Enemies by Shinedown Lyrics Meaning – Dissecting the Anthem of Confrontation and Betrayal
Lyrics
There’s not a moment to spare
It’s quite a drop
From the top
So how are you feeling down there?
It’s a cold, cruel, harsh reality
Caught, stuck, here with your enemies!
Who do you think you are?
Tearing us all apart
Where did you think you could go?
‘Cause everyone already knows
It’s twenty to one
Yeah, so you better run!
You got the world on it’s knees
You’re taking all that you please
You want more! (You want more!)
But you’ll get nothing from me
You’re like the burden we bear
You love the hate that we share
You want more! (You want more!)
But you’ll get nothing from me
But enemies! Enemies!
You started something that you just couldn’t stop,
You turned the ones that you love into the angriest mob.
And their one last wish is that you pay for it
And there’s no way you’re getting out of this!
Who do you think you are?
Tearing us all apart
Where did you think you could go?
‘Cause everyone already knows
It’s twenty to one
Yeah, so you better run!
You got the world on it’s knees
You’re taking all that you please
You want more! (You want more!)
But you’ll get nothing from me
You’re like the burden we bear
You love the hate that we share
You want more! (You want more!)
But you’ll get nothing from me
But enemies! Enemies!! Enemies!!!
Where did you think you could go?
‘Cause everyone already knows
It’s twenty to one
Yeah, so you better run!
You got the world on it’s knees
You’re taking all that you please
You want more! (You want more!)
But you’ll get nothing from me
You’re like the burden we bear
You love the hate that we share
You want more! (You want more!)
But you’ll get nothing from me
But enemies! Enemies!
You got the world on it’s knees
You’re taking all that you please
You want more! (You want more!)
But you’ll get nothing from me
You’re like the burden we bear
You love the hate that we share
You want more! (You want more!)
But you’ll get nothing from me
But enemies! Enemies! Enemies!
In the realm of rock anthems that encapsulate the essence of confrontation, Shinedown’s ‘Enemies’ stands as a monolith to hard-edged lyrical aggression matched with unyielding energy. The song, a fixture in the band’s fourth studio album ‘Amaryllis,’ is not a subtle nudge but a full-force push against the boundaries of anger and betrayal.
Beyond its hard-hitting riffs and relentless tempo, ‘Enemies’ is replete with a deeper lyrical significance — it’s a nuanced narrative on personal vendettas and the self-destructive nature of unchecked power. Here, we peel back the layers of this charged composition to reveal the poignant undercurrents and unforgettable lines that make ‘Enemies’ a defiant shout in the catalog of modern rock.
The Fall from Grace: More than Meets the Ear
‘It’s quite a drop from the top,’ bellows Brent Smith, frontman of Shinedown, signaling both a literal and metaphorical plunge. The song’s narrative springboards from this precipice, exploring the descent of an antagonist who once occupied a lofty position. In this impactful opener, Shinedown sets a tone of inevitable reckoning.
This drop is also an insinuation of status lost, of a prideful tumble due to one’s actions. The words paint a grim portrait of the antagonist lying in the rubble of their own making — a scenario that listeners can viscerally feel through the unyielding drive of the song’s instrumentation and vocal delivery.
The Inescapable Echo of Hubris
A thread woven intricately through ‘Enemies’ is the theme of hubris — a dangerous overconfidence that, in classical literature, often heralds a character’s downfall. Smith’s indicting questions, ‘Who do you think you are? Tearing us all apart,’ resonate as a modern echo of ancient Greek tragedy.
The relentless chorus, repeating the antagonist’s insatiable desire for more, illustrates the blindness that comes with hubris, painting a portrait of someone pushing boundaries without regard for repercussions. The ultimate message is clear: the world doesn’t serve at one’s beck and call, and unchecked arrogance does not go unpunished.
The Rallying Cry Against Exploitation
You got the world on its knees, you’re taking all that you please.’ With these lines, Shinedown touches on the theme of exploitation, a concept that transcends personal relationships to comment broadly on societal and political dynamics. The band taps into a universal sentiment of anger towards those who take without remorse and oppress without care.
In a world where it often appears that the powerful operate with impunity, ‘Enemies’ becomes the rallying cry for those who’ve had enough. The song gives a powerful voice to feelings of frustration and the collective desire to stand up against the exploiters who seek to dominate at the expense of others.
Unpacking the Song’s Hidden Meaning: The Internal Battle
Peering beyond the surface, ‘Enemies’ carries an allegorical weight that looks inward, examining the enemies we harbor within ourselves. The lyric ‘You love the hate that we share’ hints at the toxic inner dialogue that sometimes drives our actions — suggesting an intimate struggle with one’s demons.
This dimension of the song elevates it from a simple blast of external angst to a contemplative piece on self-awareness and the fight to overcome inner obstacles. The reflection on internal strife pushes the listener to confront not just the foes without, but also the battles raging within.
Memorable Lines That Strike a Chord
Shinedown has a knack for penning lines that etch themselves into the listener’s mind. ‘But you’ll get nothing from me but enemies!’ are words charged with the gravity of finality, signaling the end of tolerance and the drawing of battle lines.
These memorable lyrics provide a hook that’s not just a catchy musical refrain, but a statement of defiant resistance. In ‘Enemies,’ Shinedown crafts a narrative anthem that resonates with anyone who’s ever reached the end of their rope with a betrayer — a sentiment that is undeniably relatable and raw.
