Troy Van Leeuwen - vocals, guitar
Eddie Nappi - bass
Kelli Scott - drums
[this is for the band solely named Enemy. The word "the" appears nowhere in their name.]
Clean
Enemy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're fucking our brothers and sisters up
These white motherfuckers have fucked us up
This ain't by no goddamn accident
Cameras, action, lights
What, lookout, civil rights
Whiplash, po-po, fed-lillers, killin' kids
Crisis, c'mon, get it now, sound
Projects, pop offs, issues, payback
Sickness, lockdown, get it
Free Mumia and H rap Brown
Before you get what you want
Gotta give the people what they need
What you know about Soul
If you got's none then we'll loan ya some
C'mon! Flow on, the project, the pop off
Low tempo to go off
COINTEL better go to hell
Bout that time hear the bell y'all (c'mon)
Gotta lotta nerve never knowing Assata
Gotcha mind wading in the
Water contract gotcha!
Motown, Stax, bring the beat back
(Bring that beat back)
The Sound, free Mumia and H rap Brown
Sure enough going down now
Jamil Al Amin, nahmean? (yeah)
Y'all missin' this is like dissin' this
See your Uncle Sam pissing on this
He's running real low on my shit list
Take 'em all out with the quickness
Before you get what you want
Gotta give the people what they need
Before you get what you want
Gotta give the people what they need
Cameras, action, lights
What, lookout, civil rights
Whiplash, po-po, fed-lillers, killin' kids
Crisis, c'mon, get it now, sound
COINTEL, going down lookout!
Before you get what you want gotta
Give the people what they need
Before you get what you want gotta
Give the people what they need
Before you get what you want gotta
Give the people what they need
Before you get what you want gotta
Give the people what they need
New breed of MC and get the flow on
Body, mind, soul enough to go on
Ughh! Better go on
Gotta get on so I can spit on
Guitar to get on the pick on (damn)
Shuffle now, the popcorn free H rap c'mon
Nothing new uhh better walk on
Ughhh get my talk on
Never knew a ? to get your money on
So on and so on do it like Mike - "Sha-mon!"
The original right here
Uptown Saturday Night
Uggghhh, get it, and get your head right
Ya'll don't know nothin' about this ughhh
Real thing ughhh make your soul ring
Before you get what you want gotta
Give the people what they need
Before you get what you want gotta
Give the people what they need
Cameras, action, lights
What, lookout, civil rights
Whiplash, po-po, fed-lillers, killin' kids
Crisis, c'mon, get it now, sound
COINTEL, going down
Going down, going down, going down
Going down
Going down, going down, going down
Going down
Going down, going down, going down
Going down going down, down, down, down
The lyrics of the song "Clean" by Enemy delve into the societal issues and injustices that the band sees in the world. They express their frustration with a society that they believe is inherently flawed and corrupted. The use of profanity and strong language underscores their anger and urgency in addressing these issues.
The song starts by criticizing the state of society, specifically highlighting the mistreatment of marginalized groups by those in power. The line "They're fucking our brothers and sisters up" signifies the systemic oppression and discrimination faced by minority communities. The band also calls out white individuals for their contribution to the problem, suggesting that their actions are deliberate rather than accidental.
The lyrics further touch upon various aspects of societal dysfunction, including the surveillance culture ("Cameras, action, lights"), the struggle for civil rights, police brutality, and the killing of innocent children. They mention COINTEL, which refers to the FBI's counterintelligence program that targeted political dissidents and activists. The band advocates for the release of Mumia Abu-Jamal and H. Rap Brown, who are known for their involvement in civil rights activism.
In the later part of the song, the lyrics shift towards a more personal perspective, encouraging listeners to be proactive in addressing societal issues. They emphasize the importance of giving people what they need before fulfilling one's wants. The lyrics also reference influential figures in music history, such as Motown and Stax, indicating the band's desire to channel the soulful and socially conscious spirit of that era.
Overall, "Clean" is a politically charged song that criticizes the state of society and urges listeners to take action and fight for societal change.
Line by Line Meaning
Our society is fucked up
Our society is deeply flawed and dysfunctional
They're fucking our brothers and sisters up
They are causing harm and distress to our fellow human beings
These white motherfuckers have fucked us up
These individuals of Caucasian descent have greatly contributed to our current state of distress
This ain't by no goddamn accident
This situation did not occur randomly or unintentionally
Cameras, action, lights
The presence of surveillance, attention, and spectacle
What, lookout, civil rights
What are we watching out for? The protection and preservation of our civil liberties
Whiplash, po-po, fed-lillers, killin' kids
The alarming speed and brutality at which law enforcement authorities, including local and federal agents, are causing harm to young individuals
Crisis, c'mon, get it now, sound
This is a time of urgency, it's important to fully comprehend the situation and take action
COINTEL, going down
The secret and deceptive practices of organizations such as the Counter Intelligence Program are being exposed and brought to an end
Projects, pop offs, issues, payback
The problems and conflicts within disadvantaged communities, leading to retaliatory actions
Sickness, lockdown, get it
The illness and confinement that our society is going through, understanding the severity of the situation
Free Mumia and H rap Brown
Advocating for the release of Mumia Abu-Jamal and H. Rap Brown, who are unjustly imprisoned
Gotta give the people what they need
It is essential to provide the society with what it requires and deserves
What you know about Soul
What knowledge do you possess about the essence and spirit of music?
If you got's none then we'll loan ya some
If you are lacking soul, we are willing to share and provide it for you
C'mon! Flow on, the project, the pop off
Let's continue with our creative expression, focusing on the issues affecting our communities
Low tempo to go off
Starting slow and gradually building up momentum
COINTEL better go to hell
The Counter Intelligence Program should face severe consequences for its deceitful actions
Bout that time hear the bell y'all (c'mon)
It is time for change, and we must respond and take action
Jamil Al Amin, nahmean? (yeah)
Do you understand the significance of Jamil Al Amin's situation?
Y'all missin' this is like dissin' this
Not acknowledging or appreciating this would be equivalent to disrespecting it
See your Uncle Sam pissing on this
Witnessing the government, personified as Uncle Sam, disrespecting and undermining this movement
He's running real low on my shit list
My patience and tolerance towards him are wearing thin
Take 'em all out with the quickness
Remove all those causing harm swiftly and efficiently
New breed of MC and get the flow on
A fresh generation of talented MCs, ready to express themselves
Body, mind, soul enough to go on
Having the necessary strength, intellect, and spiritual essence to continue forward
Guitar to get on the pick on (damn)
Utilizing the guitar to amplify and support our message (expression of frustration)
Shuffle now, the popcorn free H rap c'mon
Shuffle to the rhythm, as if enjoying a carefree moment, while advocating for the freedom of H. Rap Brown
Nothing new uhh better walk on
There's nothing groundbreaking happening, so it's better to keep pushing forward
Ughhh get my talk on
Expressing my thoughts and opinions forcefully
Never knew a ? to get your money on
We never learned the proper ways to earn and manage wealth
So on and so on do it like Mike - "Sha-mon!"
Continuing the process repeatedly, inspired by Michael Jackson's iconic phrase 'Shamone!'
The original right here
This is the authentic and genuine representation of our cause
Uptown Saturday Night
An influential and legendary event related to black culture and heritage
Uggghhh, get it, and get your head right
Deeply understand and align your mindset with our purpose
Ya'll don't know nothin' about this ughhh
You all lack knowledge and awareness about this subject
Real thing ughhh make your soul ring
This is the genuine and powerful force that stirs your soul
Going down, going down, going down
The downfall and decline of the current state of affairs
Going down
Signifying the process of disintegration and collapse
Going down going down, down, down, down
The steady descent towards a state of chaos and disorder
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brooklyn Cancino
Love>3
WolfyStarHV
Uh, when did it have bad words-??
I wonder what’s next.. “Baby Shark -Clean”
Harpreet Ghuman
Lol
Vishnu Reddy
IKR
Lisa Lewis
Yeah!!
YaBoiToota
Ikr
ItsTheMonkeGuy
But, theres no bad words in ENEMY
Smiling Videos
That's what I thought!
Gabby Oberto
thank you for the clean version i can play this song with my family! 🥳👍👍✅
Zoha Shah
Lol same