I Will Not Bow

"I Will Not Bow" is a complex anthem of defiance and survival, but its meaning is deliberately left open to interpretation by the band's primary songwriter, Benjamin Burnley. On the surface, the chorus—"I will not bow, I will not break, I will not fall, I will not fade"—presents a straightforward message of resilience and strength in the face of adversity. However, the verses paint a much bleaker picture of a world succumbing to darkness and despair. Lyrics like "Now the dark begins to rise" and "Leave the lost and dead behind" suggest a grim, almost apocalyptic scenario where self-preservation is paramount.

The song can be interpreted as an internal struggle against personal demons, a theme common in Breaking Benjamin's music. Burnley himself has been open about his struggles with alcoholism and various phobias, and the album "Dear Agony" was the first he wrote while sober. The lyrical conflict between the verses' despair and the chorus's defiance could mirror the internal battle against addiction or mental health issues. The line "I'll survive, paranoid / I have lost the will to change" hints at the psychological toll of this fight, suggesting that survival comes at the cost of emotional growth and trust.

Another layer of meaning comes from its inclusion in the movie "Surrogates," which deals with themes of identity and reality in a technologically advanced world. While not written for the film, the song's themes of fighting against an overwhelming force and refusing to surrender resonate with the movie's plot. Ultimately, Burnley prefers for listeners to find their own meaning in the song, making it a personal anthem for anyone facing their own battles.

The song begins with an immediate sense of impending doom, a growled "Fall" leading into the announcement that "the dark begins to rise." The narrator urges listeners to conserve their energy, as the struggle is far from over, and to abandon the fallen and deceased to save themselves. There's a feeling of detachment and a desire to not change the world, but to leave it a colder, harsher place. This is followed by a self-destructive impulse, to "light the fuse and burn it up" and follow a path to nowhere, acknowledging that all seems lost. However, this despair is met with a powerful declaration of resilience in the chorus: an unwavering refusal to bow, break, fall, or fade. The singer vows to "shut the world away" and ultimately triumph by taking the listener's breath away.

The second verse deepens the apocalyptic imagery, describing watching the end through dying eyes as the darkness becomes all-consuming. There's a challenge to be shown where forever ends, a desire to witness the ultimate conclusion. A paradoxical suggestion is made to "take the fall and run to Heaven," implying that surrender might be a form of escape. Yet again, despite the overwhelming sense of loss, the narrator repeats the mantra of not giving in, followed by the powerful chorus of defiance.

The bridge shifts to a more personal and psychological space. The narrator states, "I'll survive, paranoid," revealing the mental cost of this endurance. There is an admission of having "lost the will to change," suggesting a state of stagnation or acceptance of a flawed self. This is coupled with a lack of pride and an acknowledgment of being a "cold-blooded fake." The commitment to shutting the world away is reiterated, reinforcing the theme of isolation as a survival mechanism. The song culminates in a final, powerful repetition of the chorus, a testament to unyielding defiance in the face of overwhelming odds.

"I Will Not Bow" was released on August 11, 2009, as the lead single from Breaking Benjamin's fourth studio album, "Dear Agony". The song was primarily written by the band's frontman, Benjamin Burnley, with a writing credit also going to Jasen Rauch, the guitarist of the band Red, who contributed to the outro. The album was produced by David Bendeth, who had also produced their previous successful albums. Recording and mixing took place at House of Loud in Elmwood Park, New Jersey, and the track was mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in New York City.

The song's release was slightly chaotic. It was intended to premiere on a St. Louis radio station on August 12, 2009, but a radio station in the band's hometown of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, played it a day earlier, prompting an early release on the band's MySpace page. Interestingly, the song was not specifically written for the 2009 Bruce Willis film "Surrogates." Benjamin Burnley had sent several songs to their record label, Hollywood Records (a subsidiary of Disney), who then chose "I Will Not Bow" for the movie's soundtrack and end credits.

The music video was shot at the 7 World Trade Center, a location chosen by director Rich Lee for its eerie atmosphere. Aaron Fink, the band's guitarist at the time, clarified that the location had no intended connection to the events of 9/11. The video features the band performing, intercut with scenes from "Surrogates."

The rhyme scheme in "I Will Not Bow" is somewhat irregular, contributing to its raw and impassioned feel. The verses often use an AABB or ABCB rhyme scheme, as seen in lines like "Now the dark begins to rise / Save your breath, it's far from over / Leave the lost and dead behind / Now's your chance to run for cover." The chorus maintains a strong, memorable structure with the repetition of "I will not," but the rhyming is less strict, focusing more on the rhythmic impact of the phrases. The song's rhythm is driving and powerful, set in a common time signature with a tempo typical of hard rock. The rhythmic structure is built on a foundation of heavy, deliberate drumming and a syncopated guitar riff that propels the song forward. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm is crucial; the staccato, forceful delivery of the chorus lyrics aligns perfectly with the powerful downbeats of the drums and guitars, enhancing the song's anthemic and defiant feel. The contrast between the more flowing rhythm of the verses and the hard-hitting rhythm of the chorus mirrors the song's thematic shift from bleak observation to powerful resistance.

Musically, "I Will Not Bow" employs several techniques characteristic of Breaking Benjamin's style. The song features a dynamic contrast between its verses and choruses. The verses are more subdued with cleaner guitar tones and a melodic vocal delivery from Burnley, creating a sense of tension and unease. This builds into the explosive, heavily distorted guitars and powerful, soaring vocals of the chorus, providing a cathartic release of energy. The song is built around a prominent, crunching guitar riff that drives the track forward. Benjamin Burnley's vocal performance is a key stylistic element, ranging from melodic singing to aggressive, guttural screams, particularly the opening "Fall." The arrangement, credited to both the band and producer David Bendeth, utilizes a three-guitar dynamic to create a thick, layered sound. Lyrically, the song uses a direct, first-person narrative ("I will not bow") which creates a strong, personal connection with the listener and enhances its anthemic quality. The use of rhetorical imagery, such as "Show me where forever dies," adds a philosophical and desperate layer to the lyrics.

"I Will Not Bow" is one of Breaking Benjamin's most successful and recognizable songs, having a significant cultural impact. Upon its release, it became the band's highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 40. It also topped the Billboard Hot Rock Songs and Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks charts. AOL even named it the number one rock song of 2009. Its success was bolstered by its prominent feature in the 2009 science fiction film "Surrogates," which introduced the band to a wider audience. The song has been a staple in the band's live performances, often serving as a high-energy peak in their setlist. Beyond its chart performance, the song has become an anthem for many fans, who connect with its message of resilience and defiance in their own personal struggles. It has also been used in various other media, including as lead-in music for the 2010 MLB postseason and as a downloadable track for the "Rock Band" video game series, further cementing its place in popular culture.

"I Will Not Bow" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that create its dark yet defiant atmosphere.

• The Dark: The recurring image of "the dark" rising and taking over is a primary metaphor for an overwhelming negative force. This could represent depression, addiction, societal collapse, or any insurmountable obstacle. It's an encroaching, all-consuming power that the protagonist refuses to yield to.
• Falling and Fading: The refusal to "fall" or "fade" is a metaphor for maintaining one's integrity, strength, and existence in the face of this darkness. It's a fight against being erased or broken by external or internal pressures.
• Shutting the World Away: This recurring phrase symbolizes a defense mechanism of isolation. While it provides a way to survive, it also comes with the negative connotations of being "paranoid" and having "lost the will to change," suggesting that this self-preservation comes at a high emotional cost.
• Light the Fuse and Burn It Up: This imagery suggests a self-destructive or reckless tendency. It can be interpreted as a nihilistic impulse to destroy everything, including oneself, when faced with a hopeless situation.

The most prominent recurring motif in "I Will Not Bow" is the defiant chant of the chorus: "I will not bow, I will not break / I will shut the world away / I will not fall, I will not fade / I will take your breath away." This phrase serves as the song's central thesis, a powerful and memorable hook that encapsulates the theme of unwavering resistance. Its repetition after each verse, which describes a progressively bleaker situation, reinforces the idea that defiance grows stronger in the face of adversity. Another recurring phrase is "All is lost again / But I'm not giving in," which acts as a bridge between the despair of the verses and the resolve of the chorus. It acknowledges the overwhelming negativity while simultaneously rejecting surrender. The opening and closing scream of "Fall" serves as a dark bookend to the song, a constant reminder of the threat that necessitates such defiance. The concept of "the dark" is a recurring image that symbolizes the central antagonistic force throughout the song.