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I Won’t Back Down Ukulele Chords – Tom Petty. This song uses the chords: Emin, D, G, C. You can change the key for free, as needed.
I Won’t Back Down Ukulele Chords – Tom Petty
INTRO:
Emin D G x2
VERSE 1:
Well, I Eminwon’t Dback dGownNo, I Eminwon’t Dback dGownYou could Eminstand me Dup at the Cgates of HellBut I Eminwon’t Dback Gdown
VERSE 2:
No, I’ll Eminstand Dmy GgroundWon’t be Eminturn–Ded arGoundAnd I’ll Eminkeep this Dworld from Cdraggin’ me downGonna Eminstand Dmy GgroundAnd I Eminwon’t Dback Gdown
(I Cwon’t Gback down)
CHORUS 1:CHeGy DbabeG C
There ain’t no Geasy way Dout (I Dwon’t Gback down)CHeyG, DI will Eminstand Dmy GgroundAnd I Eminwon’t Dback Gdown
VERSE 3:
Well, I Eminknow Dwhat’s GrightAnd I got Eminjust Done GlifeIn a Eminworld that Dkeeps on Cpushin’ me aroundBut I’ll Eminstand Dmy GgroundAnd I Eminwon’t Dback Gdown
(I Cwon’t Gback down)
CHORUS 2:
CHeGy DbabeG C
There ain’t no Geasy way Dout (I Dwon’t Gback down)CHeyG, DI will Eminstand Dmy GgroundAnd I Eminwon’t Dback Gdown
SOLO:
Emin D G x2
Emin D C
Emin D G
(I Cwon’t Gback down)
CHORUS 3:
CHeGy DbabeG C
There ain’t no Geasy way Dout (I Dwon’t Gback down)CHeyG, DI will Eminstand Dmy GgroundAnd I Eminwon’t Dback Gdown
(I Cwon’t Gback down)
CHeGy DbabeG C
There ain’t no Geasy way Dout (I Dwon’t Gback down)CHeyG, DI will Eminstand Dmy GgroundNo I Eminwon’t Dback Gdown
Check out more ukulele songs here.
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“I Won’t Back Down” History:
Basic Info
- Title: “I Won’t Back Down”
- Artist: Tom Petty (with contributions from members of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
- Album: Full Moon Fever (Tom Petty’s first solo album)
- Release: April 1989 as the lead single from the album
- Genre: Heartland rock
- Length: ~2:59
- Writers: Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne
- Producers: Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, and Mike Campbell
Background & Creation
- The song was co-written with Jeff Lynne during the Full Moon Fever sessions, a period when Petty was blending his rock roots with more melodic, personal songs.
- A defining moment in its creation: George Harrison (of The Beatles) played acoustic guitar and sang backing vocals on the track.
- The track’s feel is straightforward and resolute — mirroring its message — with simple, driving instrumentation supporting the lyrics.
Meaning & Themes
- Resilience and Defiance: The song’s lyrics are about standing one’s ground against adversity — both personal and universal. Lines like “You can stand me up at the gates of hell / But I won’t back down” express unwavering resolve.
- Personal Inspiration: Petty wrote much of the song in response to a traumatic arson attack on his Los Angeles home in 1987, where he and his family barely escaped. That experience infused the song with a very real sense of survival and determination.
- Petty himself admitted he initially hesitated to release such a clear-cut anthem before deciding it was exactly the message he wanted to send.
Reception & Legacy
- Chart Success: Peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was #1 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart for five weeks, helping Full Moon Fever achieve multi-platinum sales.
- Cultural Impact: It became an anthem of resilience — frequently cited by fans as a source of strength in hard times.
- Post-9/11: The song received renewed attention after the September 11, 2001 attacks; Petty and the Heartbreakers performed it during the America: A Tribute to Heroes telethon.
- Covers & Influence: Artists such as Johnny Cash (on American III: Solitary Man) and more recently Blake Shelton have recorded versions, showing the song’s cross-genre and intergenerational appeal.
Musical Elements
- Written in G major with a mid-tempo rock feel, the arrangement emphasizes clarity and drive rather than complexity — reinforcing the resolute tone of the lyrics.
Personnel on the Track
- Tom Petty: Lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
- Mike Campbell: Electric guitar
- George Harrison: Acoustic guitar and backing vocals
- Jeff Lynne: Bass, synthesizer, backing vocals
- Howie Epstein: Backing vocals
- Phil Jones: Drums
(Note: Although Ringo Starr appears in the music video, he did not play on the recording.)
