Won't Stand Down (song)
| Muse song | |
|---|---|
| Name | Won't Stand Down |
| Album/single | Ninth album (4) |
| Length | |
| Alternative titles | |
| First live performance | |
| Latest live performance | |
| Recorded | 2021 |
| Writer/composer | Matthew Bellamy |
| Producer | Muse |
| Chart position | Unknown |
| Song Nav | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Track 3 | < | Won't Stand Down | > | Track 5 |
| Album Nav | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simulation Theory (2018) | < | Ninth album | > | |
Description
On December 25th, 2021, Bellamy made a short livestream from his Tesla on Muse's Instagram profile, showcasing part of the verse of this song, the chorus and a metalcore breakdown. The name of the track, shown on the car's dashboard screen, displayed a number prefix of "04", meaning it's likely the fourth track on the album. The one minute excerpt from Bellamy's stream can be listened to here.
The nearing release of the song was teased once again on Muse's New Years Eve post on Instagram, when a caption saying "Looking forward to WSD. We'll see you on the other side!" was quickly changed upon posting, replacing "WSD" with "2022", before being announced a week later, on January 7th, 2021, that the song/single would be released on January 13th on all digital platforms. The song can be pre-saved to Spotify, Deezer and Apple Music here.
Another 30 seconds of the songs, which seems to be the first verse, were showcased via Instagram stories on January 9th. [1]
Additional information
Based on the preview, the song appears to be written in the key of B-minor.
Instrumentation
A heavy song, the chorus is very reminiscent to the chorus of Lacrimosa's song 'Lichtgestalt', due the strings and its gothic-metal sound, and the Swedish band 'Ghost'.
For what it can be heard on the tease, it seems like one of the heaviest, if not the heaviest one, song that Muse have ever done (at least that section). It includes a heavy distorted guitar breakdown, something that rarely occurs through Muse's discography as well as Dom using a double kick drum pedal for the first time. This could mean a return to a harder sound from the band, at least in this song, also including some electronic elements like those that can also be heard in the fragment. Based on the latest preview from Instagram filters, the verse features a reggae-like guitar rhytm with a few synths and heavy bass.
Live
Lyrics[2]
Incomplete
I never believed that I would concede
And let someone trample on me You strung me along, I thought I was strong But you were just gaslighting me I’ve opened my eyes and counted the lies And now it is clearer to me You are just a user and an abuser Living vicariously I never believed that I would concede And get myself blown asunder
(...)
Now I'm coming back To counterattack A psychological war
I'm cutting you in I'm under your skin Now I'm gonna settle the score
I've opened my eyes I see your disguise And I will never see you the same
I know how to win Before you begin I'll shoot you before you take aim
Won't stand down I'm growing stronger Won't stand down I'm owned no longer Won't stand down You've used me for too long For too long