The Enemy

Album: IV (2006)
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Songfacts®:

  • According to lead singer Sully Erna, this is about a guy who was his buddy. When Godsmack got big, this guy was going with Sully to clubs and parties. They stopped hanging out as much but the guy continued to go out to places where people knew he knew the band. He would hang out in the VIP rooms and tell them that Godsmack was on their way. Toward the end of the night he would make up an excuse as to why the band wasn't showing up. Sully felt betrayed by someone using his name and image to gain their own fame. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Chris - Fresno, CA
  • Erna told Pandora Stories that adversarial themes often show up in his songwriting. "Every song that I've ever written was about an enemy of mine, whether male or female," he laughed. "Someone aggravated me at some point in my life."
  • This was the third single from IV, Godsmack's fourth studio album. It peaked at #4 on the Mainstream Rock chart.
  • According to drummer Shannon Larkin, who is the only one of his bandmates who doesn't hail from Massachusetts (he was born in Chicago), the album title also reflects their fascination with the way Bostonians pronounce the number four. He told Live Metal: "We have this security guy, a big, tough guy named J.C. He's another Boston guy. And in Boston it's 'fou.' They don't really have the 'r.' It's not 'four,' it's 'fou.' He'd be hanging around backstage and chicks would walk by and he would rate them from one to 10. But if it wasn't a 10, there was no one, two, three, five, six. It was always you were a 10 or a fou. He just pulled the funniest things. Sometimes, he'd just hold up four fingers and wouldn't have to say it anymore and we'd all just bust out laughing. And then the funniest one, this guy walked by with a chick on each arm and he goes, 'Hey, bub, two fous don't make an eight!'

    So when it came up, it's our fourth full-length record, everybody was like, 'Fou!' And we were like, 'That's it, man.' We're not trying to break any records for originality here. I know that there's Led Zeppelin IV, Foreigner IV, a million IVs. We just thought it's fitting."
  • The album debuted at #1 in the US. It was their second consecutive release, following Faceless, to reach the apex.

Comments: 5

  • Claire from Forsyth, GaThese guys have the worst luck with friends...But it's alright when he makes these wicked sweet songs!!! they've gotta have a few good friends that don't try an screw em'...keep it going Erna, your songs rock!!!
  • Connaugh from Novsgrod, Russia FederationGODSMACK IS MINT everyone who's heard it loves it
  • Jeff from Helena, Mtgerry what do you think happens after you die? this question has been bothering me for along time. how many songs does godsmack have? exactly
  • Jeff from Helena, MtThis song is also my ringtone. best song in the world. sick of life is pretty good too. they are all awesome
  • Gerry from Cooltown, MaThis song is featured in WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2007
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