Be My Enemy
The Waterboys Lyrics


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Well the dawn is howling and the mainframe shakes
Feel like I've been sleeping in a cellar full of snakes
My wings have been clipped my shoes have been stuck with glue
Well if you'll be my enemy I'll be your enemy too

Now I've got goons on my landing thieves on my trail
Nazis on my telephone willing me to fail
They were all sent by someone (obviously well I know it was) you!
Well if you'll be my enemy I'll be your enemy too

I've a bucketful of Babylon I got a handful of lead
I'm gonna put them in a gun man point it at your head
Because you stole all my friends and you gave me the buffalo blues
Well if you'll be my enemy I'll be my enemy too

Now from the slime on your tongue to the nails on your toes
From the scales on your skin to the stains on your clothes
You're gonna have to make me do something that I do not want to do
But if you'll be my enemy I'll be your enemy too

My hands are tied I'm nailed to the floor
Feel like I'm knocking on the unknown door
There's a gun at my back a blade at my throat
I keep finding hate mail in the pockets of my coat
Well I've been trying to grow I been cooling my heels
I've have been working the treadmill I've been working in the fields
And I can't get to sleep I can't catch my breath
I can't stop talking and I look like death
But I will put right this disgrace I will rearrange you
If you'll be my enemy I'll be your enemy too




If you'll be my enemy I'll be your enemy too
Be my enemy!

Overall Meaning

The Waterboys' song "Be My Enemy" is a spirited track about standing up against one's enemies. The song opens with the imagery of the dawn howling and the mainframe shaking, which sets the ominous tone of the lyrics. The singer feels like they've been asleep in a cellar full of snakes and that they've been clipped of their wings and stuck with glue. They then make the proposal for the listener to be their enemy, and they'll return the favor. The singer is dealing with people who are trying to bring them down and is seeking a response. They've got goons on their landing, thieves on their trail, and Nazis on their telephone willing them to fail. But they know that these forces were all sent by someone, and they believe it was the listener.


The singer proceeds to talk about their collection of weapons, stating that they've got a bucketful of Babylon and a handful of lead, which they're going to put into a gun and point at the listener's head. The singer is frustrated because the listener has stolen all of their friends and given them the "buffalo blues." The bridge of the song has a strange set of lyrics about the physical aspects of the listener that the singer doesn't like, from the slime on their tongue to the stains on their clothes. The singer accepts that they may have to do something they don't want to do to get back at the listener. Still, they're willing to rearrange them if the listener accepts their offer to be their enemy.


The chorus is a rallying cry for the listener to be the singer's enemy, with the singer saying, "If you'll be my enemy, I'll be your enemy too." The final lines of the song convey the singer's frustration with their situation. They're feeling stuck, with their hands tied and nailed to the floor. They've got a gun at their back and a blade at their throat, and the hate mail keeps coming. Despite this, the singer is determined to overcome their challenges and make things right. They reiterate that they'll be the listener's enemy if they accept the singer's invitation.


Overall, the song is a call-to-action for listeners to stand up against the forces trying to bring them down. The lyrics convey a confrontational attitude and a desire for retribution.


Line by Line Meaning

Well the dawn is howling and the mainframe shakes
The morning feels chaotic and unsettling, like something big and powerful is about to happen.


Feel like I've been sleeping in a cellar full of snakes
Feels like a dangerous, suffocating environment.


My wings have been clipped my shoes have been stuck with glue
I feel trapped and unable to move forward.


Well if you'll be my enemy I'll be your enemy too
If you want to start a war with me, I'll retaliate with everything I have.


Now I've got goons on my landing thieves on my trail
I'm being pursued by dangerous, criminal people.


Nazis on my telephone willing me to fail
Being harassed by hateful, extremist groups who hope to see me fail.


They were all sent by someone (obviously well I know it was) you!
You were behind these attacks, and I know it.


I've a bucketful of Babylon I got a handful of lead
I have a collection of powerful tools and resources at my disposal.


I'm gonna put them in a gun man point it at your head
I'm ready to use these tools to defend myself and fight back.


Because you stole all my friends and you gave me the buffalo blues
You caused me to lose my friends and feel a deep sense of loneliness and sadness.


Now from the slime on your tongue to the nails on your toes
I'm aware of everything you say and do, and it disgusts me.


From the scales on your skin to the stains on your clothes
Everything about you seems dirty and repulsive.


You're gonna have to make me do something that I do not want to do
You're forcing me into a situation that I don't want to be in.


But if you'll be my enemy I'll be your enemy too
I'm ready to fight back and make you my enemy as well.


My hands are tied I'm nailed to the floor
I feel completely powerless and immobilized.


Feel like I'm knocking on the unknown door
My situation feels unpredictable and uncertain.


There's a gun at my back a blade at my throat
I'm in serious danger and might be killed at any moment.


I keep finding hate mail in the pockets of my coat
People keep sending me cruel and hateful messages.


Well I've been trying to grow I been cooling my heels
I've been trying to improve myself and make progress, but it's been difficult.


I've have been working the treadmill I've been working in the fields
I've been constantly working hard, but feel like I'm not getting anywhere.


And I can't get to sleep I can't catch my breath
I'm experiencing serious anxiety and stress.


I can't stop talking and I look like death
I'm so worried and worked up that I can't stop talking and look exhausted.


But I will put right this disgrace I will rearrange you
I'm determined to overcome this difficult situation and come out on top.


If you'll be my enemy I'll be your enemy too
I'm ready to fight back and make you my enemy as well.


If you'll be my enemy I'll be your enemy too
I'm ready to fight back and make you my enemy as well.


Be my enemy!
If you want to start a war with me, I'm ready and willing to fight back.




Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL SCOTT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@hounddogjonny

A magnificent song of spitting hate and vitriol. Anger is an energy. I love it.

@frederiquecouture3924

Gotchaโœ“

@AP-ld2qv

Dope...
1st Heard this on Miami Vice

@thesmithafcforever7601

Brilliant song, brilliant lyrics.......so underestimated long live the Waterboys

@fabriziorusso4932

I need this Song!!!!!

@audreyhickey1515

Deadly.

@valerieyates1427

I can really relate to this one - excellent lyrics.

@timthenchanterable

expresses the suffering of anger. cool

@frederiquecouture3924

Happy Mother's Day 2023.

@kathykeeley352

Perfect and genuinely felt.

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