Green Day - Know Your Enemy Meaning

Song Released: 2009

Know Your Enemy Lyrics

Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy

Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy

Do you know the enemy?
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy

Violence...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   MurcielagoAI

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   Sep 9th 2009 !⃝

   This song is about waking up. There are things in all of our lives, some ever present, that are doing a lot more harm than good.
   
   "Overthrow the effigy
   The vast majority
   Burning down the foreman of control"
   
   Stop worshiping your useless idols and blindly following a leader wether it be in community, religion, etc.
   
   "Dont be blinded by the lies in your eyes"
   
   Plain and simple. Media. It's a 24/7 thing now thanks to the internet and television. Advertising, news, all of it. Stop letting the media use it's bandwagon effect and other B.S. change how you live your life.
   
   "Violence is an energy
   From here to eternity
   Violence is an energy
   Silence is the enemy
   So gimme gimme revolution"
   
   John F. Kennedy said "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." And this line is probably saying that if violence is the only way to liberate yourself from all of this B.S. In our lives, then so be it.
   
   "Silence is the enemy
   Against your urgency
   So rally up the demons of your soul"
   
   Being a quiet little citizen and not voicing your opinion or voting or anything is wrong and keeps you from getting anywhere against the problems facing out society. "Rally up the demons of your soul" means to voice your opinion, show what you really think, and don't be afraid to do it. We have freedom of speech for a reason.
   Rise Against's lead singer Tim McIlrath said: "The real revolution start's at learning, if your not angry, then your not paying attention" and "Know Your Enemy" is supporting that idea.

2. 2TOP RATED

   #2 top rated interpretation:
   LacunasCoil

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   Jun 28th 2009 !⃝

   Billie Joe Armstrong has stated: "It’s a rallying song. It’s about liberating yourself from a lot of bullshit that you see on TV.” This means that some things you might think are on your side might even be your enemy.
3. anonymous

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   Dec 21st 2017 !⃝

   They just criticise the journalists from the New Musical Express (NME), who did write silly articles about Green Day's previous albums, didn't they?
4. anonymous

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   Sep 10th 2012 !⃝

   I always thought it had themes of the illuminati... He's talking about an enemy that is right in front of our eyes yet we cannot see.
5. anonymous

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   Jul 26th 2011 !⃝

   Identify ur inner demons & kill them.
6. Apollyon

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   Jan 27th 2011 !⃝

   I believe they are talking about "knowing you enemy" obviously, and making a stand against what is wrong.