Know Your Enemy Lyrics

[Guitar Solo]
Oh-eh-oh-eh!
Oh-eh-oh-eh!

[Breakdown]
Well, violence is an energy (Oh-eh-oh-eh!)
Well, from here to eternity (Oh-eh-oh-eh!)
Well, violence is an energy (Oh-eh-oh-eh!)
Well, silence is the enemy, so gimme, gimme revolution!

[Chorus]
Do you know the enemy? Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, rah-eh!
Do you know the enemy? Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, rah-eh!
Do you know the enemy? Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know the enemy, rah-eh!


[Outro]
(Do you know the enemy?)
Overthrow the effigy, the vast majority
(Well, gotta know the enemy!)
Well, burnin' down the foreman of control (Oh-eh-oh-eh!)
(Do you know the enemy?)
Silence is an enemy, against your urgency
(Well, gotta know the enemy!)
So rally up the demons of your soul! (Oh-eh-oh-eh!)

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About

Genius Annotation

The first official single from 21st Century Breakdown. A very politically charged song, reminiscent of “Holiday” from American Idiot, it discusses distrust of the system and how to fight said system.

It’s a rallying song. It’s about liberating yourself from a lot of bulls— that you see on TV. – Billie Joe Armstrong, Q Magazine

The sound of this song is reminiscent of “Rebel Girl” by Bikini Kill, down to Billie Joe’s screeching demand for “revolution” on the second verse. It utilizes a similar military-like marching beat evocative of the rhythm in Kill’s Pussy Whipped single.

This is probably due to the mutual creative respect the two bands have for each other as Green Day has collaborated with members of Bikini Kill before. The track “Letterbomb” on American Idiot features guest vocals by Kathleen Hanna of seminal riot grrrl quartet Bikini Kill and lesbian-feminist ensemble Le Tigre.

“She’s one of my favorite singers in the world,..” Billie Joe Armstrong told MTV.
“If they made a car called Kathleen Hanna, I would drive one.”

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Green Day say about "Know Your Enemy"?
Genius Answer

Billie Joe: I don’t even think we gave much thought to what was going to be a single or anything like that. “Know Your Enemy” just seems to be one of the songs that’s a broad, bold stroke – sort of [an] anthem, you know. When it was all said and done it seemed like the obvious choice for the first single because it was you know, a call-to-arms in a lot of ways.

Tré Cool: Like a rock ‘n’ roll battle cry. – [x]

Credits
Produced By
Background Vocals
Mastering Engineer
Mixing Engineer
Bass Guitar
Percussion
Recorded At
Ocean Way Recording (Hollywood, CA); Studio 880 (Oakland, CA); Jel Studios (Newport Beach, CA) & Costa Mesa Studios (Costa Mesa, CA)
Release Date
April 16, 2009
Songs That Sample Know Your Enemy
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