Enemy

Album: Full Circle (2007)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Drowning Pool vocalist Ryan McCombs wrote this track about the public criticism he received from his former band, Soil, after he left the heavy metal group in 2004. "When I quit the band I didn't point any fingers," he told Revolver magazine. "I cited personal reasons. I said that it had nothing to do with anything other than the fact that I just wanted to go home and be a full-time husband and father. But there were a lot of issues. Understandably so, I was always the fifth wheel there. Those guys, they grew up in the same music scene together. They grew up playing together. Three of the guys were in a band for seven years before I even joined. So, understandably, I was always on the outside looking in. It was a lot of different personality conflicts. Over time, you're living on a bus together, it's almost impossible to deal with when you're living in that close proximity. I don't think it was anybody's fault. We were just different people and it was time for me to go. And when I did go, I didn't even say that, and then all of a sudden I got attacked in the press in every form that you can imagine. They pretty much made every story up about me that you can even think of saying about somebody. It got really ugly. I never retorted. Even when I joined Drowning Pool and they started attacking Drowning Pool, none of the guys in the band ever commented or replied. We just ignored it. So, this song 'Enemy' is about that, it's about taking the high road. The chorus, itself, is 'I walked the high road away from you, God knows what I've been through.' I tried to write it in a way that works for anybody who's been in any kind of a situation, whether it be any type of a relationship or any type of working situation, where you took the high road, you kept your mouth shut and you're trying to do the right thing and you still get called out for complete bullcrap. It's a tough thing to deal with. I just put it in a song instead of going public with it." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Ryu - Japan
  • McCombs eventually made peace with his old band and rejoined the group in 2011.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

80s Music Quiz 1

80s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

MTV, a popular TV theme song and Madonna all show up in this '80s music quiz.

Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks

Ron and Russell Mael of SparksSongwriter Interviews

The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

Melanie

MelanieSongwriter Interviews

The singer-songwriter Melanie talks about her spiritual awakening at Woodstock, "Brand New Key," and why songwriting is an art, not a craft.

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.