My Enemy
Skid Row Lyrics


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Play the fence, one way you're gonna fall
Sometimes I don't know who you are at all
Your opinion is something that you've got inside
But I see the loyalty has up and died

Your skeletons, my skeletons
Life is only getting shorter
You can be my enemy and I don't care
I keep throwin' stones at yourself

Stories run in circles that have no end
I hit on luck, then you bum me out again
But there's a way that you keep the truth in check
Scratch the surface and treat it like a broken neck

Keep the peace when face to face with the scene
I got a hunch that ain't what you really mean
Weather's fair, does that change where you stand?
My back is turned and the knife is in your hand

Your genocide, my genocide
Life is only getting shorter

You can be my enemy and I don't care
I keep throwin' stones at yourself
And you can be my enemy, I don't care
You try too hard, I can tell

Your genocide, my genocide
Life is only getting shorter

You can be my enemy and I don't care
I keep throwin' stones at yourself
You can be my enemy, I don't care




You try too hard, I can tell
You can be my enemy and I don't care

Overall Meaning

The song "My Enemy" by Skid Row is about a toxic relationship between two people who have become enemies due to loyalty dying out. The lyrics express the feeling of not knowing who the other person is and how they constantly disappoint each other. The song mentions how the person can lead a double life, and their true self is hidden beneath the surface.


The first verse talks about how the person is unable to take a stand and keep switching their opinions. The line, "Your opinion is something that you've got inside, but I see the loyalty has up and died" suggests that the person's beliefs and opinions are inconsistent, making it impossible to trust them. The chorus, "You can be my enemy, and I don't care, I keep throwing stones at yourself," means that the person is continuing to take shots at themselves by behaving in a self-destructive manner.


The second verse mentions how the person's stories keep running in circles, which implies that the person is repeating the same mistakes or actions over and over. The lines, "Scratch the surface and treat it like a broken neck" means that the person is hiding something that could break them apart, and their loyalty is questionable. The bridge talks about how the person is trying too hard to maintain the relationship, but it is not worth their time.


Line by Line Meaning

Play the fence, one way you're gonna fall
If you try to remain neutral, eventually you'll have to choose a side.


Sometimes I don't know who you are at all
At times, I'm unsure of your true intentions and character.


Your opinion is something that you've got inside
You hold your views and beliefs internally.


But I see the loyalty has up and died
Your loyalty to our friendship has diminished.


Your skeletons, my skeletons
We both have things in our past that we'd rather keep hidden.


Life is only getting shorter
Time is a precious resource that we should appreciate.


You can be my enemy and I don't care
I'm indifferent to your actions and words even if it hurts me.


I keep throwin' stones at yourself
I am attacking you verbally or emotionally.


Stories run in circles that have no end
We keep going through the same old arguments and issues with no resolution.


I hit on luck, then you bum me out again
I experience brief moments of happiness, but you always bring me back down.


But there's a way that you keep the truth in check
You have a method of concealing or distorting the truth.


Scratch the surface and treat it like a broken neck
I need to uncover the truth even if it's uncomfortable or painful.


Keep the peace when face to face with the scene
We should maintain a calm appearance when faced with problems.


I got a hunch that ain't what you really mean
I suspect that you're hiding something, and your actions don't match your words.


Weather's fair, does that change where you stand?
Do external circumstances change your values or beliefs?


My back is turned and the knife is in your hand
You have taken advantage of me when I wasn't looking.


Your genocide, my genocide
We have both caused damage or harm.


You try too hard, I can tell
You're making too much of an effort to hide something, and it's noticeable.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID MICHAEL SABO, RACHEL BOLAN SOUTHWORTH, SEBASTIEN PHILIP BJERK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@billyaltavator5425

Subhuman Race is a very Underrated album this is my favorite song off it. Sebastian has a very powerful voice and he puts it to good use here. Sucks this album did not get the love and respect it deserved.

@mr.timebombman2230

Well, considering the time period it came out, it's not surprising it didn't get much attention. Everyone was a grunge fan boy/girl and so many really good albums from hard rock and metal bands were overlooked.

@MrPrinceredz

I actually have that album. ❤️

@chuckles1975

This was released at a very interesting time. Glam/hair metal was falling out of popularity being replaced by grunge style bands. Odd though since Skid row seemed to evolve with the times as it happened. Slave to the Grind was their "Back in Black" album, that effort is immortal as it was a stylistic departure of the formulaic hair band production of the day. Subhuman Race just fell flat, maybe because the market was getting lost in the flood of established bands shifting gears to accommodate the public's change in listening tastes. A good example is Kiss shifting gears to a harder sound with "Revenge". I'm no expert, just a guy who lived in those times as it happened theorizing how things played out the way they did.

@vengadorlatinoamericano9863

totalmente de acuerdo.

@buckycore

Yeah, this is sick AF

8 More Replies...

@karlpilkington3669

I like Sebastian's throaty vocals. This is my first time hearing this song. His voice has more versatility than I thought.

@ridehead8771

He was forced to sing in low key because the song is not in standard key like he did in those 2 previous albums. Bach has tinny voice so to compensate he tried to sing like Anselmo style lol

@jonbergstrom9883

This isn't his best. The Slave to the Grind took everything they had so from there it's hard to top as Subhuman Race is watered down to best describe it.

@effeelle695

I hope you listened to the others too, not just Skid Row. Unfortunately, being so fascinated was a double-edged sword

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