I Won’t Back Down ʻUkulele Chords by Tom Petty

Published: May 18, 2015 Updated: January 14, 2020 by Brad Bordessa

Another simple hit from Tom Petty. The strum is basically all downs on an eighth note pattern. What changes is the “push” feel of the middle chord. Like this: Em//// D/// G///// ////. The D only gets three strums and the G gets an extra one to make it up. If this confuses you, just do what feels and sounds right, but if you want to get technical, that’s what’s happening.

Not sure about the chord? Go here: ʻUkulele chord diagram charts

I Won’t Back Down
Tom Petty
Full Moon Fever
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       Em    D     G
Well I won’t back down
     Em     D    G
No I, won’t back down
        Em       D         C
You can stand me up at the gates of Hell
      Em    D    G
But I won’t back down

       Em     D   G
No I’ll, stand my ground
        Em   D  G
Won’t be turned around
         Em        D          C
And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down
     Em    D   G
Gonna stand my ground
      Em    D    G     C/ G/          
And I won’t back down                      
                                                    
Chorus:                                        
C   G/ D  G/ C                G/     D    G/ 
Heeeey baby, there ain't no easy way out
C   G/ D       Em    D  G
Heeeey I, will stand my ground
      Em    D    G
And I won't back down

       Em   D      G
Well I know what's right
     Em   D    G
I got just one life
     Em         D        C
In a world that keeps on pushing me around
         Em   D   G
But I'll stand my ground
      Em    D    G     C/ G/
And I won't back down

Chorus>

Solo

Chorus x2>

By Brad Bordessa

I’m an ‘ukulele artist from Honoka’a, Hawai’i, where I run this site from a little plantation house in the jungle. I’ve taught workshops internationally, made Herb Ohta Jr. laugh until he cried, and once borrowed a uke to jam with HAPA onstage in my boardshorts. More about me