'Own Worst Enemy' By Gavin Adcock – Lyrics & Meaning

The title track to Gavin Adcock’s new studio album, Own Worst Enemy, is a telling tune. Perhaps a projection of himself onto listeners or maybe even a cautionary tale to those who tend to self-sabotage, the song is an overall reflection of how people so often get in their own ways.

There are offerings like this very one throughout the album, with Adcock revealing a lot about himself in between the wailing of a guitar and pulsing of drums.

Of Own Worst Enemy, which arrived on Aug. 15, the artist has shared, "Over the last 4 years I’ve spent my life writing, traveling, and trying to find time to breathe. It doesn’t always add up on paper like it would seem, but through the happiness, hard times and self destruction I’ve found the best part of my job is letting out music for my fans. I can’t thank y’all enough for sticking with me for this long. I’m the furthest thing from perfect and I don’t ever plan to be."

Here, we're diving into the star's self-penned anthem about the self-destructive behaviors that keep us at an arms' length from those around us.

Coming to life in a trickle of pensive strings, 'Own Worst Enemy', at its core, has a wary sound, careful and cautious notes forming the crux of the darkened tune. While the chorus unfolds in a rush of arena-ready percussion and electrics, the song never strays too far from its tentative foundation.

"You're fallin' right through the cracks, and you don't even know
Every time you hit a lick, it's all just for show
You say you want something to have it not need it
Maybe one day you'll see, you're your own worst enemy"

Throughout 'Own Worst Enemy', Adcock sings of living life with a mask on, going through the motions of this existence and holding up a shiny facade to those around him.

It seems that he regularly puts on a show of happiness and peace when, in reality, he's struggling.

While he uses the pronoun of "you're", as if he's directing his message to listeners, it's almost like he's deflecting, having to separate himself from his own pain in order to speak about it openly.

"You tear right through the night, like a thief with a gun
Flashing a smile for your friends, like you're still having fun
You can't hide behind sad eyes forever
Everyone that knows you can see you're your own worst enemy
Your own worst enemy"

He sings of such existential struggles like they're self-induced, like every individual is holding themselves back from fully feeling happy, accepted, content. In other words, we're all our own worst enemies.

Almost acting like a wakeup call, 'Own Worst Enemy' attempts to speak to the people, including himself, who tend to self-destruct by plastering their pain with false smiles and, in turn, hurt themselves and those around them further when they choose to keep everyone, everything, every feeling at a distance.

"You're fallin' right through the cracks, and you don't even know
Every time you hit a lick, it's all just for show
You say you want something to have it not need it
Everyone that knows you can see, and everyone that loves you can see
Maybe one day you'll see, you're your own worst enemy
Your own worst enemy"

You're fallin' right through the cracks, and you don't even know
Every time you hit a lick, it's all just for show
You say you want something to have it not need it
Maybe one day you'll see, you're your own worst enemy

You tear right through the night, like a thief with a gun
Flashing a smile for your friends, like you're still having fun
You can't hide behind sad eyes forever
Everyone that knows you can see you're your own worst enemy
Your own worst enemy

You never open the book, and you don't call the fam
They think you're hooked on drugs, and you don't give a damn
You'll look up and they'll be gone, I mean it
Everyone that loves you can see you're your own worst enemy

You're fallin' right through the cracks, and you don't even know
Every time you hit a lick, it's all just for show
You say you want something to have it not need it
Everyone that knows you can see, and everyone that loves you can see
Maybe one day you'll see, you're your own worst enemy
Your own worst enemy

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For more on Gavin Adcock, see below: