Early years
Days of the New began as an experimental rock/metal trio called Dead Reckoning, with Meeks, Matt Taul, and Jesse Vest. When they turned to an acoustic sound, they changed the name of the band, as well as added guitarist Todd Whitener.
A demo version of the song "Freak" appeared on the Harvest Showcase Volume 3, a compilation of Louisville area artists. This recording features a solo performance by Travis Meeks but is credited to Days of the New. Jesse Vest and Matt Taul are listed as band members in the liner notes; although, they do not appear on this recording.
Producer Scott Litt signed the band after their third live show.
1996-1998
The band recorded their debut album in October and November 1996. The first Days of the New release, an eponymous album frequently called "Orange" or "Yellow" after the color of the disc and liner notes, was released in 1997, selling 1.5 million copies worldwide. Three songs from this album were hits: "Touch, Peel and Stand," "The Down Town," and "Shelf in the Room." The former was #1 on Billboard's Rock Chart for 17 weeks; "The Down Town" and "Shelf in the Room" were each top 40 hits.
Internal problems of the band were evident early on. Shortly after releasing their debut album, Days of the New began touring for small shows. MTV reported that, after missing a Florida concert in April, the band members appeared physically black-eyed and beaten the following day after what sources claimed to be a band brawl. They then toured with Metallica and Jerry Cantrell starting in West Palm Beach, Florida on June 24, 1998. Meeks later criticized this billing, stating that, due to their acoustic sound, Days of the New should have toured with a group like Dave Matthews Band.
Just before starting this summer tour, however, Meeks had already told interviewers that all of his fellow band members were holding him back and, consequently, were being released from the group. He also said that they were disappointed by this decision but that he thought they would remain friends. An Outpost spokesperson, however, claimed that "Travis just talks" and that nothing was official. Before they could fulfill club touring duties with Finger 11 and Flight 16 in December, without citing reason, Meeks canceled in early November. Various explanations were given by band members and a label spokesperson including poor tour scheduling, band fighting, and even Meeks being physically ill. It was finally confirmed in February 1999 that the band indeed split up. Todd Whitener, Matt Taul, and Jesse Vest would go on to form C14, soon renamed Tantric, while Meeks formed a new band under the Days of the New name.
Over the years, two somewhat contradictory versions of the original Days of the New breakup have developed. It was widely reported in 1998 and still believed that Travis Meeks fired his fellow musicians, aided largely by his personal comments; however, he has since said that this is not true and that they left out of jealousy due to the fact that he wrote virtually all of the songs and received all royalty checks. When Meeks first announced their departure months prior to its conceiving, and without label confirmation, he gave a less than positive remark, stating "It's like a journey in the wilderness - you know with like the struggle and stuff. I made it through, I survived, but the other guys didn't." Meeks also posted comments on a fan message board: "It wasn't truly a band format. It is my fault for leading you on and setting you up to get attached to the prior members." However, the following year during a live online chat, he seemed quite comfortable with the circumstance and treated it as though it were more mutual between them. Meeks has since said to have empathy toward their supposed choice to leave and claims to understand their viewpoint.
1999-2001
Just one year after the original band's breakup, Meeks had assembled a new Days of the New and recorded a second album. Titled Days of the New, and often referred to as "Green." The album was released August 31, 1999 and introduced a variety of different styles. Many of the album's songs contained intros and codas to seamlessly carry into the next song. Meeks debuted his new band on September 4, 1999 at the Ear Xtacy store in Louisville.
Critics were fairly enthusiastic of "Green," but the album sold poorly compared to the first, selling around 450,000 copies. The lead single, "Enemy," was a major hit while its follow up single, "Weapon and the Wound" met with marginal success. After touring to support the album, Meeks contributed to the Doors tribute album Stoned Immaculate: The Music of the Doors as lead vocalist on a cover of "The End" and "L.A. Woman."
In February 2000, Meeks returned to the studio with a new band and was finished by July. Still using the Days of the New name, the third album incorporated aspects of the previous two - much of the energy from the first album had returned, combined with orchestral interludes similar to the second album. In keeping with the previous albums' names, the third album is also called Days of the New, or "Red."
The first single "Hang On to This" charted fairly and was the most added song on rock radio the week it was released. However, the album was released two weeks after the 9/11 attacks and, with very little promotion, only sold 90,000 copies. The band maintained a profile touring with the likes of Creed and 3 Doors Down.
2002-present
After touring for "Red," the band went through a period of inactivity, when they parted ways with Interscope. In the later half of 2003, Travis Meeks embarked on a solo tour performing at small venues. He continued to suffer from drug addiction and, in early 2005, appeared on A&E's Intervention, where his family and friends convinced him to enter rehab and battle his addiction to methamphetamine.
In September 2005, Meeks declared sobriety, and resumed writing for a fourth Days of the New record, with the tentative color being Purple. After relocating to New York to reunite with Ray Rizzo, they began touring. In October 2007, the band entered a studio in New York to begin work on Purple. It has been hinted that the record may be recorded and released independently, giving the band artistic freedom and less pressure to be commercially successful. The record is said to have a theatrical sound, with the incorporation of upright bass, koto, hammered dulcimer and cello. Some of the songs tracked for the record include "Superhero," "Touch of Anger," and "Where It Ends." The album will be financed through fan pre-orders and donations via Paypal.
On March 4, 2008, Days of the New released their first compilation disc, Days of the New: The Definitive Collection.
In an interview with LEO Weekly, an alternative magazine out of Louisville, Kentucky, Travis stated that the upcoming record will be called Days of the New Presents Tree Colors.
August 2011. Days of New has cancelled their current tour and according to their manager Travis Meeks has entered rehab for an extended period of time.
Enemy
Days of the New Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm not the one who is trying to change you...yeah.
And if you come to understand, it will be okay yeah
You need to change it now!
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
That's somethin' you need to change.
So listen down you little man
I'm not the one who is trying to change you, yeah.
And if you come to understand, it will be okay yeah
You need to change it!
So listen down you little man
I'm not the one who is trying to change you...yeah.
And if you listen very hard, it will be okay yeah
You need to change it now!
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
I went in killing the sun I once won, I once won
I went in killing the sun I once won, I once won
I went in killing the sun I once won, I once won
I went in killing the sun I once won, I once won
You need to change it
You need to change it
You need to change it
You need to change it
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
Your enemy, your enemy
The lyrics to Days of the New's song "Enemy" convey a message of frustration with someone who is resistant to change. The singer is addressing someone who they believe needs to change, as they feel that person is their own worst enemy. The singer is not necessarily trying to be that person's enemy, but rather trying to help them see that they need to change something about themselves in order to better their situation.
The opening lines of the song, "So listen down you little man, I'm not the one who is trying to change you," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is not interested in trying to change the other person, but rather trying to get them to understand that they need to make some changes in their own life. The repetition of the line, "I'm not the one who's trying to be your enemy," emphasizes the idea that the singer is not actively trying to cause harm or conflict, but rather trying to help the other person.
The repeated line, "You need to change it," emphasizes the idea that the other person needs to take responsibility for their own actions and make changes in their own life. The line, "I went in killing the sun I once won," is a metaphor for destroying something that was once good or positive. This line emphasizes the idea that the other person is their own worst enemy, as they are destroying something that was once positive in their own life.
Overall, "Enemy" is a song that addresses the idea of personal responsibility and the need for change. The singer is not trying to be the other person's enemy, but rather trying to help them see that they need to make changes in their own life. The song has a message of hope, as the singer believes that if the other person can come to understand the need for change, things will be okay.
Line by Line Meaning
So listen down you little man
I am addressing you in a firm manner.
I'm not the one who is trying to change you...yeah.
I am not attempting to influence or alter you.
And if you come to understand, it will be okay yeah
If you comprehend the situation better, it will be alright.
You need to change it now!
You must alter the circumstances immediately.
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be
I am not intentionally behaving as
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
I do not have any ill intentions towards you.
That's somethin' you need to change.
It's up to you to alter the current state of affairs.
And if you listen very hard, it will be okay yeah
If you put in extra effort to understand the situation, it will all work out.
I went in killing the sun I once won, I once won
I destroyed something valuable that was previously mine.
You need to change it
You must take action to modify the situation.
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
I do not have any sinister motives towards you.
Your enemy, your enemy
The person who is against you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TRAVIS SHANE MEEKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brecca Lynn
So listen down you little man
I'm not the one who is trying to change you...yeah.
And if you come to understand, it will be okay yeah
You need to change it now!
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
So listen down you little man
I'm not the one who is trying to change you, yeah.
And if you come to understand, it will be okay yeah
You need to change it!
So listen down you little man
I'm not the one who is trying to change you...yeah.
And if you listen very hard, it will be okay yeah
You need to change it now!
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
I went in killing the sun I once won, I once won
I went in killing the sun I once won, I once won
I went in killing the sun I once won, I once won
I went in killing the sun I once won, I once won
You need to change it
You need to change it
You need to change it
You need to change it
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
Your enemy, your enemy
Scripulance.
So listen down you little man
I'm not the one who is trying to change you...yeah.
And if you come to understand, it will be okay yeah
You need to change it now!
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
So listen down you little man
I'm not the one who is trying to change you, yeah.
And if you come to understand, it will be okay yeah
You need to change it!
So listen down you little man
I'm not the one who is trying to change you...yeah.
And if you listen very hard, it will be okay yeah
You need to change it now!
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
I went in killing the sun I once won, I once won
I went in killing the sun I once won, I once won
I went in killing the sun I once won, I once won
I went in killing the sun I once won, I once won
You need to change it
You need to change it
You need to change it
You need to change it
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
Your enemy, your enemy
Dead channel
So listen down you little man
I'm not the one who is trying to change you...yeah.
And if you come to understand, it will be okay yeah
You need to change it now!
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
So listen down you little man
I'm not the one who is trying to change you, yeah.
And if you come to understand, it will be okay yeah
You need to change it!
So listen down you little man
I'm not the one who is trying to change you...yeah.
And if you listen very hard, it will be okay yeah
You need to change it now!
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
That's somethin' you need to change.
I went in killing the sun I once won, I once won
I went in killing the sun I once won, I once won
I went in killing the sun I once won, I once won
I went in killing the sun I once won, I once won
You need to change it
You need to change it
You need to change it
You need to change it
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
I'm not the one who's tryin' to be your enemy!
Your enemy, your enemy
Chelsey Lirette
It's so incredibly sad that he suffered from such a strong addiction. His voice is easily one of the best I've ever heard. As a recovering addict, watching this video and listening to this band reminds me that no one is exempt from addiction. I hope he's gotten clean and has his life on track. I know he has at least a daughter, not sure if he ever had more children. He's a beautiful soul.
John Herrington
No. He said fuck it.
Andrew Z
I just discovered this song last week and can't stop playing it. Pure banger
bonek350
The album version had a guitar solo at the end that was the best acoustic guitar solo I've ever heard.
Defunct User Channel
It's a masterpiece
Fake Name
the solo is my ringtone
Smoked Cheese Sweet Home
This and the extended version of "Return of the Mack" have two of my favorite outtros.
Jim Duke
no money for more video clip.. shit is expensive :P
Buck Melanoma
You need to listen to more music.
Rawk Guy
Imagine an alternate universe where Days of the New released one genre defining album after another over and over again. Going over all colors of the rainbow and exposing the acoustic to every genre of music.
Travis does special shows with an orchestra now and then, Nicole is the guest female singer on every album, he's patched things up with Todd Jesse and Matt, and they even record a "roots" album once in awhile... Fuck man. I'm grateful for those first three albums but this guy had so much more to give.