I’m Not Down

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Lead vocals are sung by Mick Jones, who wrote the song as a response and defiance to difficult times he had faced, like the assault described in verse 2. The first time it… Read More

Dec. 14, 19791 viewer20.7K views

I’m Not Down Lyrics

[Verse 1]
If it's true a rich man leads a sad life
That's what they say from day to day
Then what do all the poor do with their lives
On judgment day, when nothin' is saved?

[Chorus]
I've been beat up, I've been thrown out
But I'm not down, no I'm not down
I've been shown up, but I've grown up
And I'm not down, no I'm not down

[Verse 2]
On my own, I faced a gang of jeering
In strange streets, oh
When my nerves were pumping and I fought my fear in
I didn't run, I was not done

[Chorus]
I've been beat up, I've been thrown out
But I'm not down, no I'm not down
I've been shown up, but I've grown up
And I'm not down, no I'm not down

[Verse 3]
'Cause I've lived that kind of day
When none of your sorrows will go away
It goes down and down and hit the floor
Down and down and down some more
Depression
But I know there'll be some way
When I can swing everything back my way
Like skyscrapers rising up
Floor by floor, not giving up

[Bridge]
So you rock around and think that you're the toughest
In the world, the whole wide world
But you're streets away from where it gets the roughest
You ain't been there

[Chorus]
I've been beat up, I've been thrown out
But I'm not down, no I'm not down
I've been shown up, but I've grown up
And I'm not down, no I'm not down

[Outro]
I'm not down
No, I'm not down
No, I'm not down
No, I'm not down
No, I'm not down
No, I'm not down
No, I'm not down
I'm not down

About

Lead vocals are sung by Mick Jones, who wrote the song as a response and defiance to difficult times he had faced, like the assault described in verse 2.

The first time it was played live, at Notre Dame Hall in July 1979, Stummer introduced it by saying, “I hope no one is contemplating suicide!”