The moniker 'Rising Force' came to prominence on March 5, 1984 at the release of the album of the same name, distributed through Polydor Records. Malmsteen's band featured a mix of instrumental songs and energetic metal tracks, with Jeff Scott Soto notably on vocals, and became a critical and commercial success. In particular, Malmsteen's band was nominated for 'Best Rock Instrumental Performance' at the 1986 Grammy Awards. While the reception of their work waxed and waned throughout the 80s, they still earned a considerable fan response.
Website: http://www.yngwiemalmsteen.com
Enemy
Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force Lyrics
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You became to me
Lived a fantasy
An illusion
Built scenery
Played to the gallery
like so many we
All the pain that I
Had to hide inside
Made me realize
I was starved
Tried so hard to be
Anyone but me
Everyone could see
So, I've opened my eyes
I'm no longer waiting for a miracle
Hold my head up high, the future's now
Though I was colorblind
I read the warning signs
And put the past behind
Down the gutter
Now I finally see
That the enemy
is both in you and me
Yeah, I've opened my eyes
I'm no longer waiting for a miracle
Both feet on the ground, my future's now
No use in waiting for a miracle
Hold my head up high, my future's now
In "Enemy," Yngwie J. Malmsteen is reflecting on a personal relationship that has turned sour. The person who he once had a positive connection with has become his enemy. This person had been a source of comfort and happiness for Malmsteen, but he now sees that they were living in a fantasy world that was not grounded in reality. He acknowledges that both he and the other person had been contributing to their downfall and that he was holding in pain that was hidden from view.
Malmsteen describes how he struggled to be someone he was not in order to keep the peace, but that approach was not sustainable. He eventually took a step back and realized that he needed to confront the reality of the situation. He came to understand that both he and the other person had something to do with their situation and that it was time to move forward. He chooses to let go of the past and look forward to his bright future.
Line by Line Meaning
What an enemy
The person being referred to has become an enemy of the singer.
You became to me
The person being referred to was once close to the singer but has now become their enemy.
Lived a fantasy
The person being referred to used to live in a fantasy world, detached from reality.
An illusion
The person being referred to was an illusion and never really existed as the singer thought they did.
Built scenery
The person being referred to created a false environment that played to the crowd, instead of being true to themselves.
Played to the gallery
The person being referred to put their own interests first and was only interested in impressing others.
like so many we
The person being referred to is not alone, and many people act in the same way.
Never could agree
The person being referred to and the singer were never able to agree on anything.
All the pain that I
The singer feels a lot of pain inside.
Had to hide inside
The singer feels like they have to hide their pain from others.
Made me realize
The pain the singer feels has helped them come to an important realization.
I was starved
The singer was lacking something important in their life.
Tried so hard to be
The singer tried to be someone else and not true to themselves.
Anyone but me
The singer wanted to be anyone but themselves.
Everyone could see
Others could see that the singer was not being true to themselves.
So, I've opened my eyes
The singer has realized their mistake and is ready to change.
I'm no longer waiting for a miracle
The singer is taking control of their life and not relying on others to fix their problems.
Hold my head up high, the future's now
The singer is ready to face the future with confidence.
Though I was colorblind
The singer was unable to see the truth before, even though it was obvious.
I read the warning signs
The singer has learned from their mistakes and is able to recognize warning signs in the future.
And put the past behind
The singer is moving on from their past mistakes.
Down the gutter
The negative aspects of the past are being discarded, symbolized by throwing them away in the gutter.
Now I finally see
The singer has gained wisdom and insight from their experiences.
That the enemy
The enemy is not just the person being referred to, but also the singer themselves.
is both in you and me
Both the person being referred to and the singer have contributed to the breakdown of their relationship.
Yeah, I've opened my eyes
The singer has gained a new perspective and is ready to move forward.
Both feet on the ground, my future's now
The singer is firmly grounded and ready to take control of their future.
No use in waiting for a miracle
The singer realizes that they cannot rely on miracles to solve their problems.
Hold my head up high, my future's now
The singer is determined to face the future with confidence and courage.
Contributed by Claire W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.