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Dar Williams — Beautiful Enemy
Album: My Better Self
Avg rating:
6.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 325









Released: 2005
Length: 3:09
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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I saw your flag
Another star, another stripe
What's your new bag?
Something real or just some hype
Tell me, what have you sown
Have you prospered and grown?
Why shouldn't you have your moments of genius
Just because our alliance broke with no
Civil words between us

Oh, my beautiful enemy, beautiful
I send my scorn and ridicule
You're not innocent
No, not innocent
No one's innocent

My nation's grand
Your name's not on any signs
It's so well-planned
And well-groomed and yet somehow
The past tornadoes through
People talk about you
Can't they see that your reign
Is steely and torturous?
I start thinking that I am sinking
Inside a hollow fortress

Oh, my enemy, beautiful enemy
My stride is slowed by memory but
Not innocent
No, not innocent
No one's innocent

In my furies of dream
The juries denounce you
There I stand with the upper hand
But in order to trounce you

I just keep getting above myself
I just keep getting above myself

And so I'm worried but as I stated
Things can be complicated, but
You're my enemy
You're my enemy
You're my enemy

The future's bright
There are new things we will love
It feels so right
Let's not make up or rise above
Yes, we are more corrupted
Happy and productive
We'll both live in a world of civilized
People
Though I've heard that my brand new church
Has a slightly higher steeple

Oh, my enemy, beautiful enemy
Hail to your vast hegemony
You're not innocent
I'm not innocent
No one's innocent

Oh, my enemy, beautiful enemy
Hail to your vast hegemony
You're not innocent
I'm not innocent
No one's innocent
Comments (65)add comment
Meh
Posted 15 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
 EssexTex wrote:
This begins and ends...like it never was
 

LOL, that is right on point.

I was thinking the tune was a bit like cotton candy: fun but lacking substance.
Posted 15 years ago by bitbanger    [ Reply ]
she makes me wanna get out there and hug a tree! 
Posted 15 years ago by enidualc    [ Reply ]
LOVE it !!!!
Posted 15 years ago by HarrO    [ Reply ]
Nice "enemy"-based lyrical transition from Annakin's Bleary.
Posted 15 years ago by UltraNurd    [ Reply ]
Quite like this as background - not sure I'd buy it though
Posted 16 years ago by Pommie    [ Reply ]
Amazing protest music - harshly critical while also being quite beautiful to listen to!

"Empire" is also great.... thanks for introducing me to Dar, Bill.
Posted 16 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
ugghhhhh. It's finally over!!!
Posted 16 years ago by cafortier    [ Reply ]
pass
Posted 16 years ago by black321    [ Reply ]
This begins and ends...like it never was
Posted 16 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
strictly for the campus coffee house. blecccccccccch.
Posted 16 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
acampos wrote:
Natalie Merchant without the talent, lyrics, etc. Don't like it at all!!!!!!!!!!!!! Absolutely Marginal
I have to say the exact oposite. NM has a lovely voice, but lyrically, creatively and musically she is well below Dar... But I guess we can agree to disagree.
Posted 16 years ago by Marr    [ Reply ]
Natalie Merchant without the talent, lyrics, etc. Don't like it at all!!!!!!!!!!!!! Absolutely Marginal
Posted 16 years ago by acampos    [ Reply ]
Marginal.
Posted 17 years ago by davin    [ Reply ]
Extra points in my book for fitting "Hegemony" into a song. Sure it's a bit of an awkward word, but that's why it's so great! (IMHO of course). Of course, I am a bit of a sesquipedalian... haven't seen that one in a song yet. :)
Posted 17 years ago by messydiner    [ Reply ]
I'm with Daveesh. Thanks for Dar!
Posted 17 years ago by jennabrighid    [ Reply ]
Is this a new/different recording of this song than RP was playing, oh, two months ago? It sounds much more stripped-down than I remember it.
Posted 17 years ago by dexev    [ Reply ]
daveesh wrote:
whew! we're back to the old format here... after ac/dc and zz top, i thought the testosterone level was getting a bit high for rp.
Can we go back to AC/DC now? Sounds like the Go-Gos and even I can't wax nostalgic about them.
Posted 17 years ago by siandbeth    [ Reply ]
weevilkinevil wrote:
The melody reminds me of some Bare Naked Lady songs. I like it, hegemony and all!
Good call! Only it sounds like Natalie Merchant is at the microphone. A pleasant Tuesday morning song.
Posted 17 years ago by JennyAnyDots    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by leahnichole    [ Reply ]
This isnt bad. I was reminded of Mary chapin carpenter with this track. From wiki: Dar Williams (full name Dorothy Snowden Williams, born April 19, 1967) is an American singer-songwriter specializing in what can be described as "folk-pop".
Posted 17 years ago by celadonstone    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by TobiMc3    [ Reply ]
physicsgenius wrote:
3) Much, much worse than "leftist academic" music is redneck fundie music, full of twangy anti-intellectualism and "common sense" supernaturalism.
?? ??
Posted 17 years ago by gandalfbmg    [ Reply ]
physicsgenius wrote:
I don't like that either (though what little I've heard of Ani sounds OK), but: 1) This music doesn't sound like it was written by a "leftist academic"--it has a good beat and and melody. 2) "Hegemony" fits in so perfectly I don't see how one can object. 3) Much, much worse than "leftist academic" music is redneck fundie music, full of twangy anti-intellectualism and "common sense" supernaturalism.
I think PG might actually not hate this. Amazing.
Posted 17 years ago by meydele    [ Reply ]
The melody reminds me of some Bare Naked Lady songs. I like it, hegemony and all!
Posted 17 years ago by weevilkinevil    [ Reply ]
whew! we're back to the old format here... after ac/dc and zz top, i thought the testosterone level was getting a bit high for rp.
Posted 17 years ago by daveesh    [ Reply ]
This is a fanatastic song!
Posted 17 years ago by ekeyte    [ Reply ]
Nice song
Posted 17 years ago by Andreee    [ Reply ]
hcaudill wrote:
I have nothing against leftists, academics, or leftist academics. I just don't like music that sounds like it was written by leftist academics. I also don't like preachy lyrics or smug self-righteousness (cf. Ani DiFranco, Bruce Cockburn, Natalie Merchant).
I don't like that either (though what little I've heard of Ani sounds OK), but: 1) This music doesn't sound like it was written by a "leftist academic"--it has a good beat and and melody. 2) "Hegemony" fits in so perfectly I don't see how one can object. 3) Much, much worse than "leftist academic" music is redneck fundie music, full of twangy anti-intellectualism and "common sense" supernaturalism.
Posted 17 years ago by physicsgenius    [ Reply ]
hcaudill wrote:
I have nothing against leftists, academics, or leftist academics. I just don't like music that sounds like it was written by leftist academics. I also don't like preachy lyrics or smug self-righteousness (cf. Ani DiFranco, Bruce Cockburn, Natalie Merchant). These are all personal biases, as you point out, but along with everyone else in these forums all I have to offer are my opinions - which you are free to ignore.
I have to agree with others. Your comment about the word hegemony lacking in "poetry" lacks anything beyond personal opinion. I actually admire Dar for taking the chance that her audience would understand her intent. And I think she is pretty far from being smug and self-righteous (as shown by her blue toungue).
Posted 18 years ago by Marr    [ Reply ]
More More More! The first to inspre my to commit to my music, there is no one more uplifting and emotionally healing that Dar. She makes me want to dance whenever i hear her.
Posted 18 years ago by witchchild    [ Reply ]
I've been a Dar fan for years, and had the pleasure of meeting her a while back. I just picked up this CD a few days ago, was really struck at the maturity and assurance it shows. Quite a difference from the first time I saw her perform, as the opening act for Patty Larkin.
Posted 18 years ago by Art_Carnage    [ Reply ]
poetjen wrote:
Any song that uses the word "trounce" is aces in my book.
I was thinking the same thing about using "hegemony" in a song.
Posted 18 years ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
Any song that uses the word "trounce" is aces in my book.
Posted 18 years ago by poetjen    [ Reply ]
ditto on the "Comfortably Numb" comment below. it's sufficiently trippy sounding to be a legit pink floyd cover-but a good Dar song all the same.
Posted 18 years ago by TobiMc3    [ Reply ]
to really get a full appreciation for Dar, you'd have to listen to more than just this one song. But Fiona? No offense to Fiona, but...I don't think they sound alike.
Posted 18 years ago by TobiMc3    [ Reply ]
methinks she sounds a bit like Fiona Apple... steven
Posted 18 years ago by steveliv    [ Reply ]
I wish Bill would play "Comfortably Numb" from this album. It's a nice cover with Ani DiFranco. (Of course nothing compares to the original.)
Posted 18 years ago by stephq123    [ Reply ]
hcaudill wrote:
It's just that "hegemony" is a word that is altogether lacking in poetry. It's a word that is used almost exclusively (in my experience) by cranky leftist academics and by the pseudo-intellectual graduate students who admire them.
So what you are saying that the only people who have a decent vocabulary are leftist academics and graduate students? That's a critique I can live with
Posted 18 years ago by fpduffer    [ Reply ]
Machiavelli wrote:
I see now, you have a relatively unsupportable argument about the word "lacking in poetry" combined with a personal bias against perceived "leftists academics" – which does not make for a very insightful critique of the use of the word in my opinion; but to each their own I suppose.
I have nothing against leftists, academics, or leftist academics. I just don't like music that sounds like it was written by leftist academics. I also don't like preachy lyrics or smug self-righteousness (cf. Ani DiFranco, Bruce Cockburn, Natalie Merchant). These are all personal biases, as you point out, but along with everyone else in these forums all I have to offer are my opinions - which you are free to ignore.
Posted 18 years ago by hcaudill    [ Reply ]
hcaudill wrote:
See, it's not that it's a big word; there are plenty of great songs with smarty-pants words in them. "Synchronicity" comes to mind - there are others I can't think of right off. It's just that "hegemony" is a word that is altogether lacking in poetry. It's a word that is used almost exclusively (in my experience) by cranky leftist academics and by the pseudo-intellectual graduate students who admire them.
I've tired of the hegemony exerted here over Dar's use of the word "hegemony." Pretentious. Now, the song, I like.
Posted 18 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
hcaudill wrote:
It's just that "hegemony" is a word that is altogether lacking in poetry. It's a word that is used almost exclusively (in my experience) by cranky leftist academics and by the pseudo-intellectual graduate students who admire them.
I see now, you have a relatively unsupportable argument about the word "lacking in poetry" combined with a personal bias against perceived "leftists academics" – which does not make for a very insightful critique of the use of the word in my opinion; but to each their own I suppose.
Posted 18 years ago by Machiavelli    [ Reply ]
i did this for curiosity and ended up with some irony too..... from: Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus No entries found that match hegemony. For More Information on "hegemony" go to Britannica.com Get the Top 10 Search Results for "hegemony" Ads by Google George W. Bush Are You Happy Bush Won? Vote & Win a Free Razr Phone bush.peel.com Hegemony Or Survival Get Noam Chomsky book free. Free shipping. Sign up now. www.freegiftworld.com Noam Chomsky Book Summary Save time with the summary of "Hegemony or Survival" CapitolReader.com LadyLovelyLocks wrote:
Yeah - you know I like the song, but wish I hadn't heard the word "hegemony" because you're right, it reeks of pretentiousness and an over reliance upon Thesaurus.com
Posted 18 years ago by beardp    [ Reply ]
This song rocked in concert..."hegemony" and all. I praise her for using the word. Anyone who lives in an empire (such as the USA) ought to know what it means anyway. Go DAR!
Posted 18 years ago by teeyodi    [ Reply ]
Machiavelli wrote:
I'm a bit surprised by the negative reaction to "hegemony", I would have thought that listeners here would be less inclined to have things dumbed down for them. The word is appropriate for the context...
See, it's not that it's a big word; there are plenty of great songs with smarty-pants words in them. "Synchronicity" comes to mind - there are others I can't think of right off. It's just that "hegemony" is a word that is altogether lacking in poetry. It's a word that is used almost exclusively (in my experience) by cranky leftist academics and by the pseudo-intellectual graduate students who admire them.
Posted 18 years ago by hcaudill    [ Reply ]
Rock-on Dar! Great track - and great in concert in an old church in Montclair!
Posted 18 years ago by Johnski333    [ Reply ]
This is a rocking song off Dar's latest albums, and one of her strongest ones lately. In concert, with a full backing band, this song will have you out of your seat. And, I too am surprised by everyone's objection to hegemony. Look it up and educate yourself...geez. I too am glad she didn't dumb this song down for the lowest common denominator. Anyway, great song, great album, it was a great tour. An 8. No doubt.
Posted 18 years ago by JTRox8    [ Reply ]
Oh, it's not easy to kill a beautiful enemy!
Posted 18 years ago by iMacomania    [ Reply ]
hcaudill wrote:
On the other hand, there aren't many ways to rhyme with "enemy" - what else is there, besides "sea anemone"?
LOL! Great song.
Posted 18 years ago by moonbat    [ Reply ]
Having heard Dar sing this song in concert twice now and heard her talk about what this song is about, I definitely do not think she used a fancy word to sound pretentious. Her songs are lyric-driven and have multi-layered meanings, and using a rich vocabulary is part of what enables her to achieve this richness of meaning. On one level of this song, she's talking about having enemies, having people that you don't get along with, and getting to the point in life where you can be okay with that, can be okay with not trying to patch things up with people you truly can't see eye to eye with, but also being able to have respect for them and not denigrate them. But this song also has political implications. It is on the same album as "Empire", a song which criticizes imperialist foreign policies and thinking, and "Beautiful Enemy" continues to explore this theme--hence her use of political words and images like "flag", "reign", "fortress" and "hegemony". "Beautiful Enemy", while it is about personal relationships, also makes a bigger statement about being able to tolerate and respect other perspectives than your own--which is antithetical to the imperialist way of thinking she criticizes so strongly in "Empire". In short, I think Dar chose the word hegemony very carefully, and being pretentious was in no way her motivation. ploafmaster wrote:
We still don't know her intention, and so her pretentiousness is merely our supposition.
Posted 18 years ago by kristashawn    [ Reply ]
I'm a bit surprised by the negative reaction to "hegemony", I would have thought that listeners here would be less inclined to have things dumbed down for them. The word is appropriate for the context, it's the right word to use for what she is describing, and it's fairly well rhymed. Why would she choose a different word? Should she hide the fact that she has a respectable vocabulary? Would you prefer that she pretended that she never went to college? If you find "big" words distasteful when discussing serious topics, then perhaps you should listen to Britney Spears, I'm sure she'll stick to the high school words that you are more comfortable with. God forbid a woman (or a man) let on that she has an education… Thank you Dar for not catering to the lowest common denominator.
Posted 18 years ago by Machiavelli    [ Reply ]
hcaudill wrote:
I think using obscure words in pop songs is intellectually pretentious. If you have other adjectives to propose I'd be glad to hear them.
We still don't know her intention, and so her pretentiousness is merely our supposition.
Posted 18 years ago by ploafmaster    [ Reply ]
Fair to average effort at best. Certainly not worthy of such heavy rotation.
Posted 18 years ago by Pipes    [ Reply ]
ploafmaster wrote:
As for those calling out Dar on "pretentiousness," perhaps a visit to Dictionary.com is needed, since a)we can't tell whether pretense is her real intention here, and b)that's not the most accurate use of the word pretentious.
Dictionary.com wrote:
pretentious adj 1: making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction; "a pretentious country house"; "a pretentious fraud"; "a pretentious scholarly edition" 2: intended to attract notice and impress others; "an ostentatious sable coat" 3: of a display that is tawdry or vulgar
I think using obscure words in pop songs is intellectually pretentious. If you have other adjectives to propose I'd be glad to hear them.
Posted 18 years ago by hcaudill    [ Reply ]
Sedition! ...just kidding.
Posted 18 years ago by MrSpaz    [ Reply ]
LadyLovelyLocks wrote:
Yeah - you know I like the song, but wish I hadn't heard the word "hegemony"
On the other hand, there aren't many ways to rhyme with "enemy" - what else is there, besides "sea anemone"?
Posted 18 years ago by hcaudill    [ Reply ]
Imagine a really fast, "Losing my Religion"...yeah, that's what I hear a little bit of here. As for those calling out Dar on "pretentiousness," perhaps a visit to Dictionary.com is needed, since a)we can't tell whether pretense is her real intention here, and b)that's not the most accurate use of the word pretentious. Am I being pretentious in so stating? Maybe, but you don't know that :-) Anyway, I still give this song a 4 simply because it's not that exciting.
Posted 18 years ago by ploafmaster    [ Reply ]
I'm really getting sick of looking at her blue tongue.
Posted 18 years ago by handyrae    [ Reply ]
hcaudill wrote:
Any song with the word "hegemony" in the lyrics immediately gets 5 points off in my book, for pretentiousness. So this gets a 2.
Yeah - you know I like the song, but wish I hadn't heard the word "hegemony" because you're right, it reeks of pretentiousness and an over reliance upon Thesaurus.com
Posted 18 years ago by LadyLovelyLocks    [ Reply ]
The cover art just shouts "Goof Ball"!!!
Posted 18 years ago by Pipes    [ Reply ]
Any song with the word "hegemony" in the lyrics immediately gets 5 points off in my book, for pretentiousness. So this gets a 2.
Posted 18 years ago by hcaudill    [ Reply ]
Heard it twice now and it's not improving. Not a complete disaster, but not a track I'd want to hear again. Ho-hum.
Posted 18 years ago by jah_blessed    [ Reply ]
Luna2 wrote:
Its not necessary to write the lyrics. But I am impressed that you know them all
www.google.com impress you.believe.
Posted 18 years ago by snurfer    [ Reply ]
Oh God, I just love Dar Williams!
Posted 18 years ago by skindy    [ Reply ]
Mari wrote:
" Oh, my enemy, beautiful enemy Hail to your vast hegemony You're not innocent I'm not innocent No one's innocent " ... ...
Its not necessary to write the lyrics. But I am impressed that you know them all
Posted 18 years ago by Luna2    [ Reply ]