Their current lineup consists of Hoffmann, vocalist Mark Tornillo, guitarists Uwe Lulis and Philip Shouse, drummer Christopher Williams and bassist Martin Motnik. Before arriving at their current lineup, Accept has undergone numerous lineup changes, being Hoffmann the last remaining original member since its inception, and he is the only band member to appear on each album.
Accept played an important role in the development of speed and thrash metal, and they were part of the German heavy metal scene, which emerged in the early to mid-1980s. They have also been cited as an influence or inspiration by a number of acts, including Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Pantera, Testament, Anthrax, Guns N' Roses, Mötley Crüe, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Overkill, Exodus, and Annihilator, as well as fellow Germans such as Helloween, Blind Guardian, Doro, Sodom, Rage, and Grave Digger. Accept achieved its first commercial success with their fifth studio album Balls to the Wall (1983), which is the band's only album to be certified gold in the United States and Canada, and spawned their well-known hit "Balls to the Wall".
Accept have broken up and reformed multiple times. They first split up in 1989, several months after the release of Eat the Heat (which was their only album with Dirkschneider's initial replacement David Reece), but reformed in 1992 and released three more albums before disbanding again in 1997. After briefly reuniting in 2005, Accept announced their third reunion in 2009, with former T.T. Quick frontman Mark Tornillo replacing Dirkschneider (who declined to participate), and the band has recorded five albums with him: Blood of the Nations (2010), Stalingrad (2012), Blind Rage (2014), The Rise of Chaos (2017) and Too Mean to Die (2021); each of those albums renewed Accept's popularity in Germany and entered the top ten charts there.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accept_(band)
Studio albums
Accept (1979)
I'm a Rebel (1980)
Breaker (1981)
Restless and Wild (1982)
Balls to the Wall (1983)
Metal Heart (1985)
Russian Roulette (1986)
Eat the Heat (1989)
Objection Overruled (1993)
Death Row (1994)
Predator (1996)
Blood of the Nations (2010)
Stalingrad (2012)
Blind Rage (2014)
The Rise of Chaos (2017)
Too Mean to Die (2021)
I Don't Wanna Be Like You
Accept Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Heaven knows I tried
To be like you
To be a part of the tribe
I'd rather leave it all behind
But that's alright
I'm not your average type
I want to be me
Can't you see
I'm the exception to the rule
I know what I want
And I know I'm gonna get it
That's is why
I'm the exception to the rule
Don't push me too far
The way I am is just because
I don't want to be like you
I don't want to be like you
The walls can be shaking
The earth could be quaking
I still don't want to be like you
I'm hog-tied 'n' dirty
I'm tough and mean
Keep your Wall Street slickers
And the American dream
You've done me over and over
You've tried to tie me down
Why don't you step out of the shadows
Dare to roll the dice
Let it roll
And don't you push me around
Can't you see
I'm the exception to the rule
I know what I want
And I know I'm gonna get it
That's is why
I'm the exception to the rule
Don't push me too far
The way I am is just because
I don't want to be like you
I don't want to be like you, never ever!
The walls can be shaking
The earth could be quaking
But I still don't want to be like you
The ordinary way of life ain't for me
I do what I want and I want to be free
Never know, where I go or what I'm gonna do
Why can't you see
The only thing I know is that
I don't want to be like you
I don't want to be like you
If the oceans turn to desert
Hell can turn to ice
But I still don't want to be like you
I don't want to be like you
I don't want to be like you, no way!
The walls can be shaking
The earth could be quaking
But I still don't want to be like, you!
The lyrics of "I Don't Wanna Be Like You" by Accept are assertive, rebellious, and convey the message of an individual not wanting to conform to societal norms. The song speaks to those who don't fit into molds or particular styles or trends, who don't want to be part of a particular tribe, who want to make their own decisions and be their own individual.
The verses highlight how the singer has tried to fit in but has realized that it's not what they want; they don't want to be like others or follow their ways. They would instead be themselves and grasp the uniqueness of their being. The chorus 'I don't wanna be like you,' is the centerpiece of the song, which affirms their non-compliance to conform to other people's expectations.
The bridge of the song keeps the message coming with a declaration that the singer doesn't want to be part of the ordinary way of life, and they want to be free to choose their path. The ultimate lines affirm their resolve to remain their own person regardless of the circumstances, "If the oceans turn to desert, Hell can turn to ice, But I still don't want to be like you."
Overall, the song communicates an important message to the listener to be confident in oneself, to reject conformity, and to celebrate the qualities that make them unique.
Line by Line Meaning
Heaven knows
I have given it my all
Heaven knows I tried
I have tried to fit in to your world
To be like you
To belong to your group
To be a part of the tribe
To be accepted by your kind
I'd rather leave it all behind
I prefer to be on my own terms
But that's alright
That's okay by me
I'm not your average type
I'm not like everyone else
No Mr. Clean, hey,
I'm not the clean-cut type you prefer
I want to be me
I want to be my true self
Can't you see
Don't you realize
I'm the exception to the rule
I'm different from what you expect
I know what I want
I have a clear vision of my desires
And I know I'm gonna get it
I have the determination to achieve it
That's is why
That's the reason
Don't push me too far
Don't force me to conform
The way I am is just because
I am who I am and that's how I prefer to be
I don't want to be like you
I don't want to conform to your lifestyle
The walls can be shaking
Even if the situation is dire
The earth could be quaking
Even if chaos ensues
I still don't want to be like you
I won't change to be like you
I'm hog-tied 'n' dirty
I'm rough and unrefined
I'm tough and mean
I'm resilient and independent
Keep your Wall Street slickers
I don't want to associate with wealthy, privileged individuals
And the American dream
I don't seek the traditional American lifestyle
You've done me over and over
You have tried to control me repeatedly
You've tried to tie me down
You have attempted to restrict my freedom
Why don't you step out of the shadows
Why don't you expose yourself and show who you really are
Dare to roll the dice
Take a risk and embrace the unknown
Let it roll
Let things run their course
And don't you push me around
Stop trying to have power over me
The ordinary way of life ain't for me
I don't want a conventional lifestyle
I do what I want and I want to be free
I do what pleases me and what gives me liberty
Never know, where I go or what I'm gonna do
I act spontaneously and make decisions on the go
The only thing I know is that
The only certainty is that
If the oceans turn to desert
Even if the impossible happens
Hell can turn to ice
Even if a catastrophe occurs
I still don't want to be like you
I will never change to be like you
I don't want to be like you, never ever!
I emphatically refuse to be like you
I don't want to be like, you!
I reject the idea of being like you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Deaffy Deaffy, Peter Baltes, Stefan Kaufmann, Udo Dirkschneider, Wolf Hoffmann
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind