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.
You got your head turned 'round walking upside down
Through the sunken dream
Through the crushing crowd
You don't know what it means 'cause you're a broken machine
You won't lisp it out
You're dressing up your man
It's all second hand
It's all hindsight
You don't understand
It's just an empty scene
It's still an empty scheme
You want to block it out
But I know what I'm gonna do with this big doubt
I'm gonna make it go away
When you go walking out in
The rose city
Without a fucking clue
With an attitude
Knowing what you need
What you will not do
The enemy is you
You beat up on yourself 'cause there ain't no one else
Who feels quite as good to put straight through hell
You know yourself well
You know what you're about
Just want to block it out
Well, I know what I'm gonna do with this big doubt
I'm gonna hide my face away
Block it out
Well, I know what I'm gonna do with this big doubt
I'm gonna make it go away
Through the sunken dream
Through the crushing crowd
You don't know what it means 'cause you're a broken machine
You won't lisp it out
You're dressing up your man
It's all second hand
It's all hindsight
You don't understand
It's just an empty scene
It's still an empty scheme
You want to block it out
But I know what I'm gonna do with this big doubt
I'm gonna make it go away
When you go walking out in
The rose city
Without a fucking clue
With an attitude
Knowing what you need
What you will not do
The enemy is you
You beat up on yourself 'cause there ain't no one else
Who feels quite as good to put straight through hell
You know yourself well
You know what you're about
Just want to block it out
Well, I know what I'm gonna do with this big doubt
I'm gonna hide my face away
Block it out
Well, I know what I'm gonna do with this big doubt
I'm gonna make it go away
Lyrics submitted by EnjOy IncUbus
The Enemy Is You Lyrics as written by Steven Paul Smith
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I can't believe that no one has commented on this song yet
this in my opinion is possibally my favorite elliott song and it is the namesake of my email address (the.enemy.is.you@gmail.com) and I think it is wonderful
I think that this song is about someone that Elliott cares about a lot and he is frustrated because he/she isn't getting help or telling him what is wrong even though all he wants to do is help her
but the only one who can really help you is yourself, no matter how much other people want to.
i think he gets that, so is going to ignore the problem for everyone's sake.
this is one of my favourites from ES.
I think gookymofo is right, this song is probably about him.
But rollercoastersonja, the part "well, i know what i'm gonna do with this big doubt i'm gonna make it go away" could also be about forgetting it by using drugs/alcohol, not just about suicide 'cause the lyrics go "i'm gonna HIDE my face away, block it out."
because I think most people kind of hide themselves by using drugs and alcohol. but it can be interpreted in many ways, like his lyrics usually can be.
I thought this song had been written during the basement era. I just found out it is a Baby Britain b-side. Anyways, this song, along with Flowers for Charlie, fit perfectly in that album. Flowers for Charlie should have been the last song on the album. As if he was making amends with his past, if you will.
Awesome tune.
Just like Smith's other dark songs, this song is pretty dark. It is one of my favourites from Elliott. Despite what other opinions are of this song, this song is mostly about Smith doubting himself and his self-worth. He was known for this according to his friends and co-horts (Source: Elliott Smith and the Big Nothing by Benjamin Nugent).
Fucking Brilliant.
"you beat up on yourself 'cause there ain't no one else who feels quite as good to put straight through hell" obviously about the self abuse he put himself through.
"well, i know what i'm gonna do with this big doubt i'm gonna make it go away" this really strikes me as a suicide lyric. I'm gonna make it go away, how? by killing yourself.