienation with the entire scene, which can be very polarizing and overly preachy. I still like some of those bands, but with a grain of salt.

Love it... Though kinda late knowing it, but it transcend to what i am today..

I take it as he grew up wasnt pissed off at the world anymore and the revolution was a lie because in fact it is to a point its more youthful angst and who gives a poop if he "sold out" good for him to be happy and continue with his career... People gon hate!

I don't think this song is really about anarchy. It's about a dreamer... Someone who will not conform and dares to dream and dream big. This is a person is young, not yet jaded and cynical. The possibilities are endless. But the world can be cruel and people turn against you. As this dreamer is older and had lost his dreams, he remembers to not let the world win.

No anarchists follow the real meaning of anarchy. It's a bogus ideology if it can even be called that, and the occupy movement is a perfect example. As things progressed, leaders emerged, even if they refused to be called leaders. Order and structure emerged, because without it, it's impossible to get anything done. The song is about a man growing up who realizes that anarchy is bullshit, and that those who 'lead' such movements are no better than anyone else who demands conformity or obedience. The revolution was a lie because even those who proclaim themselves to be anarchists are not. They're just more egomaniacs and control freaks who use so-called 'anarchy' as their method of control.

If tom was able to grab his piece of the pie by 'selling out' to warner, good for him.

The metaphor is clear - anarchists did want to set the world a'fire as they wanted to break down the establishment - redesign it with what? Anarchy? No government? Any redesign was subverted by materialism, which always gets int he way - remember the wtc protests in washington state? Where did that force go? We need $$ to live, we need services to continue - anarchy does not solve the means of production. - for music everyone needs a deal to keep the movement going - you need the money to make it happen - the real sellout is to pump an ideology of class warfare and dismiss the notion that you can exist outside of a capitalist system at this stage of the game - the mob is just about who controls the strings of power - it's a lot more complex than we knew - the real punks today are the occupy wallstreeters who are challenging the system and indicting the hierarchal norms of capitalism - so set the fires in motion again and let the phoenix rise from the ashes of greed and put forward a new form of capitalism that allows for less disparities and greater protections for the 99%

I'm thirty and i still want to set the world on fire.