Know Your Enemy

"Know Your Enemy" is a song by the American rock band Rage Against the Machine. It features Maynard James Keenan on vocals during the bridge section. It also features Jane's Addition drummer Stephen Perkins on trashcan percussion. The song is one of many off the album which contain anti-war and anti-authoritarian lyrics. The song's main message is that the American government touts itself as the land of the free, but lies and takes freedom away.

[Intro: Zack De La Rocha] Huh Yeah, we're comin' back in with another bombtrack Think ya know it's all of that, huh Ayo, so check this out, yeah [Chorus: Zack De La Rocha] Know your enemy Come on [Verse 1: Zack De La Rocha] Born with insight and a raised fist A witness to the slit wrist As we move into '92 Still in a room without a view Ya got to know, ya got to know That when I say go, go, go Amp up and amplify, defy I'm a brother with a furious mind Action must be taken We don't need the key, we'll break in Something must be done About vengeance, a badge and a gun 'Cause I'll rip the mic, rip the stage, rip the system I was born to rage against 'em Fist in ya face in the place and I'll drop the style clearly [Chorus: Zack De La Rocha] Know your enemy Know your enemy Yeah Ayo, get with this, ugh [Verse 2: Zack De La Rocha] Word is born Fight the war, fuck the norm Now I got no patience So sick of complacence With the D, the E, the F, the I, the A, the N, the C, the E Mind of a revolutionary, so clear the lane The finger to the land of the chains What? The "land of the free"? Whoever told you that is your enemy Now something must be done About vengeance, a badge, and a gun 'Cause I'll rip the mic, rip the stage, rip the system I was born to rage against 'em Now action must be taken We don't need the key, we'll break in [Bridge: Maynard James Keenan] I've got no patience now So sick of complacence now I've got no patience now So sick of complacence now Sick of, sick of, sick of, sick of you Time has come to pay [Chorus: Zack De La Rocha] Know your enemy [Guitar Solo] [Outro: Zack De La Rocha] Come on Yes, I know my enemies They're the teachers who taught me to fight me Compromise, conformity Assimilation, submission Ignorance, hypocrisy Brutality, the elite All of which are American dreams All of which are American dreams All of which are American dreams All of which are American dreams All of which are American dreams All of which are American dreams All of which are American dreams All of which are American dreams