“We’re Not Gonna Take It” is Twisted Sister’s signature song. Snider wrote the song’s hook three years prior to its release but ‘could never figure out how to write a verse for it’. Studying Mutt Lange’s work with Def Leppard on their 1983 album Pyromania helped inspire him on how to eventually fini...
[Chorus]
Oh, we're not gonna take it
No, we ain't gonna take it
Oh, we're not gonna take it anymore
[Verse 1]
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 our destiny, 'cause
You don't know us, you don't belong
[Chorus]
Oh, we're not gonna take it
No, we ain't gonna take it
Oh, we're not gonna take it anymore
[Verse 2]
Oh, you're so condescending
Your gall is never ending
We don't want anything, not a thing from you
Your life is trite and jaded
Boring and confiscated
If that's your best, your best won't do
[Refrain]
Woah-oh-oh
Woah-oh-oh
We're right! (Yeah!)
We're free! (Yeah!)
We'll fight! (Yeah!)
You'll see! (Yeah!)
[Chorus]
Oh, we're not gonna take it
No, we ain't gonna take it
Oh, we're not gonna take it anymore
Oh, we're not gonna take it
No, we ain't gonna take it
Oh, we're not gonna take it anymore
No way!
[Guitar Solo]
[Refrain]
Woah-oh-oh
Woah-oh-oh
We're right! (Yeah!)
We're free! (Yeah!)
We'll fight! (Yeah!)
You'll see! (Yeah!)
[Chorus]
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!)
Oh, 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!)
Oh, 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
We’re Not Gonna Take It was written by Dee Snider.
We’re Not Gonna Take It was produced by Tom Werman.
Twisted Sister released We’re Not Gonna Take It on Fri Apr 27 1984.
Frontman Dee Snider wrote the song to be a “teen anthem”, but was careful not to be too specific so it could apply to any situation of rebellion:
…whether I was singing about my parents, my teachers, my bosses, my peers, people around me, I felt it was important not to define it by actually naming...