Survival Songs: Of Verona, The Enemy

The following song was an incredible help to me during the worst of my conflict with my mother after leaving fundamentalism. I think it’s especially pertinent for adult children of fundamentalists, as we were raised with such stark distinctions between believers (our brothers and sisters) and the enemy (“the world”). Most of us have also experienced the jarring realization that our families don’t see us anymore, just the “worldly” caricatures we know so well. I’ve posted the lyrics to the whole song below the jump, since I really can’t single out any of them – the whole thing is too perfect.

If you listened to Who I Am, you’ll recognize Mandi Perkins, who is Of Verona‘s lead vocalist. (Language warning: one f-bomb.)

Of Verona:
The Enemy

We’ve become strangers
Walking a strange line
In time, out of step, out of line
It happened in stages
I was changing
I was changing without you 

And I’m falling away 
I’m falling away now 
And I’m sorry, darling 
But I’ve broken it down 
And I need to see this through 

And how did I become the enemy? 
Thought this was everything you wanted from me 
Have I become what you feared 
Should I disappear this time 
How did I become the enemy? 

‘Cause I was your angel 
Talking a good game 
The same one you taught me to play 
You kept me in cages 
With gilded spaces 
Too small for me to stay 

Now I’m falling away 
Falling away now 
And I’m sorry darling 
But I’ve broken it down 
And I need to see this through 

So how did I become the enemy? 
Thought this was everything you wanted from me 
Have I become what you feared 
Should I disappear this time 
How did I become the enemy? 

How did I break you down 
I let you in and you f**ked me around 
I tried my best, you should know 
You should have let me go 

So how did I become the enemy? 
Thought this was everything you wanted from me 

And how did I become the enemy? 
Thought this was everything you wanted from me 
Have I become what you feared 
Should I disappear this time 
This time, this time 
How did I become the enemy? 
This time, this time 
How did I become the enemy?