Kevin Martin is better known as the lead singer of Candlebox.
Candlebox was known for an explosive live show and throughout their 8 year career, they toured with such bands as Living Colour, The Flaming Lips, Our Lady Peace, Rush, Henry Rollins, and Metallica. They were also a featured band on the main-stage at Woodstock '94 and made repeat live performances on the David Letterman show.
Enemy
Kevin Martin and the Hiwatts Lyrics
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It only escalates my hatred for you
Don't analyze me
It only allocates my contempt for you
Don't realize me
It only decimates my patience for you
Don't pacify me, don't sacrifice me, don't you try me
Put the enemy, the enemy down
Put the enemy, the enemy down
You the ones
The ones that judge me
Don't justify me
It only separates my hands from you
Don't sanctify me, don't downsize me, don't you bind me
Just let me be
Put the enemy, the enemy down
Put the enemy, the enemy down
You the ones
The ones that judge me
What we need is a real uprising
Put the enemy, the enemy down
Put the enemy, the enemy down
You the ones,
Those ones that judge me
Put the enemy, the enemy down
Put the enemy, the enemy down
You the ones,
Those ones that judge me
Listen to me, listen to these names.
Listen, Diaz, Hussein, Mussolini, do you know these names?
Ho Chi Minh, Batista, Bin laden, we got Marcos, Idia Min, Milosovich, names.
Fanatics of filth famine and atrocity. Understand? Delusions of grandeur, illusions of power. Do you get it? The enemy. Pol Pot, Stalin, Suharto, Ceausescu, Mobutu, Mao, Hitler. How can we live with these extremes? What we need is a real uprising.
The lyrics of "Enemy" by Kevin Martin and the Hiwatts is a powerful message that speaks about the impact that judgment, analysis, and patronizing behavior can have on one's emotions. The song is a plea to be left alone without prejudice or influence. The verses of the song explicitly describe how any attempt to "analyze," "realize," "justify," "sanctify," or "pacify" only worsens the hatred and contempt felt towards the person doing these things. The chorus ("Put the enemy, the enemy down") reflects the need to resist these attempts to judge and instead take a stand against this negative behavior. The song concludes by pointing out the atrocities committed by the people whom the artists refer to as the "enemy" and emphasizes the need to fight against such evils to bring about change.
The song is an introspective journey for listeners, urging them to understand the emotions of the person being judged and persecuted. It calls for empathy, understanding, and an end to labeling people as enemies without knowing their experience. The song also underlines the need to take collective action against real enemies, the ones who inflict harm and commit atrocities in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't patronize me
If you try to act superior to me, it only makes me despise you more
It only escalates my hatred for you
Your actions will only increase my dislike for you
Don't analyze me
Stop trying to break me down and understand me
It only allocates my contempt for you
Your attempts to understand me only make me dislike you more
Don't realize me
Don't make me become aware of something I was previously unaware of
It only decimates my patience for you
Your revelation only depletes my patience for you
Don't pacify me, don't sacrifice me, don't you try me
Don't try to appease me, don't put me in a compromising position or test me
Just let me be
Just leave me alone
Put the enemy, the enemy down
Eliminate the enemy, destroy that which holds us back
You the ones
You people
The ones that judge me
Those who criticize, scrutinize and pass judgement on me
Don't justify me
Don't try to rationalize what I have done, said, or believed
It only separates my hands from you
Your justifications push us further apart
Don't sanctify me
Don't try to make me seem holy, pure, or blameless
don't downsize me
Don't belittle or trivialize my accomplishments
don't you bind me
Don't restrict or tie me down
What we need is a real uprising
We need a true revolution, a movement to cause change
Listen to me, listen to these names.
Pay attention, hear me out
Listen, Diaz, Hussein, Mussolini, do you know these names?
These are names of infamous people throughout history that are synonymous with evil
Ho Chi Minh, Batista, Bin laden, we got Marcos, Idia Min, Milosovich, names.
These are also names of people who have committed atrocities and have caused destruction throughout history
Fanatics of filth famine and atrocity.
These people are extremists who cause chaos and destruction wherever they go
Understand?
Do you comprehend what I'm saying?
Delusions of grandeur, illusions of power.
These people have false beliefs of their own greatness and authority
Do you get it?
Are you comprehending the gravity of the situation?
The enemy.
These people are the adversaries, the ones who hold us down
Pol Pot, Stalin, Suharto, Ceausescu, Mobutu, Mao, Hitler.
More notorious names associated with tyranny and oppression
How can we live with these extremes?
How can we coexist with such radicals?
Put the enemy, the enemy down
Destroy the enemy once and for all
You the ones,
Again, addressing those who obstruct progress
Those ones that judge me
Those who criticize and scrutinize me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind