Contemporary Christian rock band Skillet kept fans waiting for four years – FOUR! – before the release of the highly anticipated, critically acclaimed Rise. Now while Rise did get a rise out of fans, it’s the release of Not Gonna Die that seems to have struck a chord with Christian rock and even Christian AC, because this radio single is burning up the charts. This week, Not Gonna Die is at No. 13 this week in only its fifth week, a ridiculous rise up the chart if I’ve ever seen one, and so rare because it’s Christian rock. You never see Christian rock in the Top 10 – occasionally, you’ll get Building 429’s harder-edged songs, but you know that many Christian AC programmers never really appreciated Right Beside You or anything that Fireflight’s released – so I’m pumped for Not Gonna Die.
It’s got everything going for it: John and Jen’s absolutely stunning vocals, breathtaking violin work – are the violins real?! – and a message that anyone fighting a battle will definitely be able to relate to. The first listen will take your breath away, leaving you either all-out pumped up or stunned into silence. Either way, I don’t think you’ll be able to get through Not Gonna Die feeling the same way. And that is the mark of a brilliant song.
NOT GONNA DIE TONIGHT Lyrics
Skillet
Death surrounds
My heartbeat’s slowing down
I won’t take this world’s abuse
I won’t give up, I refuse!
This is how it feels when you’re bent and broken
This is how it feels when your dignity’s stolen
When everything you love is leaving
You hold on to what you believe in
The last thing I heard was you whispering goodbye
And then I heard you flat line
No, not gonna die tonight
We’re gonna stand and fight forever
(Don’t close your eyes)
No, not gonna die tonight
We’re gonna fight for us together
No, we’re not gonna die tonight
Break their hold
‘Cause I won’t be controlled
They can’t keep their chains on me
When the truth has set me free
This is how it feels when you take your life back
This is how it feels when you finally fight back
When life pushes me I push harder
What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger
The last thing I heard was you whispering goodbye
And then I heard you flat line
No, not gonna die tonight
We’re gonna stand and fight forever
(Don’t close your eyes)
No, not gonna die tonight
We’re gonna fight for us together
No, we’re not gonna die tonight
Don’t you give up on me
You’re everything I need
This is how it feels when you take your life back
This is how it feels when you fight back
No, not gonna die tonight
We’re gonna stand and fight forever
(Don’t close your eyes)
No, not gonna die tonight
We’re gonna fight for us together
No, we’re not gonna die tonight
No, we’re not gonna die tonight
Not gonna die
(Not gonna die)
Not gonna die
(Not gonna die)
Not gonna die tonight
