Enjoy My Silence
Good Golly! It's Mr. Nick! Lyrics

I'm not a communist, so when they came
Since I did not identify as a communist, when authorities targeted them, I chose to remain silent and not voice any opposition.

For the communists
This refers to individuals who were identified as communists and faced persecution.

I held my tongue;
I refrained from expressing my thoughts or opinions on the matter.

Like a good neighbor, I minded my own
Similar to a responsible neighbor, I focused solely on my own affairs and did not get involved in others' struggles.

Business
Personal matters and concerns.

I trusted that justice be done
I had faith that the authorities would ensure fairness and justice in their actions.

I didn't ask what was their crime
I did not inquire about the alleged crimes or offenses committed by those who were targeted.

It was their sadness wasn't mine
The suffering experienced by those individuals did not affect me personally, so I did not feel compelled to empathize or intervene.

I didn't care where they were sent
The destination or fate of the targeted individuals did not concern me, and I did not take any interest in it.

By my silence I gave my consent
Through my decision to remain silent, I unknowingly allowed and approved of the actions taken against those targeted.

I am not Jewish, so when they came for the Jews
As I did not belong to the Jewish community, when the authorities came to target them, I did not speak up or take a stand.

I had nothing to say;
I did not possess any opinions or thoughts that I deemed relevant or worth sharing regarding the persecution of Jews.

Branded with stars like cattle in box cars
The Jewish individuals were forcibly identified with stars and treated like livestock as they were transported in train cars.

cnd then taken away
They were forcefully removed and separated from their homes and communities.

I didn't care when they came for the Unionists
When authorities targeted Unionists, individuals associated with labor unions, I did not show any concern or take action.

Came for the socialists, took the powerless
Similarly, when the authorities targeted individuals who identified as socialists and lacked influence or power, I did not react or assist them.

I'm not a terrorist, I'm not an immigrant
As someone who was neither a terrorist nor an immigrant, I believed these issues did not concern me and remained indifferent.

I'm native born and faithfully ignorant
Being born and raised in my own country, I deliberately chose to remain ignorant about the injustices faced by others, accepting the status quo.

Til their sorrow turned into mine
Only when I started experiencing the same pain and suffering did I begin to understand the weight of their sorrow and empathize with them.

I was ok, I was a citizen
Initially, as a citizen, I felt secure and unaffected by the oppressions experienced by others.

cnd I was free;
I enjoyed personal freedoms and liberties without any immediate threats or restrictions.

I didn't care now there's nobody left
Without any concern or active involvement in defending the rights of others, I now find myself alone and abandoned.

To speak out for me
There is no one left who stands up to advocate for my rights and well-being since I did not do the same for others.

ct the time I believed
During that period, I held a belief or perception.

It would never happen to me
I had a false sense of security, assuming that I would never face similar hardships or persecution.

I didn't know, just what it meant
My lack of knowledge and understanding prevented me from grasping the true implications and consequences of my silence.

For my silence to give my consent
Unbeknownst to me, the act of remaining silent inherently signified my approval and permission for the injustices being carried out.

For my silence to be my consent
By choosing not to voice my opposition or stand up against these injustices, my silence became a form of consent.

By my silence I give my consent
Through my intentional silence, I unknowingly grant my approval and agreement to the actions being taken.

By my silence . . .
The recurring theme throughout the song, emphasizing the power and implications of one's decision to remain silent.