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Know Your Enemy

Released On
Green Day 21st Century Breakdown album cover
21st Century Breakdown15 MAY 2009
Single Released: 16 APR 2009
Words ByBillie Joe Armstrong
Music ByBillie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Tré Cool
21st Century Breakdown recording sessions:Studio 880
Ocean Way Recording
Costa Mesa Studios
Jet Studios
ProducerButch Vig, Green Day
Live Performances507
First Played 2009-04-07
Last Played 2026-02-06
Performances By Year
Staple (80-100%)
Regular (50-79%)
Sporadic (20-49%)

Rare (1-19%)
Inactive (0%)
Performance Probability
94%
Staple
Odds of being played at the next show
(Calculated from the last 100 shows)!For songs debuted recently, the percentage is calculated against total shows performed since the song's debut date rather than the full 100-show window.
Song Notes

It’s a rallying song. It's about liberating yourself from a lot of bullshit that you see on TV. It’s about the silence and the static and the era of contraband—trying to find the truth in all the noise.
Billie Joe Armstrong (Q Magazine)

Lyrics
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! Violence is an energy against the enemy Well, violence is an energy, rah-eh! Bringing on the fury, the choir infantry Revolt against the honor to obey (Oh-eh-oh-eh!) Overthrow the effigy, the vast majority While burning down the foreman of control (Oh-eh-oh-eh!) And silence is an enemy against your urgency So rally up the demons of your soul (Oh-eh-oh-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! The insurgency will rise When the blood's been sacrificed Don't be blinded by the lies in your eyes, say! Oh-eh-oh-eh! Oh-eh-oh-eh! 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! 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! (Do you know the enemy?) Overthrow the effigy, the vast majority (Well, gotta know the enemy!) While burning 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!)
Music Video
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Fan Rating
Know Your Enemy
Rating: 3.7/5. From 230 votes. Show votes.
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Billboard Charts
  • #1 Alternative Airplay (6 weeks)
  • #1 Rock Airplay (3 weeks)
  • #1 Hot Rock & Alt (1 week)
  • #1 Rock & Alt Airplay (1 week)
  • #28 Hot 100
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