She first gained fame with her trip hop-inspired debut album, Whoa, Nelly! (2000), which was a critical and commercial success that spawned two top-10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, "I'm Like a Bird" and "Turn Off the Light". The first of the two singles won her a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Furtado's introspective folk-heavy 2003 second album, Folklore, explored her Portuguese roots. Its singles received moderate success in Europe, but the album's underperformance compared to her debut was regarded as a sophomore slump.
Furtado's third album, Loose (2006), was a smash hit and became her bestselling album, with more than 10 million copies sold worldwide, also making it one of the bestselling albums of the 2000s. Considered a radical image reinvention, Furtado continued to explore her Portuguese heritage while leaning heavier into hip hop. The album spawned four successful number-one singles worldwide; "Promiscuous", "Maneater", "Say It Right" and "All Good Things (Come to an End)".
She released her first Spanish-language album, Mi Plan, in 2009, which won her a Latin Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Album. In 2012, Furtado released her nostalgia-inspired fifth album The Spirit Indestructible. Furtado split with her management and went independent thereafter, releasing her indie-pop sixth album, The Ride, in 2017 under her own label Nelstar Entertainment.
She has won many awards throughout her career, including one Grammy Award from seven nominations, one Latin Grammy Award, ten Juno Awards, one BRIT Award, one Billboard Music Award, one MTV Europe Music Award, one World Music Award, and three Much Music Video Awards. Furtado has a star on Canada's Walk of Fame, and was awarded Commander of the Order of Prince Henry on February 28, 2014, by Aníbal Cavaco Silva, the then-President of Portugal.
Enemy
Nelly Furtado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pick you apart at the seams
Drown you out if I don’t want to hear you
Crush every single one of your dreams
I’m going under the water it’s pulling me down
I can’t help myself
It’ll be the end of me, end of me, end of me
I wanted to go the distance
I met everything with resistance
I pulled the pin out on the grenade
Burned down everything I had made
As I struggle in here I see angels near
Can’t help myself
I’m my own worst enemy, enemy, enemy
It’ll be the end of me, end of me, end of me
And the coast is clear on me, clear on me, clear on me
I’m my own worst enemy, enemy
I’m an open field
I put on my armour
Strap on my boots
Look around to see which weapons I’ll choose
I’m going for medals, decoration
I’m pulling out from my lonely station
So I’ll call you if I need help
I’ll call you if I need help
I’ll call you if I need help
I’m my own worst enemy, enemy, enemy
It’ll be the end of me, end of me, end of me
And the coast is clear on me, clear on me, clear on me
I’m my own worst enemy
Enemy in an open field
Just leave me alone here
Just leave me alone here
Alone here
Just leave me alone
The song "Enemy" by Nelly Furtado explores the theme of self-sabotage and how one can become their own worst enemy. The opening lines reveal the singer's desire for perfection and control, even to the point of dissecting and destroying the person they are addressing if necessary. The repetition of "enemy" throughout the song highlights the internal conflict within the singer, who recognizes that their own actions and thoughts are leading to their downfall.
The lyrics also suggest a struggle with depression and the feeling of drowning or being pulled under, as well as a sense of isolation and reluctance to accept help. The image of angels suggests a glimmer of hope or a desire for redemption, but ultimately the singer acknowledges their own responsibility for their situation.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful as it highlights the self-destructive nature of the singer's tendencies but also hints at the possibility of change. The final lines "Just leave me alone here" could be interpreted as a cry for help or a desire to be left to face their own demons, but the repetition leaves the interpretation ambiguous.
Overall, "Enemy" is a powerful and introspective exploration of the darker aspects of human nature and the struggle to overcome our own worst tendencies.
Line by Line Meaning
I want everything to be perfect
I have impossibly high standards and will nitpick at every detail until it's perfect, even if it hurts others around me.
Pick you apart at the seams
I will scrutinize and criticize you until I find every flaw.
Drown you out if I don’t want to hear you
I will silence you if I find your opinions or thoughts inconvenient to my worldview.
Crush every single one of your dreams
I will not support your aspirations, but rather seek to destroy them out of a sense of envy or resentment.
I’m going under the water it’s pulling me down
I'm struggling to stay afloat in my own negative thoughts and behaviors, and it's consuming me.
I’m my own worst enemy, enemy, enemy
I am the source of my own problems and obstacles, and often sabotage myself.
It’ll be the end of me, end of me, end of me
My self-destructive tendencies will ultimately lead to my downfall or ruin.
I wanted to go the distance
I had lofty goals and aspirations, but ultimately fell short because of my own shortcomings.
I met everything with resistance
Rather than embrace change or new ideas, I am stubborn and resist anything that challenges my established ways of thinking.
I pulled the pin out on the grenade
I caused chaos and destruction by intentionally creating a volatile situation, and am now dealing with the aftermath.
Burned down everything I had made
I have ruined relationships or opportunities by acting in a self-centered or destructive manner.
As I struggle in here I see angels near
Even in the midst of my own struggles and failures, there are still good things and positive influences that offer me hope.
And the coast is clear on me, clear on me, clear on me
I am now the sole source of my own problems and cannot blame outside circumstances or other people for my mistakes.
I’m an open field
I am vulnerable and exposed, with no barriers between me and the potential dangers or consequences of my actions.
I put on my armour
I am defensive and guarded against anyone or anything that might challenge my fragile sense of self-worth or confidence.
Strap on my boots
I am ready to go to battle, to face any obstacle or challenge head-on and prove my strength or resilience.
Look around to see which weapons I’ll choose
I am resourceful and cunning, able to assess situations and select the strategies or tactics that will give me the upper hand.
I’m going for medals, decoration
I am motivated by external recognition or accolades, and will do whatever it takes to achieve success in the eyes of others.
I’m pulling out from my lonely station
I am taking control of my life and leaving behind the isolation or loneliness that once defined me.
Just leave me alone here
I want to be left to my own devices, even if it means continuing down a destructive path. I am not yet ready to ask for help or support.
I’ll call you if I need help
One day, I may finally recognize that I cannot do this alone, and will reach out to someone for assistance or guidance.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SALAAM REMI, WRITERS UNKNOWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind