I Won't Back Down

Infobox Single
Name = I Won't Back Down


Artist = Tom Petty
from Album = Full Moon Fever
B-side = The Apartment Song
Don't Treat Me Like A Stranger (12" and CD single only)
Released = Start date|1989|4
Format = 7", 12", cassette, CD
Recorded = 1988
Genre = Rock
Length = 2:56
Label = MCA
Writer = Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne
Producer = Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Mike Campbell
Certification =
Chart position = * #12 Billboard Hot 100
Last single = "All Mixed Up"
(1987)
This single = "I Won't Back Down"
(1989)
Next single = "Runnin' Down A Dream"
(1989)
Misc =

"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".

Chart performance

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.

Other

Petty played it as his number during the post-September 11 attacks 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, "".

"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.

"I Won't Back Down" was played extensively by Florida OB/GYN David Gunn in his women's health clinic in the weeks before his assassination in 1993.fact|date=July 2008

"I Won't Back Down" is used as ring entrance music by former WBO Cruiserweight boxing champion Enzo Maccarinelli

"I Won't Back Down" is used as ring entrance music by professional wrestler Necro Butcher

Notes