20th Century Studios Wiki
Register
Advertisement

"I Will Survive" is a song by American singer Gloria Gaynor, released in October 1978 as the second single from her sixth album, Love Tracks (1978). It was written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris. A top-selling song, it is a popular discoanthem, as well as being certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song's lyrics describe the narrator's discovery of personal strength following an initially devastating breakup. It received heavy airplay in 1979, spending three non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100as well as topping the UK Singles Chart and Irish Singles Chart. The song is also frequently recalled as a symbol of female empowerment. In 2016, the Library of Congress deemed Gaynor's original recording to be "culturally, historically, or artistically significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Recording Registry.

Lyrics[]

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 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?
You think I'd crumble?
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
And 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
Well, now I'm saving all my lovin'
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?
You think I'd crumble?
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
And I've got all my love to give and I'll survive
I will survive
Oh

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?
You think I'd crumble?
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
And I've got all my love to give and I'll survive
I will survive
I will survive


v - e - d
Glee logo
Media
Television series: Glee
Albums: Volume 1Volume 2Volume 3 ShowstoppersThe Christmas AlbumVolume 4Volume 5Presents the WarblersVolume 6The 3D Concert MovieThe Christmas Album Volume 2Volume 7The Graduation AlbumSeason 4, Volume 1The Christmas Album Volume 3Sings the Beatles
Films: Glee: The 3D Concert Movie
Characters
Artie AbramsWade "Unique" AdamsBlaine AndersonCoach BeisteRachel BerryMike ChangTina Cohen-ChangShelby CorcoranSam EvansQuinn FabrayRory FlanaganElliott GilbertHolly HollidayFinn HudsonBurt HummelKurt HummelMercedes JonesDave KarofskySantana LopezRyder LynnBrittany PierceEmma PillsburyNoah PuckermanMarley RoseTerri SchuesterWill SchuesterSue SylvesterKitty WildeLauren Zizes
Episodes
Season One: PilotShowmanceAcafellasPreggersThe Rhodes Not TakenVitamin DThrowdownMash-UpWheelsBalladHairographyMattressSectionalsHell-OThe Power of MadonnaHomeBad ReputationLaryngitisDream OnTheatricalityFunkJourney
Season Two: AuditionBritney/BrittanyGrilled CheesusDuetsThe Rocky Horror Glee ShowNever Been KissedThe SubstituteFurtSpecial EducationA Very Glee ChristmasThe Sue Sylvester ShuffleSilly Love SongsComebackBlame It on the AlcoholSexyOriginal SongA Night of NeglectBorn This WayRumoursProm QueenFuneralNew York
Season Three: The Purple Piano ProjectI Am UnicornAsian FPot o' GoldThe First TimeMash OffI Kissed a GirlHold on to SixteenExtraordinary Merry ChristmasYes/NoMichaelThe Spanish TeacherHeartOn My WayBig BrotherSaturday Night Glee-verDance with SomebodyChokeProm-asaurusPropsNationalsGoodbye
Season Four: The New RachelBritney 2.0MakeoverThe Break-UpThe Role You Were Born to PlayGleaseDynamic DuetsThanksgivingSwan SongGlee, ActuallySadie HawkinsNakedDivaI DoGirls (and Boys) on FilmFeudGuilty PleasuresShooting StarSweet DreamsLights OutWonder-fulAll or Nothing
Season Five: Love, Love, LoveTina in the Sky with DiamondsThe QuarterbackA Katy or A GagaThe End of TwerkMovin' OutPuppet MasterPreviously Unaired ChristmasFrenemiesTrioCity of Angels100New DirectionsNew New YorkBashTestedOpening NightThe Back-Up PlanOld Dog, New TricksThe Untitled Rachel Berry Project
Season Six: Loser Like MeHomecomingJagged Little TapestryThe Hurt Locker, Part OneThe Hurt Locker, Part TwoWhat the World Needs NowTransitioningA WeddingChild StarThe Rise and Fall of Sue SylvesterWe Built This Glee Club2009Dreams Come True
Songs
Season One: On My OwnCan't Fight This FeelingRehabLeaving on a Jet PlaneDon't Stop Believin'Gold DiggerPush ItI Say a Little PrayerTake a BowThis Is How We Do ItPoisonMercyBust Your WindowsI Wanna Sex You UpTaking ChancesTonightMaybe This TimeAloneLast NameSomebody to LoveIt's My Life/Confessions Part IIHalo/Walking on SunshineHate on MeNo AirYou Keep Me Hangin' OnKeep Holding OnBust a MoveThong SongSweet CarolineI Could Have Danced All NightDancing with MyselfDefying GravityProud MaryEndless LoveI'll Stand by YouDon't Stand So Close To Me/Young GirlCrush(You're) Having My BabyLean on MeBootyliciousDon't Make Me OverPapa Don't PreachHair/Crazy in LoveImagineTrue ColorsSmileJumpSmileAnd I Am Telling You I'm Not GoingDon't Rain on My ParadeYou Can't Always Get What You WantMy Life Would Suck Without YouGives You HellHello, I Love YouHighway to HellHelloHello, GoodbyeHello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello LoveExpress YourselfBorderline/Open Your HeartVogueLike a Virgin4 MinutesWhat It Feels Like For A GirlLike a PrayerBurning UpFireA House Is Not a HomeOne Less Bell to Answer/A House Is Not a HomeBeautifulHomeIce Ice BabyU Can't Touch ThisPhysicalRun Joey RunTotal Eclipse of the HeartJessie's GirlThe Lady Is a TrampThe Boy Is MineRose's TurnOneDream OnThe Safety DanceI Dreamed a DreamDream a Little Dream of MeFunny GirlBad RomanceShout It Out LoudBethPoker FaceAnother One Bites the DustTell Me Something GoodLoserIt's a Man's Man's Man's WorldGood VibrationsGive Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)FaithfullyAny Way You Want It/Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'Bohemian RhapsodyTo Sir, with LoveOver the Rainbow
Season Two: Empire State of MindTelephoneBillionaireListenWhat I Did for LoveI'm a Slave 4 UMe Against the Music...Baby One More TimeStrongerToxicThe Only ExceptionOnly the Good Die YoungI Look to YouPapa Can You Hear Me?I Want to Hold Your HandLosing My ReligionBridge Over Troubled WaterOne of UsDon't Go Breaking My HeartRiver Deep, Mountain HighLe Jazz HotSing!LuckyHappy Days Are Here Again/Get HappyScience Fiction Double FeaturePlanet, Schmanet, JanetDamn It, JanetWhatever Happened to Saturday Night? (Bless My Soul)Sweet TransvestiteTouch a Touch a Touch a Touch MeThere's a Light (Over at the Frankenstein Place)Time WarpOne Love (People Get Ready)Teenage DreamStart Me Up/Livin' on a PrayerStop! In the Name of Love/Free Your MindForget YouMake 'Em LaughNowadays/Hot Honey RagSinging in the Rain/UmbrellaOhioMarry YouSwayJust the Way You AreDon't Cry for Me ArgentinaThe Living YearsHey, Soul Sister(I've Had) The Time of My LifeValerieDog Days Are OverThe Most Wonderful Day of the YearWe Need a Little ChristmasMerry Christmas DarlingBaby, It's Cold OutsideYou're a Mean One, Mr. GrinchLast ChristmasWelcome ChristmasThriller/Heads Will RollShe's Not ThereNeed You NowBills, Bills, BillsP.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing)FireworkWhen I Get You AloneSilly Love SongsFat Bottomed GirlsBabySomebody to LoveTake Me or Leave MeI Know What Boys LikeThis Little Light of MineSingMy HeadbandDon't You Want MeBlame It (On the Alcohol)One Bourbon, One Scotch, One BeerTik TokDo You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)AnimalKissLandslideAfternoon DelightDa Ya Think I'm Sexy?MiseryOnly ChildBlackbirdTrouty MouthBig Ass HeartHell to the NoCandlesRaise Your GlassGet It RightLoser Like MeAll by MyselfI Follow RiversTurning TablesAin't No WayI Feel Pretty/UnprettyI've Gotta Be MeSomewhere Only We KnowAs If We Never Said GoodbyeBorn This WayDreamsNever Going Back AgainSongbirdI Don't Want to KnowNice to Meet You, Have I Slept with You?Go Your Own WayDon't StopIt's 10 am and I'm DrunkRolling in the DeepIsn't She LovelyFridayJar of HeartsI'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with YouDancing QueenBack to BlackSome PeopleTry a Little TendernessMy ManPure ImaginationMy CupI Love New York/New York, New YorkBella NotteFor GoodYeah! • As Long as You're There • Pretending • Light Up the World
Season Three: We Got the BeatDing-Dong! The Witch Is DeadIt's Not UnusualAnything Goes/Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)You Can't Stop the BeatSomewhereI'm the Greatest StarSomething's ComingSpotlightRun the World (Girls)CoolIt's All OverOut Here on My OwnFix YouBein' GreenLast Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)Waiting for a Girl Like YouCandymanTake Care of YourselfTonightUptown GirlA Boy Like ThatAmericaOne Hand, One HeartHot for TeacherYou and I/You and IHit Me with Your Best Shot/One Way or AnotherI Can't Go for That (No Can Do)/You Make My DreamsRumour Has It/Someone Like YouPerfectI'm the Only OneGirls Just Want to Have FunJoleneI Kissed a GirlConstant CravingRed Solo CupBuenos AiresSurvivor/I Will SurviveABCControlMan in the MirrorWe Are YoungAll I Want for Christmas Is YouBlue ChristmasRiverExtraordinary Merry ChristmasLet It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!My Favorite ThingsSanta Claus Is Coming to TownChristmas WrappingDo They Know It's ChristmasSanta BabySummer NightsWedding Bell BluesMoves Like Jagger/Jumpin' Jack FlashThe First Time Ever I Saw Your FaceWithout YouWe Found LoveWanna Be Startin' Somethin'BadScreamNever Can Say GoodbyeHuman NatureBenSmooth CriminalI Just Can't Stop Loving YouBlack or WhiteI Want You BackSexy and I Know ItDon't Wanna Lose YouBamboleo/HeroLa Isla BonitaA Little Less ConversationL-O-V-ELet Me Love YouStereo HeartsHomeI Will Always Love YouYou're the TopCherish/CherishLove ShackCough SyrupStandGlad You CameFly/I Believe I Can FlyStronger (What Doesn't Kill You)Here's to UsI'm Still StandingHungry Like the Wolf/RioFighterUp Up UpSomebody That I Used to KnowYou Should Be DancingNight FeverDisco InfernoIf I Can't Have YouHow Deep Is Your LoveBoogie ShoesMore Than a WomanStayin' AliveHow Will I KnowI Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)Saving All My Love for YouSo EmotionalIt's Not Right but It's OkayI Have NothingMy Love Is Your LoveThe Music of the NightSchool's OutCell Block TangoNot the Boy Next DoorThe Rain in SpainShake It OutCryBig Girls Don't CryDinosaurLove You Like a Love SongWhat Makes You BeautifulTake My Breath AwayI Won't Give UpBecause You Loved Me (Theme From "Up Close & Personal")MeanFlashdance... What a FeelingThe Edge of GloryIt's All Coming Back to Me NowParadise by the Dashboard LightStarshipsPinball WizardStarlight ExpressTongue TiedWe Are the ChampionsSit Down, You're Rockin' the BoatForever YoungSingle Ladies (Put a Ring on It)I'll RememberYou Get What You GiveIn My LifeGlory DaysRoots Before BranchesNot the End
Season Four: Call Me Maybe Americano/Dance AgainNever Say Never (Don't Let Me Go)New York State of MindIt's TimeChasing PavementsHold It Against MeBoys/BoyfriendWomanizer3Crazy/(You Drive Me) CrazyOops!... I Did It AgainGimme MoreEverytimeEverybody Wants to Rule the WorldMister MonotonyCelebrity SkinA Change Would Do You GoodThe Way You Look Tonight/You're Never Fully Dressed Without a SmileBarely BreathingGive Your Heart a BreakTeenage Dream (Acoustic Version) • Don't SpeakMineThe ScientistHopelessly Devoted to YouBlow Me (One Last Kiss)Juke Box HeroEverybody TalksBorn to Hand JiveGreased Lightnin'Look At Me I'm Sandra DeeBeauty School Drop OutLook At Me I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise) • There Are Worse Things I Could DoYou're the One That I WantDark SideSupermanHolding Out for a HeroHeroesSome NightsHomeward Bound/HomeCome See About MeWhistleLive While We're YoungLet's Have a Kiki/Turkey Lurkey TimeGangnam StyleSomethin' StupidAll That JazzBeing Good Isn't Good EnoughO Holy NightBeing AliveDon't Dream It's OverFeliz NavidadWhite ChristmasOh HanukkahJingle Bell RockThe First NoelHave Yourself a Merry Little ChristmasI Don't Know How to Love HimBaby Got BackTell HimNo ScrubsLocked Out of HeavenI Only Have Eyes For YouTornCenterfold/Hot in HerreA Thousand YearsLet Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)Love SongThis Is the New YearDivaDon't Stop Me NowNutbush City LimitsMake No Mistake, He's MineDancing on My OwnBring Him HomeHung UpGirl on FireYou’re All I Need to Get ByGetting Married TodayJust Can't Get EnoughWe've Got ToniteAnything Could HappenYou're All the World to MeShoutCome What MayOld Time Rock and Roll/Danger ZoneDiamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend/Material GirlIn Your EyesUnchained MelodyFootlooseHow to Be a HeartbreakerCold HeartedI Still Believe/Super BassBye Bye Bye/I Want It That WayThe Bitch Is Back/Dress You UpCloserWake Me Up Before You Go-GoCopacabana (At the Copa)Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)Wannabe (Tell Me What You Want)My PrerogativeCreepMamma MiaYour SongMore Than WordsSayNext to Me(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)You Have More Friends Than You KnowDon't Stop Believin'OutcastYou've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'Everybody HurtsWe Will Rock YouLittle GirlsAt the BalletThe Longest TimeSigned, Sealed, Delivered I'm YoursSuperstitionYou Are the Sunshine of My LifeI WishUptight (Everything’s Alright)Higher GroundFor Once in My LifeTo Love You MoreRainbow ConnectionClarityWingsHall of FameI Love ItAll or Nothing
Season Five: YesterdayDrive My CarGot to Get You into My LifeYou've Got to Hide Your Love AwayHelp!A Hard Day's NightI Saw Her Standing ThereAll You Need Is Love/She Loves YouGet BackSomethingHere Comes the SunSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BandHey JudeLet It BeSeasons of LoveI'll Stand by YouFire and RainIf I Die YoungNo SurrenderMake You Feel My LoveMarry the NightApplauseWide AwakeRoarYou Are Woman, I Am ManBlurred LinesIf I Were a BoyWrecking BallOn Our WayMovin' Out (Anthony's Song)Piano ManMy LifeHonestyAn Innocent ManJust the Way You AreYou May Be RightCheek to CheekInto the GrooveNasty/Rhythm NationYou're My Best FriendThe Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)Rockin' Around the Christmas TreeMary's Boy Child – Oh My LordThe Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)Love ChildAway in a MangerWhenever I Call You FriendBraveMy Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)Don't Rain on My ParadeI Believe in a Thing Called LoveEvery Breath You TakeBreakawayJumpin', Jumpin'BarracudaDon't You (Forget About Me)Danny's SongGloriaThe HappeningHold OnI Love L.A.VacationMr. Roboto/Counting StarsMore Than a FeelingAmericaI Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking ForRaise Your GlassToxicKeep Holding OnValerieDefying GravityHappyTotal Eclipse of the HeartI Am ChangingParty All the TimeLoser Like MeBe OkayJust Give Me a ReasonDon't Stop Believin'DowntownYou Make Me Feel So YoungBest Day of My LifeRockstarDon't Sleep in the SubwayPeopleNo One Is Alone(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman • Broadway Baby • Not While I'm Around • Colorblind • I'm Still HereAddicted to LoveI Want to Know What Love IsLove Is a BattlefieldLet's Wait AwhileLovefool • N.Y.C. • I'm the Greatest StarWho Are You Now?Pumpin BloodWake Me UpDoo Wop (That Thing)Story of My LifePiece of My HeartThe RoseI Melt with YouMemoryWerewolves of LondonLucky StarTake Me Home TonightShakin' My HeadAll of MeGirls on FilmGlitter in the AirNo Time at AllAmerican BoyPompeii
Season Six: Uninvited • Suddenly Seymour • SingDance the Night AwayLet It GoTake On MeTightropeProblemMustang SallyHomeIt's Too LateHand in My Pocket/I Feel the Earth MoveWill You Love Me Tomorrow/Head over FeetSo Far AwayYou Learn/You've Got a FriendBitchA Thousand MilesRock LobsterWhip ItMy SharonaYou Spin Me Round (Like a Record)It Must Have Been LoveFather FigureAll Out of LoveI'll Never Fall in Love AgainBaby It's YouWishin' And Hopin'Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)(They Long to Be) Close to You • Promises, Promises • AlfieWhat the World Needs Now Is LoveYou Give Love a Bad NameSame LoveAll About That BassSomebody Loves YouTime After TimeI Know Where I've BeenAt LastHey Ya!I'm So ExcitedOur Day Will ComeLose My BreathFriday I'm in LoveI Want to Break FreeUptown FunkBreak FreeCool KidsRather BeThe Trolley SongFar from OverThe Final Countdown • Rise • Take Me to ChurchChandelierCome Sail AwayWe Built This CityMickeyListen to Your HeartPopular • I'm His Child • I Kissed a GirlPonyDon't Stop Believin'Teach Your ChildrenSomeday We'll Be TogetherDaydream BelieverThe Winner Takes It AllThis TimeI Lived
Locations
BreadstiXBushwick ApartmentCallbacksCarmel High SchoolCrawford Country DayDalton AcademyHaverbrook School for the DeafHummel Tires & LubeJane Addams AcademyLima Theater GuildLima, OhioMattress LandNew York Academy of the Dramatic ArtsRinky DinksSaint Agnes HospitalScandalsSheets-N-ThingsSpotlight DinerThe Finn Hudson AuditoriumThe Choir RoomThe GymnasiumThe Lima BeanThurston High SchoolUniversity of LimaWilliam McKinley High School
See Also
Glee Live! In Concert Tour
Advertisement