The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
You are the sun, I am the flame
You are the blood, I am the same
We are the love that rises again
They are the snake that bites on your veins
We are not chained to the wheel
You are the tear, I have no fear
You are so strange, I feel the same
Sorceress mind, we ride again
We are not chained to the wheel, to the wheel
It's the way that you feel
It's the truth in your eye
You got wings upon your back and you can fly
It's the way that you feel
It's the truth in your eye
'Cause you're up against the world and still you rise
And still you rise
You are alive and high in my dreams
You are the stars that mystify me
And you are the wolf that frightens the thief
And you are the voice that they disbelieve
We are not chained to the wheel
And you are the spark that sets us all free
We are not chained to the wheel, to the wheel
It's the way that you feel
It's the truth in your eye
You got wings upon your back and you can fly
It's the way that you feel
It's the truth in your eye
'Cause you're up against the world and still you rise
And still you rise
Whoa, baby
It's the way that you feel
It's the truth in your eye
You got wings upon your back and you can fly
It's the way that you feel
It's the truth in your eye
'Cause you're up against the world and still you rise
And still you rise
Still you rise
Still you rise
You are the blood, I am the same
We are the love that rises again
They are the snake that bites on your veins
We are not chained to the wheel
You are the tear, I have no fear
You are so strange, I feel the same
Sorceress mind, we ride again
We are not chained to the wheel, to the wheel
It's the way that you feel
It's the truth in your eye
You got wings upon your back and you can fly
It's the way that you feel
It's the truth in your eye
'Cause you're up against the world and still you rise
And still you rise
You are alive and high in my dreams
You are the stars that mystify me
And you are the wolf that frightens the thief
And you are the voice that they disbelieve
We are not chained to the wheel
And you are the spark that sets us all free
We are not chained to the wheel, to the wheel
It's the way that you feel
It's the truth in your eye
You got wings upon your back and you can fly
It's the way that you feel
It's the truth in your eye
'Cause you're up against the world and still you rise
And still you rise
Whoa, baby
It's the way that you feel
It's the truth in your eye
You got wings upon your back and you can fly
It's the way that you feel
It's the truth in your eye
'Cause you're up against the world and still you rise
And still you rise
Still you rise
Still you rise
Lyrics submitted by Kappa4Life20
Rise Lyrics as written by Ian Robert Astbury William Henry Duffy
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Curehead has a brillant point, knowing the lyrics and thinking about this. I will agree with Curehead. It's how i feel in society that's why. Or maybe there is self-conscious in the lyrics. Another side of somebody 'Rising'