You can't sleep at night
You can't dream your dream
Your fingerprints on file
Left clumsily at the scene

Your own worst enemy has come to town
Your own worst enemy has come to town

Yesterday the people were at ease
Baby you slept in peace
You closed your eyes and saw her
You knew who you were

And your own worst enemy has come to town
Your own worst enemy has come
Your world keeps turning round and round
But everything is upside down
Your own worst enemy has come to town

There's a face you know
Staring back from the shop window
The condition you're in
Now you just can't get out of this skin

Ah ah ah
Ah ah ah
Ah ah ah
Hooo...

The times they got too clear
So you removed all the mirrors
Once the family felt secure
Now no one's very sure

Your own worst enemy has come to town
Your own worst enemy's come
Everything is falling down
Your own worst enemy has come to town

Your own worst enemy has come
Everything is falling down
Your own worst enemy has come to town
Your flag it flew so high
It drifted into the sky


Lyrics submitted by delial

Your Own Worst Enemy Lyrics as written by Bruce Springsteen

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Your Own Worst Enemy song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    What a fantastic song! I think i the meaning behind it is about a man with a dark past and having to live with it.

    Monkeywrench74on October 06, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This whole album is mostly social/political commentary. Again, this is about the USA and what Bruce feels we've done to ourselves since 2000. Personally I don't agree with Bruce's attitude 100%, but I see where he's coming from. He makes it seem like everything was peachy before some of the things he complains about "Once the family felt secure..". Well, we weren't exactly secure - that's the point. To me this is one of the weaker songs on the album, which speaks well of the album.

    mikromgron October 15, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Naah, I think it's all about a man who lost his wife and now has to face his worst enemy: Santa Claus.

    Just think about it....makes me sad...

    Cabrrronon September 24, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is a political record, it's fine. But I think that like other times (Nebraska), Bruce hides more than he seems about his personal life. I always thought that this song talks about our worst enemy that is born from within. The Depression. Listen again to this song with that idea in mind.

    Chalsroigon September 24, 2018   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    it sounds christmas-like. i like it!

    pandora_ash_avalieon October 11, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is most definitely about what Bruce sees as the collective responsibility of the american public in electing GW Bush. As a Scot looking in from the outside, it echoes how I felt about Margaret Thatcher. It is a wonderful song full of brooding threat, I think.....

    vamboon March 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Had to sign up here since no one brought up that at least I've always thought that these lyrics are about cheating and getting caught.. Or at least could be as well than political views

    biloxiparishon August 09, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think it's very clever that he is obviously referencing his hit from decades before 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town' in the general production of the song, down to the persistent jingling sleigh bell. Not to mention the 'coming to town' that is in both songs. Almost seems like he's referencing his own innocence when he was younger.

    thelostemperoron December 10, 2016   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    Maybe this song is about when years later the ‘one who got away ‘ maybe broke your heart and is always never too far from the back of your mind returns into your proximity and you get confused and wonder what might have been. You still carry a torch but it’s tainted with hate because they hurt you. You have moved on, your even happy but now you’re in turmoil because dormant emotions stir.

    wavydavy81on December 28, 2018   Link

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