Twisted Sister – “We’re Not Gonna Take It”:
The Anthem That Flipped the Table
When Twisted Sister unleashed “We’re Not Gonna Take It” in April 1984, they weren’t just releasing a single — they were delivering a rallying cry for anyone tired of being pushed around. Loud, defiant, and surprisingly catchy, the song became the band’s breakout hit and a staple of 1980s rebellion.
A Protest Song You Could Shout With
Written by frontman Dee Snider, “We’re Not Gonna Take It” is as direct as it gets — a fist-pumping rejection of conformity and control. With lyrics like “Oh, we’re not gonna take it / No, we ain’t gonna take it / We’re not gonna take it anymore!”, it’s as universal as it is anthemic. Snider kept the language open-ended on purpose, so the message could apply to anyone feeling silenced — teens, workers, misfits, you name it.
Musically, the song pairs heavy guitar riffs and pounding drums with a hook that wouldn’t be out of place in a pop hit. In fact, the melody draws loose inspiration from the Christmas carol “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” something the band leaned into years later with a metal cover of that very song.
The MTV Video That Ignited a Generation
Directed by Marty Callner, the song’s music video became as iconic as the track itself. It stars actor Mark Metcalf (famous for Animal House) as a furious father, shouting down his teenage son — only for the kid to transform into Dee Snider and blast him across the room with a power chord.
What follows is three minutes of over-the-top mayhem: pratfalls, cartoon violence, flying furniture, and the band terrorizing authority figures. MTV played it on heavy rotation, and kids everywhere adopted Twisted Sister as the band that got them.
Chart Fire and Culture Wars
“We’re Not Gonna Take It” hit No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the band’s highest-charting single in the U.S. It also struck a nerve internationally, especially in Canada, where it was later certified octuple platinum.
But its rebellious spirit also landed it in political hot water. In 1985, the song became a focal point during the PMRC hearings (Parents Music Resource Center). Dee Snider testified in front of the U.S. Senate, passionately defending the band’s lyrics against claims they were harmful or incited violence. His unexpected eloquence turned the hearing on its head and became a key moment in the fight for artistic freedom.
Legacy: Not Done Fighting
Decades later, “We’re Not Gonna Take It” is still a go-to anthem for protests, sports stadiums, teen movies, and even political campaigns (sometimes controversially). It transcended its era to become a soundtrack for standing your ground — no matter who you are.