We're Not Gonna Take It

Album: Stay Hungry (1984)
Charted: 58 21
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  • We're not gonna take it
    No, we ain't gonna take it
    We're not gonna take it anymore

    We've got the right to choose it
    There ain't no way we'll lose it
    This is our life, this is our song

    We'll fight the powers that be, just
    Don't pick our destiny 'cause
    You don't know us, you don't belong

    We're not gonna take it
    No, we ain't gonna take it
    We're not gonna take it anymore

    Oh, you're so condescending
    Your gall is never ending
    We don't want nothin', not a thing from you

    Your life is trite and jaded
    Boring and confiscated
    If that's your best, your best won't do

    Whoa
    Whoa

    We're right (yeah)
    We're free (yeah)
    We'll fight (yeah)
    You'll see (yeah)

    Whoa, whoa, we're not gonna take it
    No, we ain't gonna take it
    We're not gonna take it anymore

    We're not gonna take it
    No, we ain't gonna take it
    We're not gonna take it anymore

    No way

    Whoa
    Whoa

    We're right (yeah)
    We're free (yeah)
    We'll fight (yeah)
    You'll see (yeah)

    We're not gonna take it
    No, we ain't gonna take it
    We're not gonna take it anymore

    We're not gonna take it (no)
    No, we ain't gonna take it
    We're not gonna take it anymore

    Just you try and make us

    We're not gonna take it (come on)
    No, we ain't gonna take it
    (You're all worthless and weak)
    We're not gonna take it anymore
    (Now drop and give me twenty)

    We're not gonna take it
    (A pledge pin)
    No, we ain't gonna take it
    (On your uniform)
    We're not gonna take it anymore Writer/s: Daniel Dee Snider
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 43

  • Dan Gillespy from Courtenay BcA perfect rebellion song.
  • Clintn from CharlotteAny numb nuts who associates this song with a political party is an idiot. And saying something like this is a conservative fight song is pretty stupid. If you were alive when this first released you can remember the Reagan days, the moral majority, the PMRC (I never forgave Tipper Gore and by extension Al)

    This is basically a song about non conformity. I definitely don't associate it with Republicans or Democrats.
  • Keepyourpower from ScIn 2021, this is the Conservative Fight song!
    We are RIGHT! WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT, ANYMORE! You are so condescending...and more! The deceit, the fake! We will win! We have a God Who loves babies in the womb, truth, goodness!
  • Angela from Ruse,bulgariaGreat song! It was used in a movie you know?!?!
  • Heath from Kincumber South, AustraliaNot only did Mark Metcalf star in the film clip, but at the end you hear the classic Neidermeyer Animal House lines 'A pledge pin, on your uniform!' and 'Now drop and give me twenty!'
  • Stephen from Boston, MaThis song was a memeber of the PMRC's Filthy Fifteen.The PMRC wanted this song banned due to what the saw as violent lyrics. Quite laughable.
  • Stephen from Melbourne, AustraliaHi, just a slight correction to the lyrics
    In the first verse, you have:
    We've got the right to choose it
    There ain't no way we'll lost it
    this should be:
    We've got the right to choose it
    There ain't no way we'll lose it
    Chears
  • Craig from Manitowoc, WiAwesome song. Brings you back to the 80's again and again.
  • Rick from Indianapolis, InReg, the movie was called "Strangeland". Had a pretty cool soundtrack from it too. Dee from Indy....you are on every single song I look up...you have great taste in music. lol Keep rockin' !!!
  • Reg from Melbourne, Australiait was such a fun song...suited to the times..who cares that it was simple or copied from another song...almost all today's so called musicians just rip off old songs anyway and call it 'sampling'm i call it offensive when they use the exact original riffs, at least put your own spin on it!

    Also, can anyone remember the name of the movie Dee Snyder wrote, directed and stared in? I remember bits about it, but not the name.
  • Sam from Eagle, Mi"Imagine this being a hit in the days before music videos? Would never happen - take away their silly clown/drag queen outfits and there's literally nothing left..." I disagree Liquid Len. This song was in my favorites before way before i saw the music video. Its fun, funny, and a perfect symbol of 80's Hair Metal. Its rebellion! They don't care!Cheese it up; its the 80's!
  • Brian from Vancouver, CanadaThere was a day when all of gernys children actually lined up in a row and starting playing this full blast protesting the beatings. when gerny saw this another fight started. the children didnt win.
  • Ozzy from Fresno, Calol my life story
  • Django from Chucktown, IlLamest. Guitar. Solo... EVER!!!!!!
  • Jim from Rossville, Ilthis song is great.Our school is going to change people's schedules so this is our chant.Also if Dee snyder happens to read this please go to hoopeston area high school
  • Boris from Sofia, Bulgaria[quote]What a wretchedly unoriginal song to be such a hit. Imagine this being a hit in the days before music videos? Would never happen - take away their silly clown/drag queen outfits and there's literally nothing left, just music that 13 year olds (or punk rockers) could play on first try. These guys make cheesy big hair rockers like Poison and Whitesnake actually look talented! And it is so patently phony in its themes of rebellion - it's about as heartfelt as pro wrestling. Ooh! You're the big rebel! Mom and Dad better shape up or else!
    - Liquid Len, Ottawa, Canada[/quote]
    Oh dear god people like you kill me..if you dislike it so much don't listen to it anyway talking bad against WhiteSnake i mean come on who cares about how they look they have more talent and skills than any other of those stupid rap/pop/chaos etc. musician ever dreamed of having
  • Liquid Len from Ottawa, CanadaWhat a wretchedly unoriginal song to be such a hit. Imagine this being a hit in the days before music videos? Would never happen - take away their silly clown/drag queen outfits and there's literally nothing left, just music that 13 year olds (or punk rockers) could play on first try. These guys make cheesy big hair rockers like Poison and Whitesnake actually look talented! And it is so patently phony in its themes of rebellion - it's about as heartfelt as pro wrestling. Ooh! You're the big rebel! Mom and Dad better shape up or else!
  • Tj from Chicago, IlI have a question - is it Dee at the end repeating the lines from animail house ("You're all worthless and weak now drop & gimme 20") or is it actually recorded right from the movie. I could never figure it out!
  • Joe from Bellingham, Wathis song dosen't really pump me up and get me ready to beat up a thug,its not that hard core. but it is still an outstanding song.
  • Lacie from Whitefish, MtAwesome song!!! Makes you just want to Stand up to people, Fight for what you believe in! YAY
  • Spencer from Mcbride, Canadagreat song, will always pump you up whenever you need it
  • Al from Clancy, MtA great song to pump tou up. Just makes you want to rebell agianst figures you dont like, such as the government or the stupid, greedy, evil Left-wingers.
  • Paul from Cincinnati, OhI don't understand what's so bad about this song that would merit it being on the "filthy 15."
  • Dylan from Perth, AustraliaIt, according to a 1987 Mtv surveys, this was part of the filthy 15 songs of the era, along with AC/DC and Madonna, just to name a few.
  • Fred from New York, NyI belive it was "Your all worthless little freaks! Oh, Crinch Pin!"
  • Mike from Winnipeg, CanadaI was watching a show called Listed that listed the top 20 songs parents hate. This was number one. They were interviewing people throught the show and one guy who was a commedian said
    They don't look like guys, They don't look like girls, They don't look like a cross in-between.

    He also said this should be number 1 because it taught him how to throw his dad out the window by playing his guitar.

    But great song.
  • Ken from Ridgecrest, CaMost don't notice (even the lyrics here don't list it correctly), but the dialog at the end of the song that can be heard between Dee Snider's lyrics are from Mark Metcalf's character in Animal House. The last two lines, I believe, are "You're all worthless and weak" and "A pledge pin; on your uniform".
  • Jeff from Cedar Falls, IaFeatured in one of the greatest cheesy 80's movies of all time, Iron Eagle.
  • Emil from Sofia, BulgariaMy favorite song. So many years i have a great time with it. Emil, Bulgaria
  • Danny from Sydney, AustraliaThe dad in this song is also the teacher who gets knocked around in the filmclip for 'I Wanna Rock'. TS had so many great songs, but they failed to become as famous as other hair metal bands such as Motley Crue
  • Nathan from L-burg, Kythe song is awsome it is on the game 'activision anthology'
  • Joseph from Manteca, CaYeah...the song is basically "Oh Come All Ye Faithful", Chris from Canada is right...still a good song though.
  • Nathan from L-burg, Kylove this song its my third favourite song from the 80's
  • Dee from Indianapolis, InWhat a classic song by a group of guys that looked more like clowns then muscians. This whole album rocks and should be in any metal heads collection. They also put out another killer album called "Love is for Suckers" years down the road. I don't think it ever got radio or MTV play, but I really enjoy it.
  • Zenyth from Kamloops, CanadaBif Naked did a cover of this song for the movie Ready To Rumble.
  • Angelica from La Puente, CaI can't remember who covered this a few years ago. It was a band with a girl singer. Any help?
  • Chris from Port Hawkesbury, CanadaJust a rip off of 'Oh Come All Ye Faithful'.
  • Nick from Denver, CoNedermeyer (spelling?) from Animal House is the Dad character in this video.
  • Brett from Anchorage, AkI saw a movie on VH1 that took place in the eighties about a lawyer played by Jason Preisley, Frank Zappa, John Denver, and Mr. Dee Snider himself going toe to toe with congress over the content in the lyrics of music. I believe the congressman that headed up this issue against this group of rockers was none other than Al Gore (a notable LEFT-WINGER, Ed) along with his wife, Tipper.
  • Paulo from New York, NyThere was a progam on VH-1 where Dee Snider said he wanted to find somebody like Metcalf to play the dad for the video, then considered and realized that Metcalf wasn't doing anything at the time, so why not get him.
  • Ed from Chicago, IlAn awesome, kick-butt anthem for anyone who's ever wanted to fight the powers that be and revolt against bullies, authority figures, or evil right-wingers
  • Mike from Mountlake Terrace, WaMark Metcalf who plays the dad in the music video also played Doug Neidermeyer in Animal House (1978) he acted in other films (less notable)
  • Pete from Nowra, Australiaactually did a tour of Australia, on the strength of this song,
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