“We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister
“We’re Not Gonna Take It” is both specific yet ambiguous at the same time. That is to say that the sentiment being expressed is done so in such a manner that what is being put forth is very clear. The vocalist and his ilk feel as if they are being abused by the addressee.
Furthermore, on top of being convinced that their rights are being trampled upon (in analyzing the addressee in the second verse), they find said individual or institution as being wanting, as in unfit to lead.
Where the ambiguity comes into play is actually identifying who said addressee is supposed to be. In the first verse, they are designated as “the powers that be” – or more simply put, established authority figures. And of course, there is a whole range of entities that fall into that category.
But Dee Snider and co. intentionally left the lyrics open-ended, to give the song a general applicability in terms of who the oppressor may be. Or as Dee further explained, the sentiments expressed can be geared towards “parents… teachers… bosses… peers”, etc.
So conclusively, we can say that the vocalist is not privy to being bullied. Or the way he sees it is that being “free” entails the right to go about your business without being under the thumb of some type of demeaning authority figure.
When did Twisted Sister release “We’re Not Gonna Take It”?
Twisted Sister was a band that originated in New Jersey. During a certain era, i.e. the mid-1980s, their name was synonymous with heavy metal music. It was within that timeframe, on 27 April 1984, that “We’re Not Gonna Take It” was released by Atlantic Records. That said, this track is also backed by Atlantic’s parent company, the Warner Music Group.
This is the lead single from “Stay Hungry”, Twisted Sister’s third and best-performing studio album. At the time, frontman Dee Snider was backed by the following:
- guitarist Fingers Ojeda
- guitarist Jay Jay French
- bassist Mark Mendoza aka the Animal
- drummer A. J. Pero (1959-2015)
A Twisted Sister Signature Song
“We’re Not Gonna Take It” is by far Twisted Sister’s signature song. For instance, it’s the track listed on their discography to have earned RIAA certification, as in being certified gold. Additionally, this track achieved octuple-platinum status in Canada. Also, reaching a peak position of 21, it marks the band’s best showing on the Billboard Hot 100.
Who wrote “We’re Not Gonna Take It”?
Dee Snider wrote this song on his own. And its producer is Tom Werman.
Mark Metcalf
This track features sampled, spoken vocals from the 1978 comedy classic Animal House. The actor who rendered said vocals therein, one Mark Metcalf, also takes on a similar role in the song’s music video, as assembled by director Mary Callner.
“We’re Not Gonna Take It” and the World of Politics
This song has a notable political history. Paul Ryan, US Presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s second-in-command, used this track during the 2012 Republican Party campaign for the Presidency. However, Dee Snider pulled the plug, asking Ryan not to do so any longer.
The Donald also used this track during his own Presidential campaign of 2016. At first Snider was cool with this, as he and Trump are reportedly friends. But later down the line, once he became more aware of the presidential aspirant’s ideologies, he also requested that he stop using it.
More Facts
So this is a song whose chart showing does not do justice to its overall popularity. In addition to being regularly utilized in political and sports’ circles, “We’re Not Gonna Make It” has also been featured on quite a few movies, television shows, videogames, etc.
Other political issues in which “We’re Not Gonna Take It” has been utilized is by anti-maskers (i.e. those who did not approve of government mandates requiring people to wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic) and in support of Ukraine against the Russian invasion of early 2022.
Concerning the prior issue, Snider made it abundantly clear that he does not support the song being used for such a cause. But in contrast, he ‘absolutely approved’ of the aforementioned Ukrainians adopting it.
Upon initial release, this song was blacklisted by a quasi-governmental organization known as the Parents Music Resource Center, a committee led by Tipper Gore which basically dedicated itself to identify songs with lyrics that aren’t family-friendly.
Believe it or not, the tune of this song was actually inspired by “O Come, All Ye Faithful”, i.e. the classic 18th century Christmas carol.
Snider dropped an acoustic version of “We’re Not Gonna Take It” in 2016 for a charitable cause, i.e. combating cancer in children.
