Evil Friends

"And it's nothing against or to do with you"

I feel like this could be about throwing old shitty computers off of mountains, then maybe shooting at them or not.

I think the other comments on here have somewhat overlooked the religious aspects of this song, such as:

"I've got a friend in the devil" and "Before you were born, I was already sinning"

I could be wrong, but I think when he says "you", he is addressing people who are religious and view themselves as being morally superior.

"And it's not that I'm evil, I've got a friend in the devil"

^ In my opinion, these lines are saying that he is not trying hurt anyone or do anything that he feels is wrong. Instead, he is just having fun doing what they consider to be sinning.

"I don't wanna be friend, You'll never find a friend like me"

^ These lines seem rather literal to me. He is saying that he could never be friends with someone who thinks he is "evil" and that they wouldn't want to be friends with him anyway.

Basically, I think this song is along the same lines as Modern Jesus.

pretty sure it's "the thief that leads" in first couple lines, not beef. awesome song.

I don't think we should read between the lines too much. I think it's about him liking a girl and wanting to be more than friends - whether that be boyfriend/girlfriend, or fuck buddies. I think he's telling the girl, "If all you want to be is friends, I've got enough of those."

This isn't a fantastic song on its own, but it's almost a necessary element of the album altogether. Definitely distills the whole "I'm pretty messed up, I don't know where I fit into all of this, but I know I don't need you" vibe that permeates the record..

The first 2 songs of "Evil Friends" set the stage for this, the title track. This song in turn provides the tone/attitude which gives greater depth to the rest of the album.

To review, from Plastic Soldiers: "I'd like to stay by my friends... but I can't keep my head up." In that intro song, he's struggling to maintain his most basic relationships on an existential level under some oppressive heat, a kind of drowning, a burial in the dirt. It's also clear that he's addressing a younger person: "You've got the time, the rest of us will live and die..."

In Creep In a T-Shirt, in some washed-out haze, he addresses the vision of a cop (perhaps just in his head), who he's having to answer to for his confusion. Feeling like an alien himself, he doesn't know how to distinguish between friends and strangers, but he DOESN'T CARE! Why should he, anyway? We also first hear the melodic theme which becomes the chorus for this track. Therein lies the key!

"It's not because the light here is brighter And it's not that I'm evil, I just don't like to pretend That I could ever be your friend"

In other words, "I don't think I'm better than you, and I'm not out to get you or bring you down... I just can't keep lying to myself. WE'RE NOT FRIENDS."

It can be for any reason - religious, political, personal, or otherwise... but we're often terrified to let go of people we consider to be our friends, even if they're BAD for us.

How do you get around that, or change it? His response is radical self reliance. "Sins" often arise from doing so - drugs, sex, and fun, to get to know yourself. Be your own friend first and foremost. Stop giving so many !@$#s about what other people think, period.

ESPECIALLY YOUR $!@#ING "FRIENDS".

For this entire album, it is my belief that John is actually taking on the voices of distinct characters. If you have listened to his past albums, he is not a particularly self-loathing person, he acknowledges his struggles, but certainly there isn't self-hatred. Also, John is known for his story-telling lyrics. This album is a shift because he is now telling stories but from the first-person, however; not necessarily his actual voice. I think with most of these songs, except the final track which really sounds like his own voice, he is providing commentary on certain perspectives, attitudes, and lifestyles through that first person. I think in the case of Evil Friends, it is actually referring to a very narcissistic, self-involved individual. I think we have a lot of platforms, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, that really let the narcissistic person self-indulge constantly. I think, as a result, this certain character no longer has much interest in cultivating relationships with others because they spend so much time trying to cultivate their own image for others to consume.

AGAIN John is telling us that hes damaged goods, stay away...I dont want or need friends...he talks alot about "sinning" and how people dont approve of his lifestyle choices..again I only have 2 albums form the dude but sexuality and maybe suggestions of being bipolar surface in this track...one thing for sure, all 3 tracks are completely SELF LOATHING...believe me i struggle with many issues of self esteem that seem to be a theme here...cant wait for others to tell me if im just hearing my own issues or what lol