I Will Not Bow is probably my favorite Breaking Benjamin song. I became aware of the song years after it was released. But I discovered it at a time when I needed to hear it the most.
What I have always loved about song lyrics is that the same words, read, spoken, or sung, can mean so many different things to people. That is the beauty of interpretation and art. For me, this song is about staying true to your imperfect self in a world that wants you to bow to their standards or ideals. But how you hear it and what you get from it might be something totally different.
When I was younger, there was a lot of emphasis on fitting in. Conforming. Being like everyone else. From time to time, I even felt pressure from myself that fitting in was the right thing to do. But the truth was, I wanted to stand out. I didn’t want to be like anyone else. And I did not want to conform to anyone else’s idea of who I should be.
Many of us go through times in our life where we feel tempted to fit in. Don’t give into it. You were born to stand out. Stay true to yourself. The right people will find you and will love you for who you are, as you are. They will become part of your tribe and be just as weird as you. And trust me, you will be so much happier being loved for who you are, rather than someone you are not.
