3 Classic Rock Songs from the 1980s that Don’t Back Down

While being a genre of music, classic rock is perhaps even more an attitude. And more often than not, that attitude is a snarling sentiment that says, “I ain’t going nowhere.” It’s Led Zeppelin bold and brash, Jimi Hendrix summoning fire, Heart dancing through mountains. Classic rock is powerful and unafraid.

Here below, we wanted to explore three specific songs from the genre that exemplify this spirit and lifestyle. A trio of tracks that simply say they won’t back down from anyone. Indeed, these are three classic rock songs that don’t back down.

[RELATED: No Skips: 4 Classic Rock Albums You’ll Never Have to Fast-Forward]

“I Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers from Full Moon Fever (1989)

One of Tom Petty’s most well-known and signature tracks. This 1989 song is about courage in the face of anything—even when standing down the gates of hell. With this tune, Petty has empowered so many, given fortitude and force to millions. It’s a song people can turn to when they feel as if there is no other recourse. And on it, the classic rocker croons,

Well, I won’t back down
No I won’t back down
You could stand me up at the gates of Hell
But I won’t back down

No I’ll stand my ground
Won’t be turned around
And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down
Gonna stand my ground
And I won’t back down

“We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister from Stay Hungry (1984)

Written by glamorous metal rocker Dee Snider, this song is often used in political rallies and sometimes Snider even has to sue those who use it without his permission. Indeed, even he’s not gonna take it! But politics aside, this song is a rallying cry, it’s a chant into the elements that all those out there in the world who have been pushed around or shunned are no longer going to let the oppressors behave that way. No, Snider sings, it’s a new day. Time to rise up and take control. He belts on the popular single,

We’ve got the right to choose, and
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 on 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

“(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)” Beastie Boys from Licensed to Ill (1986)

In many ways, the New York City-born trio known as the Beastie Boys were a rock band masquerading as a rap group. While they are one of the greatest bands in hip-hop, some of their biggest songs—from this 1986 track to their classic “Sabotage”—involved buzzy rock guitars and lyrics that were as much sung as they were spit. So, we’re going to take a little liberty here and classify this track “classic rock,” both because of its instrumentation and messaging that no one can tell the vocalists what to do. While the song is admittedly juvenile by today’s standards, the granular idea behind it remains: Don’t let the world back you into a corner. Offers the trio,

You wake up late for school, man you don’t want to go
You ask you mom, please? but she still says, no
You missed two classes, and no homework
But your teacher preaches class like you’re some kind of jerk

You gotta fight for your right to party!

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