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Know Your Enemy
Green Day Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy

Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy

Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy

Violence is an energy
Against the enemy
Violence is an energy

Bringing on the fury
The choir infantry
Revolt against the honor to obey

Overthrow the effigy
The vast majority
While burning down the foreman of control

Silence is an enemy
Against your urgency
So rally up the demons of your soul

Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy

Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy

The insurgency will rise
When the blood's been sacrificed
Don't be blinded by the lies
In your eyes

Violence is an energy
From here to eternity
Violence is an energy
Silence is an enemy
So gimme gimme revolution

Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy

Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy

Overthrow the effigy
The vast majority
We're burning down the foreman of control

Silence is an enemy
Against your urgency
So rally up the demons of your soul

Overall Meaning

The song "Know Your Enemy" by Green Day can be interpreted as a call to arms against ignorance and complacency. The repeated lyrics "Do you know the enemy?" and "Gotta know the enemy" convey a sense of urgency and the need to be aware of the forces that pose a threat to freedom and progress. The idea that "violence is an energy" reflects the band's belief that sometimes forceful action is necessary to effect change and resist oppression.


The lyrics also suggest that silence can be an enemy, as it can allow oppression to continue unchecked. The call to "rally up the demons of your soul" is a call to action, a plea to tap into one's inner strength and take a stand against injustice.


Overall, "Know Your Enemy" is a powerful and politically charged song that encourages listeners to be active and informed in the face of oppression.


Line by Line Meaning

Do you know the enemy?
Do you understand who or what is working against you?


Do you know your enemy?
Do you know the specific details about your enemy?


Well, gotta know the enemy
It is crucial to understand your enemy in order to defeat them


Violence is an energy
The use of force can be an effective motivator


Against the enemy
Fighting back against the one(s) who oppose you


Bringing on the fury
Bringing extreme anger and emotion to the situation


The choir infantry
The group of people fighting for a common goal


Revolt against the honor to obey
Rebelling against what is traditionally viewed as honorable or respectful


Overthrow the effigy
To violently take down the leader or representative figurehead


The vast majority
The larger group of people (not including those in power)


While burning down the foreman of control
Destroying the person or entity that holds the power


Silence is an enemy
The act of remaining quiet can be detrimental to your cause


Against your urgency
Acting against your own sense of urgency or personal drive


So rally up the demons of your soul
Summoning inner strength and passion to fight back


The insurgency will rise
The rebellion will grow stronger


When the blood's been sacrificed
After a significant amount of loss and struggle


Don't be blinded by the lies
Do not let yourself be deceived or misled


In your eyes
In your perception of reality


From here to eternity
For an indefinite amount of time


So gimme gimme revolution
A call to action to incite a revolution


Overthrow the effigy
Urging listeners to take down those in power


The vast majority
The majority of people who do not hold the power


We're burning down the foreman of control
Taking down the controlling authority, often in a violent manner


Silence is an enemy
The lack of action can be detrimental


Against your urgency
Working against your urgency to take action


So rally up the demons of your soul
Summoning inner strength to fight back against control




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG, FRANK E., III WRIGHT, FRANK EDWIN WRIGHT III, MICHAEL PRITCHARD, MIKE DIRNT, MIKE RYAN PRITCHARD, TRE COOL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@luneeaaa

Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, wah hey
Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, wah hey
Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, wah hey
Violence is an energy
Against the enemy
Well, violence is an energy, wah hey
Bringing on the fury
The choir infantry
Revolt against the honor to obey
Overthrow the effigy
The vast majority
Well, burning down the foreman of control
Silence is the enemy
Against your urgency
So rally up the demons of your soul
Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, wah hey
Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, wah hey
The insurgency will rise
When the blood's been sacrificed
Don't be blinded by the lies in your eyes
Sing!
Well, violence is an energy, oh ay, oh ay
Well, from here to eternity, oh ay, oh ay
Well, violence is an energy, oh ay, oh ay
Well, silence is the enemy so gimme gimme revolution!
Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, wah hey
Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, wah hey
Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, wah hey
Overthrow the effigy
The vast majority
Burning down the foreman of control
Silence is the enemy
Against your urgency
So rally up the demons of your soul



@castorrene2363

Do you know the enemy
Do you know your enemy
Well gotta' know the enemy, ohaooh!

Do you know the enemy
Do you know your enemy
Well gotta' know the enemy, ohaooh!

Do you know the enemy
Do you know your enemy
Well gotta' know the enemy, ohaooh!

Violence is an energy
Against the enemy
Well violence is an energy, right.

Bringing on the fury
The choir infantry
Revolt against the honor to obey (Ohaooh)

Overthrow the effigy
The vast majority
We're burning down the foreman of control (Ohaooh)

Silence is the enemy
Against your urgency
so rally up the demons of your soul (Ohaooh)

Do you know the enemy
Do you know your enemy
well gotta know the enemy, ohaooh.

Do you know the enemy
Do you know your enemy
well gotta know the enemy, ohaooh.

Insurgency will rise,
When the blood's been sacrificed
Don't be blinded by the lies in your eyes.

Say!

Ohaooh
Ohaooh

Well, violence is an energy, ohaooh
From here to Eternity
Well, violence is an energy, ohaooh
Silence is the enemy

So give me, give me revolution!

Do you know the enemy
Do you know your enemy
Well gotta' know the enemy, ohaooh!

Do you know the enemy
Do you know your enemy
Well gotta' know the enemy, ohaooh!

Do you know the enemy
Do you know your enemy
Well gotta' know the enemy, ohaooh!

Overthrow the effigy
The vast majority
We're burning down the foreman of control

Silence is the enemy
Against your urgency
so rally up the demons of your soul (Ohaooh) \m/



@wly8735

Do you know the enemy?
VocĂȘ conhece o inimigo?

Do you know your enemy?
VocĂȘ conhece o seu inimigo?

Well, gotta know the enemy (Right?)
Bem, tem que conhecer o inimigo (certo?)


Do you know the enemy?
VocĂȘ conhece o inimigo?

Do you know your enemy?
VocĂȘ conhece o seu inimigo?

Well, gotta know the enemy (Right?)
Bem, tem que conhecer o inimigo (certo?)


Do you know the enemy?
VocĂȘ conhece o inimigo?

Do you know your enemy?
VocĂȘ conhece seu inimigo?

Well, gotta know the enemy (Right?)
Bem, tem que conhecer o inimigo (certo?)


Violence is an energy
A violĂȘncia Ă© uma energia

Against the enemy
Contra o inimigo

Well, violence is an energy (Right?)
Bem, a violĂȘncia Ă© uma energia (certo?)


Bringing on the fury
Trazendo a fĂșria

The choir infantry
O coral da infantaria

Revolt against the honor to obey
A revolta contra a honra a ser obedecida


Overthrow the effigy
Destruir a efĂ­gie

The vast majority
A vasta maioria

Well, burning down the foreman of control
Bem, destruindo o representante do poder


Silence is the enemy
O silĂȘncio Ă© o inimigo

Against your urgency
Contra a sua urgĂȘncia

So rally up the demons of your soul
EntĂŁo reĂșna os demĂŽnios da sua alma


Do you know the enemy?
VocĂȘ conhece o inimigo?

Do you know your enemy?
VocĂȘ conhece o seu inimigo?

Well, gotta know the enemy (Right?)
Bem, tem que conhecer o inimigo (certo?)


Do you know the enemy?
VocĂȘ conhece o inimigo?

Do you know your enemy?
VocĂȘ conhece o seu inimigo?

Well, gotta know the enemy (Right?)
Bem, tem que conhecer o inimigo (certo?)


The insurgency will rise
A revolta nascerĂĄ

When the bloods been sacrificed
Quando o sangue foi sacrificado

Don't be blinded by the lies
NĂŁo seja cegado pelas mentiras

In your eyes
diante dos seus olhos


Well, violence is an energy
Bem, a violĂȘncia Ă© uma energia

Well, from here to eternity
Bem, daqui até a eternidade

Well, violence is an energy
Bem, a violĂȘncia Ă© uma energia

Well, silence is the enemy
Bem, o silĂȘncio Ă© o inimigo

So gimme, gimme revolution!
EntĂŁo me dĂȘ, me dĂȘ revolução!


Do you know the enemy?
VocĂȘ conhece o inimigo?

Do you know your enemy?
VocĂȘ conhece o seu inimigo?

Well, gotta know the enemy (Right?)
Bem, tem que conhecer o inimigo (certo?)


Do you know the enemy?
VocĂȘ conhece o inimigo?

Do you know your enemy?
VocĂȘ conhece o seu inimigo?

Well, gotta know the enemy (Right?)
Bem, tem que conhecer o inimigo (certo?)


Do you know the enemy?
VocĂȘ conhece o inimigo?

Do you know your enemy?
VocĂȘ conhece o seu inimigo?

Well, gotta know the enemy (Right?)
Bem, tem que conhecer o inimigo (certo?)


Overthrow the effigy
DestrĂłi a imagem

The vast majority
A vasta maioria

Well, burning down the foreman of control
Bem, destruindo o representante do poder


Silence is the enemy
O silĂȘncio Ă© o inimigo

Against your urgency
Contra a sua urgĂȘncia

So rally up the demons of your soul
EntĂŁo reĂșna os demĂŽnios da sua alma



All comments from YouTube:

@GreenDay

We just announced a MASSIVE tour 🌏 All the details you need for The Saviors Tour are on greenday.com/tour

New album ‘Saviors' out January 19th, 2024, pre-order it now https://greenday.lnk.to/saviors

@evanmckelvy8337

0:50 or 51 What's the 'Red' chain-link about? Are you look to be the captive for the audience?

@coldwarveteran

bought a ticket to Wembley next year

@TheQuince88

I’m 8 years old and I love i
Green day this much I gave up all my presents just to come to your concert â€đŸŽ‰ keep up the good work can’t wait to see you play live ❀
😊

@TheQuince88

I’ll have the best birthday ❀

@andrewe360

I'm surrounded by those . Eureka!

10 More Replies...

@isaacureta1685

I used to wake up early just to listen to this song on MTV. After that, I would go to work delivering newspapers for $15 a week, and then attend my public school in the afternoon. My father had passed away, so we didn't have much money. Now, after 14 years since this music came out, I have a stable job. I want to thank Greenday for giving me strength with this song during those difficult years. I'm from Peru, South America.

@damianprock1650

IKR, this song even meant a lot to those who watched Friday night Smackdown

@bendorward

DO YOU KNOW THE ENEMY? DO YOU KNOW YOUR ENEMY

@lucasarce8823

Esa es una historia de origen brutal

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