2. U.S. Hardcore punk group
No Way I'm Goin' Down
Whitecross Lyrics
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That's the last time I'm taking your advice
I didn't believe I was bound by sin
You never let on about the shape I was in
Heard you callin' yeah, you hypnotized
Had me going with your big disguise
You thought I'd never get wise
No way I'm goin' down
No way I'm goin' down
I was in the ring thought the light was fixed
I needed help and I needed it quick
You had my number I was almost down
You didn't think I'd last for another round
I was on the ropes and I had a hunch
You were coming in with a knock out punch
Then the King stepped in, said that's as far as it goes
Now look who's wearing the bloody nose
No way I'm goin' down
No way I'm goin' down
The lyrics of "No Way I'm Goin' Down" by Whitecross are about the temptation of the devil and his lies. The first two lines "Fooled me once, fooled me twice, That's the last time I'm taking your advice" refer to an experience of being misled by someone or something, and this has made the singer lose trust in whoever it is. The next lines "I didn't believe I was bound by sin, You never let on about the shape I was in" imply that the singer didn't realize the gravity of their situation, perhaps in terms of their spiritual life, and the person who misled them didn't help them in any way.
The next verse "Heard you callin' yeah, you hypnotized, Had me going with your big disguise, You thought I'd never get wise, It's no wonder they call you the father of lies" further emphasizes the theme of deception. The devil, portrayed as "the father of lies" is adept at camouflage and luring people into his trap. The singer realizes this and also understands how close they came to giving in, but they express their determination not to be defeated by the devil's temptations, hence the repeated chorus "No way I'm goin' down."
The last verse "I was on the ropes and I had a hunch, You were coming in with a knock out punch, Then the King stepped in, said that's as far as it goes, Now look who's wearing the bloody nose" is a clear reference to the Christian belief of Jesus as the savior of humanity. The singer describes being on the brink of being defeated, but then Jesus stepped in to save them, even giving their opponent a "bloody nose". This verse serves to reinforce the message of hope and faith in Christ that runs throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Fooled me once, fooled me twice
I trusted you before but you have deceived me multiple times
That's the last time I'm taking your advice
I have learned my lesson and will not trust or follow your guidance again
I didn't believe I was bound by sin
I did not fully realize the extent of my wrongdoing
You never let on about the shape I was in
You never revealed the truth about my situation or how much trouble I was in
Heard you callin' yeah, you hypnotized
You had a persuasive influence on me and I followed you without question
Had me going with your big disguise
You presented yourself as someone or something you were not, and I fell for it
You thought I'd never get wise
You believed I would never catch on to your true motives or intentions
It's no wonder they call you the father of lies
Your dishonesty and deceitful actions have earned you a notorious reputation
No way I'm goin' down
I refuse to give up or be defeated
I was in the ring thought the light was fixed
I was trapped in a difficult situation and thought that the outcome was predetermined
I needed help and I needed it quick
I was in desperate need of assistance and could not wait any longer
You had my number I was almost down
You knew exactly how to defeat me and I was close to losing
You didn't think I'd last for another round
You underestimated my resilience and determination to keep fighting
I was on the ropes and I had a hunch
I was in a vulnerable position but still had a feeling that I could turn things around
You were coming in with a knock out punch
You were planning to deliver a final blow to defeat me
Then the King stepped in, said that's as far as it goes
A higher power intervened and put a stop to the situation before it went too far
Now look who's wearing the bloody nose
I have emerged victorious and you are the one who has suffered a defeat
No way I'm goin' down
I stand firm in my determination to not be defeated
Contributed by Eva T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bruce M. Axtens
"thought the fight was fixed" rather than "thought the light was fixed". The imagery in the song is all about fighting in a ring and a fixed fight is not a fair one.