In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I saw your flag
Another star, another stripe
What's your new bag?
Something real or just some hype
Tell me, what have you sown
Have you prospered and grown?
Why shouldn't you have your moments of genius
Just because our alliance broke with no
Civil words between us
Oh, my beautiful enemy, beautiful
I send my scorn and ridicule
You're not innocent
No, not innocent
No one's innocent
My nation's grand
Your name's not on any signs
It's so well-planned
And well-groomed and yet somehow
The past tornadoes through
People talk about you
Can't they see that your reign
Is steely and torturous?
I start thinking that I am sinking
Inside a hollow fortress
Oh, my enemy, beautiful enemy
My stride is slowed by memory but
Not innocent
No, not innocent
No one's innocent
In my furies of dream
The juries denounce you
There I stand with the upper hand
But in order to trounce you
I just keep getting above myself
I just keep getting above myself
And so I'm worried but as I stated
Things can be complicated, but
You're my enemy
You're my enemy
You're my enemy
The future's bright
There are new things we will love
It feels so right
Let's not make up or rise above
Yes, we are more corrupted
Happy and productive
We'll both live in a world of civilized
People
Though I've heard that my brand new church
Has a slightly higher steeple
Oh, my enemy, beautiful enemy
Hail to your vast hegemony
You're not innocent
I'm not innocent
No one's innocent
Oh, my enemy, beautiful enemy
Hail to your vast hegemony
You're not innocent
I'm not innocent
No one's innocent
Another star, another stripe
What's your new bag?
Something real or just some hype
Tell me, what have you sown
Have you prospered and grown?
Why shouldn't you have your moments of genius
Just because our alliance broke with no
Civil words between us
Oh, my beautiful enemy, beautiful
I send my scorn and ridicule
You're not innocent
No, not innocent
No one's innocent
My nation's grand
Your name's not on any signs
It's so well-planned
And well-groomed and yet somehow
The past tornadoes through
People talk about you
Can't they see that your reign
Is steely and torturous?
I start thinking that I am sinking
Inside a hollow fortress
Oh, my enemy, beautiful enemy
My stride is slowed by memory but
Not innocent
No, not innocent
No one's innocent
In my furies of dream
The juries denounce you
There I stand with the upper hand
But in order to trounce you
I just keep getting above myself
I just keep getting above myself
And so I'm worried but as I stated
Things can be complicated, but
You're my enemy
You're my enemy
You're my enemy
The future's bright
There are new things we will love
It feels so right
Let's not make up or rise above
Yes, we are more corrupted
Happy and productive
We'll both live in a world of civilized
People
Though I've heard that my brand new church
Has a slightly higher steeple
Oh, my enemy, beautiful enemy
Hail to your vast hegemony
You're not innocent
I'm not innocent
No one's innocent
Oh, my enemy, beautiful enemy
Hail to your vast hegemony
You're not innocent
I'm not innocent
No one's innocent
Lyrics submitted by rocketdays
Beautiful Enemy Lyrics as written by Dar Williams
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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