You determine the level to which this is tongue-in-cheek.

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this song was inspired by a trip with some friends to see some other friends in philly and for a little while i felt so in control and so capable and felt that together we were getting everything right and that there was so much potential for strength and revolution in our friendship.

dancing in the wreckage of the rhetoric
of systems and statues coming crashing down
on the heads of the leaders we deplore
we've seen it all before
in the mirror this fist is so f***ing strong
we can't see who we hit when we miss
but this much i know
loving is living surviving is winning
and i'll smash any state with you
if we can dance in the flames of the ways to win we've abandoned.

and by the light of the fire
you look like emma goldman
you look like lucy parsons
you look like eugene debbs
you look like joe hill and mother mary jones

talkin over drinks with an ex straight edge friend of mine
i redefined the things i find worthwhile
and i'll smash any state with you
if we can dance in the flames of the ways to win we've abandoned

and by the light of the fire...