Against Me! - "I Was A Teenage Anarchist" HD [Official Video] 

So who’s still listening to this in 2024?

Moral of the story: when being chased by the police, don't run in slow motion.

The two guys who run in,that's what we need more of in this world.

I still want to set the world on fire

1:30 gives me chills. Something about punk camaraderie is very romantic.

Laura's voice is perfect for her style of music. And she is a hero for accepting herself in a society that does not.

im a teenage anarchist who just found this band today its pretty fucking good

I definitely don't read this song as anticommunist or anti-anarchist--just jaded. I'm only in my 20s but I can imagine it must really suck to have all these plans and ideas as a kid, and decades later...the revolution never came. Sometimes the most you can do is just do volunteer work to strengthen your community, and try to help people cope with the horrendous system as-is.

I remember the first time I heard this song. Filled me with fire and energy. Now I realize that I'm mortal and growing old. Stay young at heart punks

Inspiration for the music video from Laura's life- I went to the same high school as Laura- I'm not surprised this happened at all in Naples, Florida. "An arrest at age 14 crystallized her aversion to authority: having gone to the beach on Independence Day 1995 to watch fireworks, "I walked up on the boardwalk, and a cop was like 'Hey, get off the boardwalk; you're blocking the flow of traffic'. So I turned around and got off, and he came up to me again and was like, 'Get off the boardwalk.' And I was like 'I'm off the boardwalk.'"[7] Grace claims to have then been slammed into a police car, thrown face-first to the pavement, jumped on, hogtied, carried "like a suitcase", put in a holding cell, not allowed to call her mom at that time,[17] charged with resisting arrest and battery, placed under house arrest for the summer, and required to do 180 hours of community service, all because "I was a dirty, grubby little punk kid with black spiky hair who hadn't washed his pants in a year."[7][10][13] Grace's mother hired an attorney, whom she could ill afford, who took the case to court and lost. Grace was charged as an adult and ultimately convicted of both felonies.[17] Grace later said the experience "changed my life. [It] politicized me."[18] "I have an inherent trust of mankind. I think authority and government base their power on violence. I refuse to recognize anyone's power over me."[7]" -Wiki article.

I'm 34 and more of an Anarchist than I was 14. The philosophy was something that made sense as a teenager and to figure out *why* it made sense it took 20 years of heartbreak, love, angst and loss. Anarchism at 14 is a jacket. Anarchism at 34 is a better future for my son. What the story of this song is to me is being right for the wrong reasons.

I was a teenage anarchist, looking for a revolution. I had the style, I had the ambition. I read all the authors, I knew the right slogans. There was no war but the class war. I was ready to set the world on fire. I was a teenage anarchist, looking for a revolution. Do you remember when you were young and you wanted to set the world on fire? I was a teenage anarchist, but the politics were too convenient. In the depths of their humanity all I saw was bloodless ideology. And with freedom as the doctrine, guess who was the new authority? I was a teenage anarchist, but the politics were too convenient. Do you remember when you were young and you wanted to set the world on fire? I was a teenage anarchist, but then the scene got too rigid. It was a mob mentality, they set their rifle sights on me. Narrow visions of autonomy, you want me to surrender my identity. I was a teenage anarchist, the revolution was a lie. Do you remember when you were young and you wanted to set the world on fire? I was a teenage anarchist.

i was not a teenage anarchist but i am now a 36 year old anarchist

You know, something like this happened to the lead singer, Laura. When she was a teenager, according to her mom, she was arrested on the beach, hogtied, and battered by the police. Laura wasn't even allowed to call her mom, so her mom had no idea where she was. Laura's mom took this to court and unfortunately, they lost.

I always get chills whenever the 2 guys run into the cops... And that smile at the end Is so bittersweet

2010 "Yeah! Run man! Run!" 2020 "he mustve done something."

i am 45 Years Old and i am Still Fucking Angry !!!

It's very easy to misinterpret this song as being anti-anarchy yet nostalgic of times when the songwriter was for it, but if you look it up, you'll find that the song's actually directed towards punks who joined the movement just to be edgy. I figured I'd put that out there.

That dude slings off his backpack, running up to tackle, and I'm thinkin', "You go, man. Help that kid. Fight the power, dude." I'm 32 and maybe I'm _still_ a teenage anarchist. Maybe we all still are, just a little bit.

Still relevant, now more than ever Jun 1st 2020 at the time of the Floyd riots.

Against me! : "Don't you remember when you were young and you wanted to set the world on fire?" F.U.N. : "Tonight we are young, so let's set the world on fire" ...I don't know, I just found that interesting.

don't you remember when we were young? How we wanted to set the world on fire Because I still am and I still do

This reminds me of skating on long summer days without a care in the world!

I was a teenage anarchist. Now I'm rising through my union, because sometimes setting the world on fire means the slow burn of becoming the rust upon the gears and dismantling the cogs from the inside

I'm 28 this year, and I still want to set the world on fire.

"Do you remember when you were young and you wanted to set the world on fire?" - Against Me! "I still am, and I still do." - Rise Against.

The music video captures some emotion that sits deep in my core. Anyone, let me you if you experience the same thing.

I was a teenage anarchist....now I'm an anarchist.

Laura's smile at the end is adorable and I want to die thanks for coming to my ted talk

I cried the first time I heard Rise Against’s response to this song’s chorus. It’s call “Architects” I STILL AM, AND I STILL DO!!!!!

I' m turning forty today and still am Anarchist. ACAB!

9 years later and the comment section is still coping with 'the revolution was a lie' god bless you Laura

"Do you remember when you were young and you wanted to set the world on fire?" Yes, I remember and the older I grow the more the revolution becomes a necessity to me! Dear Laura Jane Grace, I hope you will stick to our movement though sure it sometimes seems hard to not lose your hopes and dreams. So no, the revolution is no lie but it's you and me and everyone of us who share these dreams and hopes to fight together for these hopes and dreams to become reality.

lauras voice is so amazing i get chills every time

Fun Fact: Rise Against made kinda response to this song in thier track Architechts from Endgame "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"

This song is playing on my headphones as we clash with the cops 2020 what a time to be alive.

the best thing about discovering a band that has been around awhile,is that they have a ton of music to dive into....

The older I get the more Anarchist I become. Ⓐ

I used to be a teenage anarchist.... Now I'm grown-up syndicalist

in 2014 this vid would be shorter as the cop would just shoot the kid in first min he runs away.

We're still here but we're looking for others too I'm 14 but age doesn't matter to believe in what you believe. Damn I just wish we could make it happen. But truth is we don't really show ourselves that much, I don't know why. In history my teacher started talking about anarchy and trying to convince the class that it was a horrible thing and was all destruction... I got so mad. :// Keep fighting

This actually happened to her in Naples Florida! We all use to hang out down at the beach at night and always caught shit due to bullshit to be honest. One night cops went down there and beat the breaks off a few people, believe she got the worst. Just remember hearing in the next day through people we all hung out with so. Life imitates art and vise versa! It did suck growing up in Naples Florida

In my mid 20s and have tears from thinking how true this is Did I sellout or did I buy in, fellas?!

Tom Gabel pictured in the video running from the police was the driving force and founder of the band Against Me! Now Laura Jane Grace is the driving force of the band! She has courage coming out as a transgender woman! I know because I’m a transgender woman too❤️

I am an adult anarchist and the revolutions of the world are still raging

I am a teenage anarchist. But apart from some of these people, I actually care about the revolution.

i just love how emotional and angry and energizing her voice is. really makes me want to set the world on fire tbh.

I am a Teenage Anarchist

As I teenage anarchist, I can tell you that anarchy isn't about chaos. It's about the destruction of a broken system. It's about community support. Violence erupts from kids (like the one in said video) who think its simply about doing what ever you like. It's about not needing a government because as a community you can support yourselves. Theres no need for a government at that point. But no ones ready for that conversation, especially those who believe it's a fad. Its care and community support, not chaos, but people are greedy, and think we need someone with the power. People dont want community support unless it benefits them, but that's not how it works. You give and you get. People are selfish and unwilling to learn. That's why anarchy hasnt worked, and wont work, by nature humans are shitty people, but they are the ones who choose not to learn. It could work, we could work and learn against our shittyness, but because of stigma, they /wont/

Do you remember when you were young and you wanted to set the world on fire?

Saw Against me! Last night live and they played this, it was absolutely incredible

years and years later and i still vibe to this

If you see something, don't just say something, DO SOMETHING!

Who’s here in 2020? Resist.

I saw them play this live last night. Best song of their set, along with 333.

17 when I was first rocking this out. I look back now and smile. Funny how life changes you.

Damn, this song always takes me back, back to the age when nothing mattered..

Even if some grand revolution doesn’t happen, there’s still hope in seeing anarchists still try to do good. There’s communities like the Zapatistas Sure, but even those in smaller groups try to do something, like look at Ukraine, some are fighting, some are starting charities drives to help the people. It’s not always about bottle smashing but cooperation to strive for something better even if helps a few people at a time.

Keep crushing life! Hope everyone is doing great you music helped me out a lot growing up.

I love how that it empowers people to just...... be themselves. Much love AM!!!!

meu pais vive esse momento.....pq o Brasil é do povo!

Wow!!! The singer has an amazing voice!!!!

What a bump in the road of top notch Against Me! songs.

you guys are the next step of making rock not boring

How the hell is this a decade old

Just wanted to thank this band. I was pretty ignorant to trans issues, and didn't care to change. The other week I thought "what happened to that band I used to listen too" thought I was seeing a different band, untill I found you came out as trans. I went down a rabbit hole of videos on your journey. And as a result I have acknowledged I was an asshole about trans issues, and have actively been making the effort to change. Little things like using your preferred pro-noun, but I'm becoming less ignorant day by day because of you!

I think this fits for anybody of a scene: Punk, metal, ect ect, who becomes dissolute with the scene they were a part of; the song does go on how Laura once saw herself as a teenage anarchist who eventually became distant with that due to how things became. But of course without regretting where we started from.

The world may be better off on fire. Thank you for the music Laura.

I love her voice. It's so punk

Such a well-done music video. I'm in love!

When I was in high school, this song used to wake me up every morning. I really wanted to set the world on fire (still)

2020 -- i want to set it on fire more than ever.

2010> do you remember when you were young and wanted to set the world in fire 2020> i do now

i think rise against pays tribute to this in "architects"

Feeling this video in 2020!

There is a symbolic message here about how as a teenager the "anarchism" we believed in has faded away in our adult lives and we realize that the "anarchism" we once believed in was a lie and this is a reminiscent look back on when we were young.

When this video came out a couple years ago, I thought it was a bit over the top and angsty. Now, I kind of think I remember. There was a teen in me I'm willing to admit to. The one that wanted crazy thing to happen. I remember.

[Verse 1] I was a teenage anarchist, looking for a revolution I had the style, I had the ambition I read all the authors, I knew the right slogans There was no war but the class war I was ready to set the world on fire I was a teenage anarchist, looking for a revolution [Chorus] Do you remember when you were young and you wanted to set the world on fire? [Verse 2] I was a teenage anarchist, but the politics were too convenient In the depths of their humanity all I saw was bloodless ideology And with freedom as the doctrine, guess who was the new authority? I was a teenage anarchist, but the politics were too convenient [Chorus] [Verse 3] I was a teenage anarchist, but then the scene got too rigid It was a mob mentality, they set their rifle sights on me Narrow visions of autonomy, you want me to surrender my identity I was a teenage anarchist, the revolution was a lie [Chorus] [Outro] I was a teenage anarchist

when you were young and wanted to set the world on fire.....best line ever in a rock song

seen than play this yesterday at the green day concert in London! they are awesome live!!

It’s 2019 and the world is on fire. YAY.

I wish everyine, who is here in 2020, much luck, and healt😊 and that you don't get infected by Covid 19

"Dooooooo you remember when you were young and you wanted to set the world on fire?" I never stopped feeling that way & my style keeps getting better & I keep reading & re-reading & re-re-reading the books & finding new books like Just Mercy. #AgainstMe

The fact that the video is in slow motion makes it so tense and suspenseful

I'm so proud of her and happy for her for coming out. I just came out two weeks ago. We get to transition at the same time, cool.

I love this video. The kid's grin in the cop car at the end is the cherry on the cake. The revolution was a lie?

Anybody else here in 2020? I discovered this song mid 2019, but this band is amazing

Love this music, whatever happened to make it possible is worthy.

This song makes me sooo fucking nostalgic! I used to listen to it all the time in 7th grade when I was pissed off at everything and wanted to burn down everything and everyone around me. Tbh it kind of means more to me now just because of that. I mean now I'm listening to His Hero Is Gone and Choking Victim, but back then I though this was the punkest shit ever!

Any thinking, feeling human being should become increasingly more anarchist with age.

amazing and powerful video and song

New wave was my favorite album but man was this a banger as well. So good!

Laura Jane Grace has the voice of an angel

Does anyone else start to hear Laura as more and more female even with the old tracks? She is amazing

I was young when this came out. I understand the song more now than I did then.

Just discovered these guys and I love 'em

im still Anarchist at 33 , will be untill i die !!

reading comments I'am impressed by how many people did not understand the not realistic but symbolic text of the video, and how many growing up, think they got wise but they just got worse.

Oh I remember when I was young wild free..now I am a slave of 9 to 6

this song is one of the best, i loved