Architects

Am I the only one who see's a connection with Against Me! in this song?

I assume those who would read this would be familiar with Against Me! and their selling out, after being one of the great punk bands of all time, an "Icon" in punk rock

"Our heroes, our icons have mellowed with age. Following rules that they once disobeyed. They're now being lead when they used to lead the way"

That quote very much sums up the transformation of Against Me! The undeniable connection to Against Me! in this song is the lyrics:

"Don't you remember when you were young, and you wanted to set the world on fire? Somewhere deep down, I know you do. And don't you remember when we were young, and we wanted to set the world on fire? 'Cause I still am, and I still do."

That lyric provides an undeniable connection, becuase in the new (extremely pop) Against Me! album the first single released was titled "I Was A Teenage Anarchist" and it essentialy argues that punk rock is a lie, in that song the lyrics "Don't you remember when you were young and you wanted to set the world on fire" exist, a quick google search will identify that there is no other signifigance of those lyrics, and it would be a great coincidence that a punk band and ex-punk icons would both use the same lyrics in new songs, In my opinion Architects is Tim's reply to Tom's question and attempt to convince more people to move from anarchism to capitalism

in the final verse it's

And after everything we've seen maybe even more

not

I know tour everything we've seen maybe even more

The meaning to this song was actually said by Tim during the first play of Help Is On The Way on the radio. He said it's about people like Martin Luther King who designed the world we live in today, and that this generation doesn't seem to be producing these "architects" and takes what these people have done for-granted.

"They laid out the blueprints they poured down a base Concrete solutions to slow our decay but when they are gone who the fuck's gonna take their place?"

This verse describes it completely, asking who's going to design our future, and continue to build on to what these people have done for society.

But the thing I love about Rise against is that they aren't completely straight-forward, so you can draw separate meanings that you can shape to your own life and views, so songs end up having countless meanings.

I think it's "Are there no fighters left here anymore?" instead of what they have..

The lyrics are supposed to be "ARE YOU out there on the front lines or at home keeping score?" It's written that way in the booklet, and it makes much more sense.

That said, I'd say that this song is meant both for the older generation and the younger generation.

For the older people, the song is questioning and challenging them--where has the rebellious spirit gone, the one that wanted to change the world and "set [it] on fire?" Do you guys still care? Or are you just going to sit back, sit at "home keeping score?"

For the younger people, my generation, this song is a call to action! It's our turn now; let's step forward, change this world for the better, and be the "architect" of our own future.

@WillCreary, dude, don't post the lyrics if you don't know what they are. I'm guessing you just downloaded the album and started typing, since the CD came with a booklet.

The "setting the world on fire" line isn't the only reference to Against Me; there are quite a few scattered throughout the song. I don't think the song is directed towards Tom specifically, because it sounds more like Tim's speaking to the audience. I think Tim's just using Tom as the perfect example of someone who had strong "punk" values that faded with age. Basically I think he's pointing Tom out in hopes he might change (especially now he's not on Sire anymore), telling his fans that he's still in the fight and wont give up on them like so many other artists, and finally encouraging them not to give up either.

Freaking loving this song! It sounds a lot like their older stuff which is great. The song is about how today there aren't many people who stand up for what we want: revolutionaries. Today we just accept what is given to us, not knowing that we CAN make a difference. We can fight for change. We're scared of taking chances like the revolutionaries before us, who made America what is is. But now that the 'man' is taking away the rights those of previous generations fought so hard for, we need a new breed of revolutionaries. I'm all for violent revolution by the way.

Another thing, the line: "Don't you remember when you were young ,and you wanted to set the world on fire?", is a reference to Against Me!'s song "I Was A Teenage Anarchist", which has the same line. IS there a connection between Rise Against and Against Me! (other than the 'against') that would make Tim reference the song this way? Just curious.

firstly against me wouldn't be viewed in that way by rise against, tom gabel the lead singer of against me is about the same age as tim from rise against against me isn't older, secondly rise against wouldn't be pissed about against me being on a major because rise against has been on a major longer than against me have, so that rules the hole against me discrediting out. it does have a connection to the against me song. i think basically about how alot of what people try to change and alter in the world for the better is incredably hard to do so it's easy to get jaded and let the struggle wear you down. it's a song to rejuvenate the belief in what we are doing, to not let it go to waste, the need to keep the fight going although it seems utterly hopless, tim is too intelligent to be pointing this negatively at against me, its idiots who talk about against me selling out or some crap that tim wouldn't like

This song tells us how our role models and leaders have become scared. "Are there no fighters left here anymore?" Says that we used to be rebels until you became filled with fear. And it shows that the singer is still filled with anger.