Black President is a punk rock supergroup based out of Los Angeles, Califor… Read Full Bio ↴Black President is a punk rock supergroup based out of Los Angeles, California. The band is made up of Christian Black (Dee Dee Ramone Band, Strychnine Babies, The Chelsea Smiles) on vocals and guitar, and Charlie Paulson (Goldfinger) on guitar, P.K. (Unwritten Law) on bass, and Ty Smith (Bullets and Octane, Guttermouth) on drums. Greg Hetson (Circle Jerks Bad Religion) recently left the band.

Not Enough
Black President Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You know I want so badly to believe in unity
I wish I didn't know what I know but I know better
So tell me…

Who do you trust?
No one
Who do you trust?
No one

There's nothing pretty in the city of brotherly love
Where I was born
I've seen a cop shoot his best friend's dog
In the street with no remorse

Who do you trust?
No one
Who do you trust?
No one

Who do you trust?
No one
Who do you trust?
No one
Who do you trust?
No one

Who do you trust?
I trust my mother

Overall Meaning

The song "Not Enough" by Black President revolves around the idea of distrust and betrayal, emphasizing how it can taint one's perception of unity. The opening lines set the tone for the song by expressing the desire for unity. However, the following line "I wish I didn't know what I know but I know better" suggests that the knowledge of past events has destroyed this idealistic vision of unity. As the song progresses, the verses describe the reality of the city, specifically Philadelphia, where the singer was born. The imagery of a cop shooting a dog with no remorse reflects a deep-seated antagonism and lack of trust in authority figures.

The repeated refrain of "Who do you trust? No one" emphasizes the overall theme. The singer is expressing how their environment has led them to a point where they do not trust anyone, implying that trust has become scarce, and one should be careful when trusting others. The final line, "I trust my mother," brings a personal touch to the song and reinstates the idea that there are still people one can trust in the world; however, it is poignant that the only person the singer trusts is their mother, indicating that even close friends and family members have proven untrustworthy in this cynical world.

Line by Line Meaning

You know I want so badly to believe in unity
I have a strong desire for people to come together and be unified, regardless of their differences

I wish I didn't know what I know but I know better
I have knowledge of the reality of the world, that sometimes makes me wish I didn't know, but I am aware and informed

Who do you trust? No one
I have lost all trust in people, no one is reliable or trustworthy according to my experiences and observations

There's nothing pretty in the city of brotherly love Where I was born
The city I was born in, known as city of brotherly love, is not a pleasant or attractive place to be in with all its issues and problems

I've seen a cop shoot his best friend's dog In the street with no remorse
I have witnessed a police officer brutally shoot a dog, belonging to his own friend, and he showed no signs of regret or guilt for his actions

Who do you trust? No one
I have lost all trust in people, no one is reliable or trustworthy according to my experiences and observations

Who do you trust? I trust my mother
Out of all the people I have encountered in life, the only one I can truly trust and count on is my mother

Contributed by Avery D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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