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've got a really bad disease
It's got me begging
On my hands and knees
So take me to the emergency
Cause something seems to be missing
Somebody take the pain away
It's like an ulcer bleeding in my brain
Send me to the pharmacy
So I can lose my memory
I'm elated
Medicated
Lord knows I tried to find a way to run away
I think they found another cure
For broken hearts and feeling insecure
You'd be surprised what I endure
What make you feel self-assure?
I need to find a place to hide
You never know what could be
Waiting outside
The accidents you could find
It's like some kind of suicide
So what ails you is what impales you
I feel like I've been crucified to be satisfied
I'm a victim of my symptom
I am my own worst enemy
You're a victim of your symptom
You are your own worst enemy
Know your enemy
I'm elated
Medicated
I am my own worst enemy
So what ails you is what impales you
You are your own worst enemy
You're a victim of the system
You are your own worst enemy
You're a victim of the system
You are your own worst enemy
It's got me begging
On my hands and knees
So take me to the emergency
Cause something seems to be missing
Somebody take the pain away
It's like an ulcer bleeding in my brain
Send me to the pharmacy
So I can lose my memory
I'm elated
Medicated
Lord knows I tried to find a way to run away
I think they found another cure
For broken hearts and feeling insecure
You'd be surprised what I endure
What make you feel self-assure?
I need to find a place to hide
You never know what could be
Waiting outside
The accidents you could find
It's like some kind of suicide
So what ails you is what impales you
I feel like I've been crucified to be satisfied
I'm a victim of my symptom
I am my own worst enemy
You're a victim of your symptom
You are your own worst enemy
Know your enemy
I'm elated
Medicated
I am my own worst enemy
So what ails you is what impales you
You are your own worst enemy
You're a victim of the system
You are your own worst enemy
You're a victim of the system
You are your own worst enemy
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
To me, this song is a response to Know Your Enemy, which talks about how bad everything and everyone is. This song on the other hand says 'You are your own worst enemy'. It's saying that maybe instead of complaining, you should try and make a change in the world, because just doing nothing makes YOU the problem.
@pixi666 It also sounds like to me because he is saying you are your own worst enemy, and because it also say hes got a bad disease and will go down to the pharmacy, it sounds a bit like a fight with depression.
favorite song on the album right here
it rocks hard
Act two is really the weakest of this new epic...
...but this song saves it. Act two tragedy is a common theatric device and it occurs here when the phrase "know your enemy" twists around from a rallying hope to a realization of disillusionment. Gloria is truly the dynamic player here, challenging the listener to think about his/her own patriotism, whether the current America is worth the fight or if a new America is warranted (the idea of "punk" and "revolution" are indeed interconnected).
This isn't just a personal experience, the lyrics make it a point to spread the symptoms around. Can act three find a cure?
i have to disagree with that, I think Act II was the strongest
I agree with the other posts... But maybe it's also about drug addiction? I mean...maybe not, but just that.."begging on my hands and knees" thing just kinda...reminds me of that. And the losing memory party...
I dunno. Awesome song either way.
neuroticTOTHAbone: I think you're right, in a sense. But personally, I see this as more about addiction to prescription drugs, an easy thing to fall into these days. Lines like "So send me to the pharmacy/ So I can lose my memory" and "I think they found another cure/ For broken hearts and feeling insecure" seem to be pretty blatant references to the dangers of prescription drugs to me. "So what ails you is what impales you/ I feel like I've been crucified to be satisfied" <--- Your illness becomes an excuse to get more drugs, it pins you down and gets you addicted.
Now, I think it also has a double meaning. Be yourself instead of succumbing to what everyone else things you should be; dealing with your pain instead if numbing it.
Over all a pretty killer song, probably one of my favorites so far.
Ok in as far as storyline goes this song is Gloria responding to Christian's mockery and anger from 'Little Girl' and stating that everyone is their own worst enemy.
i think this is SUCH strong song of the album, i love it. i think its about how all the 'cures' for everything is just bullshit; a pill can't fix a broken heart even though that's what people in this century might think. I want to see them preform this because i like to look at Billie joe's face, you can see the feeling he's put into songs when he sings them.
one of my favorite lines: you'd be surprised what i endure, what makes you feel so self assured?
This song is all about what your heart wants and what you think the world wants from you. "You are your own worst enemy" if you let the world create you and if you let everyone else's thoughts and opinions destroy who you are as a person. This song is something a lot of people can relate to.
I love this song. I hope it doesn't get overplayed like "Blvd of Broken Dreams." And by the way, good posts everyone, couldn't have put it any better.
This is an amazing song, one of the best on the album. I love the Christian - Gloria storyline, Billie Joe is amazing. I just wanted to say that this song reminded me a lot of Elliott Smith. If you haven't heard of him I highly suggest you czech him out.
Totally astute observation....based solely on lyrics, can't wait to listen to the cd but i wonder if the music will detract from the words which alone are killer sorrowful.<br /> i <3 elliot smith.