Know Your Enemy
Green Day / Cast of American Idiot Lyrics

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