In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I'm gonna hold on
'Cause what I believe in is so strong
No matter how long
No one can tell me I'm wrong
I ain't goin' down
I had a baby at fifteen
Daddy never did forgive me
I never heard from the guy again, oh
I had to drop outta high school
Everybody treated me so cruel
But I didn't give in and give her away
I'm gonna hold on
'Cause what I believe in is so strong
No matter how long
No one can tell me I'm wrong
I ain't goin' down
Her smile got me through the day
And every night I'd pray
I could give her enough
At night, I'd lie awake and cry
Hoping we'd get by
'Cause you can't live on love
I worked night and day to keep us goin'
Through the sweat and tears without her knowing
It was worth it just to watch her grow
Oh, oh
At least I was able to hold her
Whenever she needed my shoulder
I'm so glad I never let her go
Oh, I'm gonna hold on
'Cause what I believe in is so strong
No matter how long
No one can tell me I'm wrong
I ain't goin' down
Her smile got me through the years
Dried away the tears
It filled me with hope
At night, I'd lie awake and cry
Prayed we would get by
And for the courage to go, oh
Her smile got me through the day
And every night, I'd pray
I could give her enough
I'm gonna hold on (hold on)
'Cause what I believe in is so strong (so strong)
No matter how long
No one (no one) can tell me I'm wrong
I ain't goin' down
I'm gonna hold on
'Cause what I believe in is so strong
No matter how long
No one can tell me I'm wrong
I ain't goin' down
No one can tell me I'm wrong
I ain't goin' down
'Cause what I believe in is so strong
No matter how long
No one can tell me I'm wrong
I ain't goin' down
I had a baby at fifteen
Daddy never did forgive me
I never heard from the guy again, oh
I had to drop outta high school
Everybody treated me so cruel
But I didn't give in and give her away
I'm gonna hold on
'Cause what I believe in is so strong
No matter how long
No one can tell me I'm wrong
I ain't goin' down
Her smile got me through the day
And every night I'd pray
I could give her enough
At night, I'd lie awake and cry
Hoping we'd get by
'Cause you can't live on love
I worked night and day to keep us goin'
Through the sweat and tears without her knowing
It was worth it just to watch her grow
Oh, oh
At least I was able to hold her
Whenever she needed my shoulder
I'm so glad I never let her go
Oh, I'm gonna hold on
'Cause what I believe in is so strong
No matter how long
No one can tell me I'm wrong
I ain't goin' down
Her smile got me through the years
Dried away the tears
It filled me with hope
At night, I'd lie awake and cry
Prayed we would get by
And for the courage to go, oh
Her smile got me through the day
And every night, I'd pray
I could give her enough
I'm gonna hold on (hold on)
'Cause what I believe in is so strong (so strong)
No matter how long
No one (no one) can tell me I'm wrong
I ain't goin' down
I'm gonna hold on
'Cause what I believe in is so strong
No matter how long
No one can tell me I'm wrong
I ain't goin' down
No one can tell me I'm wrong
I ain't goin' down
Lyrics submitted by planetearth
I Ain't Going Down Lyrics as written by Shania Twain Robert John Lange
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is not about Shania's mom, Sharon. First of all, Sharon had her first child, Jill, at age 18, not age 15 like the lyrics say. Secondly, Jill's biological father didn't abandon them like the lyrics imply; he was killed in a car crash.
This song is likely about Jill. Jill left home at age 14, then gave birth to Mandy, Shania's niece, at age 15 or 16.
Neither Shania nor anyone in her family will talk publicly about why Jill left home so early. Maybe the answers are right here in this song.