Gloria Gaynor, I Will Survive, 1978

It’s one of the most inspiring songs of defiance ever written. The way Gloria Gaynor sings it tells me she must have known the pain herself.

She has been betrayed, discarded. She remembers how she almost whimpered. The tune is sad, withdrawn, injured, almost crying.

At first I was afraid, I was petrified. Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side. But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong and I grew strong and I learned how to get along.

She mourns the loss and then he reappears.

And so you’re back, from outer space. I just walked into find you here with that sad look upon your face. I should have changed that stupid lock, I should have made you leave your key if I’d have known for just one second you’d be back to bother me.

Ouch! “…back to bother me!” She’s not having it, not any more.

Go on, now, Go! Walk out the door.

It’s an order, not a request.

Just turn around now, ‘cause you’re not welcome any more. Weren’t you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye? Did you think I’d crumble? Did you think I’d lay down and die?

Then she comes to the chorus. It’s loud. It’s defiant. It’s in his face. It’s a boot to his backside.

Oh, no, not I. I will survive. Oh, as long as I know how to love I know I’ll stay alive. I’ve got all my life to live and I’ve got all my love to give, and I’ll survive, I will survive. Hey, hey!

She’s telling him to pay attention. He threw her love away, so she still has it all to give. She’s a fighter. She’ll be okay. Then she returns to cast the story in a different way, just for emphasis.

It took all the strength I had not to fall apart. Just trying hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart. And I spent oh, so many nights just feeling sorry for myself. I used to cry, but now I hold my head up high!

And you see me, somebody new. I’m not that chained up little person still in love with you. And so you felt like dropping in and just expect me to be free.

She’s older and wiser now. She stands up straight again because she got out of the chains and is through with him. Does he really think she’s going to beg him to take her back? Not likely. He’s waited way too long to even think about coming back. Then she drops the bomb on him.

Now I’m saving all my loving for someone who’s loving me!

The notes soar upward. She’s letting him have it. This listener can feel my chin sticking out and my head a little to one side to give a withering look. Too late, loser. Somebody else is getting all her best now, and he even appreciates it. So she repeats the order to get out because he must be disbelieving and pretty dull.

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Go on, now Go! Walk out the door. Just turn around now ‘cause you’re not welcome any more. Weren’t you the one who tried to break me with goodbye? Did you think I’d crumble? Did you think I’d lay down and die?

No, no not I. I will survive. Oh, as long as I know how to love I know I will survive. I’ve got all my life to live and I’ve got all my love to give and I will survive. I will survive.

Singing with the lyrics makes the song universal. She always refers to “you,” not he or she, so anyone can sing it to the opposite sex.

It applies to everyone sooner or later and to every kind of circumstance, making the lyrics compelling to almost everyone at one time or another. It can be sung defiantly to some one, to a place, to a movement, or to a way of thinking. She sings it to a mistake in her past, and we can do the same. It even applies to our political situation and circumstances of injustice. It applies to the aftermath of disasters. Did you think I’d crumble? Did you think I’d lay down and die?

Oh, no, not I. I WILL SURVIVE!
Love Tracks album, 1978
I WILL SURVIVE!
Music and lyrics by Dino Fekaris and Freddie Perren

Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive

Gloria Gaynor's official music video for "I Will Survive" from the album, Love Tracks. REMASTERED IN HD!

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