I Won't Back Down
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| “I Won't Back Down” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Tom Petty from the album Full Moon Fever |
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| B-side | The Apartment Song Don't Treat Me Like A Stranger (12" and CD single only) |
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| Released | April 1989 | ||||
| Format | 7", 12", cassette, CD | ||||
| Recorded | 1988 | ||||
| Genre | Rock | ||||
| Length | 2:56 | ||||
| Label | MCA | ||||
| Writer(s) | Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne | ||||
| Producer | Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Mike Campbell | ||||
| Tom Petty singles chronology | |||||
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"I Won't Back Down" is the first single from Tom Petty's first solo album, Full Moon Fever released in 1989. The song was written by Petty and his writing partner for the album, Jeff Lynne. It reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Album Rock Tracks chart for 5 weeks, starting the album's road to multi-platinum status.
A message of defiance against unnamed forces of difficulty and possibly oppression, the lyric is set against a mid-tempo beat:
- Well I know what's right, I got just one life
- in a world that keeps on pushin' me around
- but I'll stand my ground, and I won't — back — down
George Harrison and Ringo Starr are featured in the music video along with George's famous painted stratocaster "Rocky".
Contents |
[edit] Chart performance
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Album Rock Tracks | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 12 |
| US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 29 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 Singles | 11 |
| UK Singles Chart | 28 |
[edit] Use in political campaigns
George W. Bush used "I Won't Back Down" at campaign events during the 2000 presidential race but was compelled to stop using the song after receiving a cease and desist letter from Petty's publisher. Petty did not want the use of his song to be construed as an endorsement of candidate Bush. Jim Webb used the song for his successful bid for one of Virginia's U.S. Senate seats in 2006, as did Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary campaign.
[edit] Other
Petty played it as his number during the post-September 11 attacks America: A Tribute to Heroes telethon.
"I Won't Back Down" was featured in Petty and The Heartbreakers' four-song performance during half-time at Super Bowl XLII.
"I Won't Back Down" was covered by Johnny Cash on his 2000 album, American III: Solitary Man.
"I Won't Back Down" was covered by Pearl Jam and is featured on their 2007 album Live at the Gorge 05/06.
"I Won't Back Down" was covered by Dawn Landes and is featured on her 2008 album Fireproof as a hidden track, after "You Alone".
"I Won't Back Down" is featured in the children's animated film, Barnyard.
"I Won't Back Down" is featured in the HBO film, Recount.
