Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive Lyrics

Gloria Gaynor Lyrics

"I Will Survive"

At first, I was afraid, I was petrified
Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side
But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong
And I grew strong, and I learned how to get along

And so you're back from outer space
I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock
I should have made you leave your key
If I'd have known for just one second you'd be back to bother me

Go on now, go. Walk out the door
Just turn around now 'cause you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye?
Did you think I'd crumble?
Did you think I'd lay down and die?

Oh, no, not I
I will survive
Oh, as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live
I've got all my love to give
And I'll survive
I will survive, hey, hey

It took all the strength I had not to fall apart
Kept trying hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart
And I spent, oh, so many nights just feeling sorry for myself
I used to cry, but now I hold my head up high

And you see me somebody new
I'm not that chained-up little person still in love with you
And so you felt like dropping in
And just expect me to be free
And now I'm saving all my loving for someone who's loving me

Go on now, go. Walk out the door
Just turn around now 'cause you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to break me with goodbye?
Did you think I'd crumble?
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh, no, not I
I will survive
Oh, as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live
I've got all my love to give
And I'll survive
I will survive

Go on now, go. Walk out the door
Just turn around now 'cause you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to break me with goodbye?
Did you think I'd crumble?
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh, no, not I
I will survive
Oh, as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live
I've got all my love to give
And I'll survive
I will survive
I will survive

Submit Corrections

Thanks to smily_life for adding these lyrics.
Thanks to JanaeTaylor, Adam Field for correcting these lyrics.

Writer(s): Frederick J. Perren, Dino Fekaris

Gloria Gaynor recorded this song wearing a back brace, because she was recovering from a severe trauma on stage which led for her staying in bed for six month. She explained, "I began to have a spiritual awakening and decided that I wanted to have more purpose to my singing than people just having a good time… That's why I chose 'I Will Survive' and I wanted to continue as often as possible to give them songs that would have positive impact on their lives."

"I Will Survive" won a Grammy award for "Best Disco Recording": the only disco song to have this feat. It gained a "Platinum" status from the Recording Industry Association of America for being sold more than 14 million times.

Gloria Gaynor's autobiography is named after this song.