Green Day

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Know Your Enemy album cover

Know Your Enemy

Green Day

Lyrics

[Chorus]
Do you know the enemy? Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, rah-eh!
Do you know the enemy? Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, rah-eh!
Do you know the enemy? Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, rah-eh!

[Verse]
Violence is an energy against the enemy
Well, violence is an energy, rah-eh!
Bringin' on the fury, the choir infantry
Revolt against the honor to obey (Oh-eh-oh-eh!)
Overthrow the effigy, the vast majority
Well, burnin' down the foreman of control (Oh-eh-oh-eh!)
And silence is an enemy against your urgency
So rally up the demons of your soul (Oh-eh-oh-eh!)

[Chorus]
Do you know the enemy? Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, rah-eh!
Do you know the enemy? Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, rah-eh!

[Bridge]
The insurgency will rise
When the blood's been sacrificed
Don't be blinded by the lies in your eyes
Say!
[Guitar Solo]
Oh-eh-oh-eh!
Oh-eh-oh-eh!

[Breakdown]
Well, violence is an energy (Oh-eh-oh-eh!)
Well, from here to eternity (Oh-eh-oh-eh!)
Well, violence is an energy (Oh-eh-oh-eh!)
Well, silence is the enemy, so gimme, gimme revolution!

[Chorus]
Do you know the enemy? Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, rah-eh!
Do you know the enemy? Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, rah-eh!
Do you know the enemy? Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, rah-eh!

[Outro]
(Do you know the enemy?)
Overthrow the effigy, the vast majority
(Well, gotta know the enemy!)
Well, burnin' down the foreman of control (Oh-eh-oh-eh!)
(Do you know the enemy?)
Silence is an enemy, against your urgency
(Well, gotta know the enemy!)
So rally up the demons of your soul! (Oh-eh-oh-eh!)

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If you're an aggressive music lover with a zero tolerance for everything wrong with the world, Green Day's song Know Your Enemy is the perfect song for you. The first official single from the band's album 21st Century Breakdown, it is highly politically charged and discusses the distrust of the system while encouraging people to fight it. With the intense sound and rhythm of the song, Know Your Enemy is not for light-hearted individuals. It demands your attention and leaves no room for complacency.

About Know Your Enemy

Green Day fans will immediately fall in love with the rawness of Know Your Enemy. Following in the footsteps of "Holiday" from American Idiot, this song encourages audience to question everything they see on television and fight against the system. It is an anthem for revolution and a call-to-action for anyone who wants change. The rhythm of the song is reminiscent of Bikini Kill's "Rebel Girl" with the military-like beat enhancing Billie Joe's screeches for revolution. Even Kathleen Hanna, a singer from Bikini Kill, performed vocals on Green Day's "Letterbomb" from American Idiot, highlighting the mutual respect the two bands have for each other.

The political nature of the song is evident in its lyrics, which call out the government, corruption, and propaganda. As a response to the societal ills, the song energizes the listeners, encouraging them to know their enemies and fight for the change. The chorus of the song "Do you know your enemy? (Alright!) Hey, hey you, What do you see? Something beautiful or something free? Hey, hey you, What do you see? Something beautiful or something free? Hey, hey you, What do you see? Something beautiful or something free? Hey, hey you, What do you see? Do you know your enemy?" is a call-to-action, spurred by the guitar and bass riffs that heighten the intensity of the song.

Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong describes the song as a "rallying song." And the song is exactly what it does, making it a permanent fixture at many protest rallies throughout the years since its release. It forms an integral part of the band's repertoire, given the context of the world we live in today. It is a song that speaks to the disillusionment that people have with the current political climate and the need for change.

With its fast and upbeat rhythm, the song is a perfect anthem of rage for a generation that wants to see change. Know Your Enemy is more than just a song; it is a symbol of hope, rebellion, and the fight for a better world. At a time when people needed something to hold onto, Green Day delivered a song that pierces through the heart of the problem.

Overall, Know Your Enemy is a fantastic song that demands complete attention from the listener. With rawness, intensity, and politically charged vibe, it is a song that urges people to wake up to the reality of the world we live in and inspire change. It is the perfect song for those looking for an anthem of rage and frustration in today's political climate.

  • Release Date: April 16, 2009
  • Artist: Green Day