“I Won’t Back Down” by Margaret Stewart
“I Won’t Back Down,” written by Tom Petty, communicates how the United States stayed strong after losing thousands of people from the attack on the Twin Towers. The attack greatly affected the country not only on that day but for years to come. Petty conveys the mourning of this event through his song lyrics and music video to pay tribute to the heroes and workers who died on September 11th, 2001.
The lyrics “I Won’t Back Down” symbolize the United States’ strength and unification through the repetition of lines. The lyrics also represent how the country and citizens will remain brave and move forward but never forget this important day in history. A line in the lyrics that symbolizes the strength of the United States is, “And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down,” which represents no matter what happens, the country will recover from the difficulties presented on 9/11. With the help of the government, citizens, healthcare workers, first responders, and the global community. The attack by al-Qaeda, an Islamist extremist group, will not bring the United States down through the severe damage they caused. The song accomplishes the idea of bravery and courage through the repeated line, “I Won’t Back Down,” which reassures the citizens of the United States that the country will recover and not fall from the loss and sadness of this event. Tom Petty’s song lyrics genuinely represent the United States at this time and what the citizens want to hear after the tragedy of 9/11.
The music video pays tribute to the heroes of 9/11. The footage aired on September 21st, 2001, to honor those who died during the attack, unite a country, and connect with those who lost loved ones. However, on the day it aired, it was one of the only things on TV that was unrelated to the news of this tragedy. Petty delivers the piece slowly and calmly, with electric guitars and drums continuously playing in the background for people to understand and connect with the music and lyrics. In the song’s lyrics, Petty discusses bravery for the United States, but in the music video, he exemplifies it through his eye contact with the camera. The video incorporates symbolic pieces of candles, patriotic colors, and haze in the background to remember those who died on September 11th, 2001.
“I Won’t Back Down” by Maeve Donahue
The top hit song “I Won’t Back Down” was written by Tom Petty and performed by him and his group, The Heartbreakers. He first released the song in April 1989, and it was soon number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100 list. Years later the catastrophic events in history, 9/11, put many Americans in shock. President George W. Bush asked Tom Petty to perform this song for America. It quickly became a song which helped unite all Americans struggling to stay strong through tragic times and to trust President Bush in his decisions. For a few weeks after the attacks of 9/11, almost all sporting events and performances were canceled. However, President Bush asked Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers to sing this for America because of the motivating and strong lyrics.
Throughout the song, the verse “I won’t back down” is repeated many times to assure Americans that as long as we stay strong and united, we can overcome these difficult times. The rhythm and tempo of the song is slowed down, so the song isn’t as aggressive and fast. Not only are the lyrics persevering, but Tom Petty’s performance persuades and encourages the audience to do the same. In the background of his performance, there are candles in remembrance of the lost lives on 9/11 and the patriotic lights of red, white, and blue. Some of the lighting appears foggy and hazy to depict how hazy it was with smoke for days after the terrorist attack. Along with the appearance of the background, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers wore plain and subtle clothing unlike most performances where they wore more common rock clothes. President Bush’s intention was to assure the people that they will get through this challenging time but to do so, we must stay united and strong.
“I Won’t Back Down” Song Analysis by Phoebe Schmitt
On September 11, 2001, the United States received a series of attacks by al-Qaeda, an Islamic extremist group. Nineteen terrorists boarded four consumer aircraft headed for various destinations around the country. The terrorists hijacked and crashed all four. At 8:46 am on the same day, hijacked American Airlines flight 11 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. Seventeen minutes later, United Airlines flight 175 crashed into the south building. It was at this point America knew that they were under attack. At 9:37 am, American Airlines flight 77 struck the southwest side of the Pentagon. Almost an hour later, at 10:03 am, the heroic United Airlines flight 93 crashed into the countryside of Pennsylvania. On what was supposed to be a peaceful morning, 3,000 people died because of these attacks. America was in mourning, and the world wondered if it would ever be the same again
In 1989, Tom Petty released the song “I Won’t Back Down.” The song describes the unwavering confidence of anger in the face of the toughest problems. The original song had a strong upbeat tempo and positive tune, which makes the song even more patriotic and encouraging. Tom Petty’s voice is strong and almost yelling, which matches the determination of the lyrics. In the chorus, the band joins in with Petty, singing strongly and continuing with the upbeat tune. These strong voices represent the voices of our country, standing up to any problem we may face together. In the official music video, the band wore unstyled hair and casual suits. Throughout the video, patterns such as reptile skin and leather are used. Not only were these eccentric fashion choices part of the time period, but allowed the singers to put a more casual spin on the song. The band members can be seen leaning into each other and putting their hands on each other’s shoulders, representing the group’s unbreakable bond. The camera cuts quickly, with about four seconds between each cut. This matches the fast tempo of the song and keeps the watcher engaged. The angles of the camera change and move constantly, to show how the world is always moving and problems are always arising. One band member even drills a hole in a globe to show that at the center, there is always a fiery determination. Later on, this song would prove to be patriotic for the people of America during the 9/11 crisis.
The song was performed in America a Tribute to Heroes concert, a concert dedicated to raising money for rescue efforts. The song was so important to America because its lyrics expressed perseverance and patriotism. This version was much more respectful in terms of the tune and Petty’s voice. The bass and guitar sounded more acoustic, setting a more somber mood, but still keeping the confident tune. There is also the addition of a keyboard to add to the more melancholy mood. Petty’s voice was quieter but still delivered the lyrics powerfully. The addition of riffs in lines such as “Hey baby” and “I won’t back down” make the song slower and more meaningful. This version of the song is 55 seconds slower than the original. The song was performed this way, instead of the original, to stay reverent and respectful, while still delivering a strong message. The song was featured in the concert to give Americans and the world strength after such a tragedy. In contrast to the original music video, the concert was much more somber and organized. The band’s hair is styled and they are well dressed. Petty looks directly into the camera, which is eye-level with him. The set is similar to the original, with the band in the same places. However, there are candles in the background, representing the lives lost on 9/11.
Throughout the video, there are background lights that change between red, white, and blue colors. This represents patriotism both in the song and in the aftermath of 9/11. Though this song largely contrasts with the original, it still united America with confidence and determination to bring justice to those who lost their lives on 9/11.
