I'm Not Down
The Clash Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

If it's true a rich man leads a sad life
That's what they from day to day
Then what do all the poor do with their lives
On Judgement Day with nothing to say?

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

On my own I faced a gang of jeering in strange streets, oh oh
When my nerves were pumping and I
Fought my fear in, I didn't run
I was not done

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

'Cause I have 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, I'm not giving up

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

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 (hey)

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
No, I'm not down, I'm not down

Overall Meaning

"I'm Not Down" is a song by The Clash that talks about perseverance and not giving up in the face of adversity. The first stanza raises a question about the purpose of poor people's lives and how they will be judged on Judgement Day. The second stanza describes the singer's personal experience of facing a gang of jeering and not running away despite being scared. The chorus emphasizes that the singer may have been beaten and shown up but is not down and has grown up. The third stanza talks about depression and feeling like everything is going down, but the singer remains hopeful and believes that they will find a way to swing everything back their way. The final stanza is a statement to people who think they are tough but have never faced the roughest situation that the singer has faced.


The song's lyrics show The Clash's political and social consciousness, as they often wrote about class struggle and social injustice. "I'm Not Down" specifically highlights the struggle and willpower of working-class people and shows the band's support for their struggles.


Line by Line Meaning

If it's true a rich man leads a sad life
The idea that wealthy people are unhappy is often discussed


That's what they from day to day
This discussion is a common topic of everyday conversation


Then what do all the poor do with their lives
This leads to the question of what less privileged people do when faced with hardships


On Judgement Day with nothing to say?
This question is particularly significant when considering the ultimate judgment day


I've been beat up, I've been thrown out
The artist has faced physical and emotional challenges in life


But I'm not down, no, I'm not down
Despite facing these difficulties, the singer maintains a sense of resilience and determination


I've been shown up, but I've grown up
The singer acknowledges past mistakes but has learned from them and matured


And I'm not down, no, I'm not down
This resilience is reiterated and reinforced


On my own I faced a gang of jeering in strange streets, oh oh
The artist has directly confronted hostile situations alone


When my nerves were pumping and I
Despite feeling nervous and scared in these situations


Fought my fear in, I didn't run
The singer did not give in to fear and run away


I was not done
Instead, the artist pushed through and persisted


'Cause I have lived that kind of day
The singer has experienced difficult and sorrowful days


When none of your sorrows will go away
During these times, the singer has felt their pain would never go away


It goes down and down and hit the floor
The pain and depression feels like it hits rock bottom


Down and down and down some more
This feeling continues and intensifies


Depression
The artist directly names the emotional state they are describing


But I know there'll be some way
Despite this, the singer remains hopeful


When I can swing everything back my way
They believe they will regain control of their life and emotions


Like skyscrapers rising up
The redemption will be a slow but steady process


Floor by floor, I'm not giving up
The artist will continue to persist and won't give up


So you rock around and think
The artist now addresses the listener directly


That you're the toughest
They accuse them of thinking they're the strongest or most resilient


In the world, the whole wide world
This idea of being the 'toughest' is a larger societal myth


But you're streets away from where
The singer asserts that the listener is far removed from the real struggles and hardships of life


It gets the roughest
The true challenges are much rougher than the listener can imagine


You ain't been there
The singer asserts that the listener has not experienced these trials and should not judge


No, I'm not down
The artist emphatically restates their resilience and determination


No, I'm not down
Reiterating this point for emphasis


No, I'm not down
Driving home the message that they will not give in despite life's challenges


No, I'm not down, I'm not down
A final affirmation of the singer's unyielding spirit




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@stephencoomer5692

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

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

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

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

'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, giving up

ADVERTISING


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

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

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



All comments from YouTube:

@danielscissorhands

It's always a great song to listen to when you ARE down, which for me is most of the time lately.

@georgemichaelis1664

hang in there man

@danielscissorhands

@@georgemichaelis1664 Thanks ❤️

@bobmiller7502

keep ur chin up danny boy, remember the worsttime in your life?/how it felt, then look at NOW, it aint that bad brother

@karlschneider9479

I know how you feel brother! Been seeing a therapist for a few years now!

@karlschneider9479

@@bobmiller7502 Very cool of you to say that to him. Big respect!

7 More Replies...

@Turmix94

Happiest song about depression ever

@feinhuckershieken783

This is one of my favorite clash songs

@williamweedface3341

me too, Marz, best album ever

@navyskaterdude

It is My Favorite too.

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