I’ll rise like the day/
I’ll rise up/
I’ll rise unafraid.

Andra Day’s “Rise Up” has a beautiful verse and recognizable chorus. This is an anthem of hope-and a bit of a modern day protest song- and in Day’s capable hands it doesn’t feel too contrived or forced like some anthem-y songs can; it feels inspired and sincere. She demonstrates incredible vocal range in this song and uses good taste on her runs.

The difference between good and bad vocal runs is that good ones feel necessary and inherent to the sound of the song. Without them, the vocal would feel too flat. Bad runs are things like what Mariah Carey does…just altering the vocal pitch to try to show off what a great range she has or adding unnecessary vibrato in an attempt to simulate feeling. Though I wouldn’t mind if Day’s vibrato was turned down 10%.

“Rise Up’s” lyrics are somewhat ambiguous. What exactly does “rising up” mean in this context? I think it is twofold. One is the traditional way–like an uprising. But more interestingly,  she describes it it is almost like the struggle to get up for work every morning. For a historically oppressed people, perhaps that is what everyday feels like. Perhaps the struggle to achieve equal rights is a long one that is fought by achieving a million small victories rather than one large one. That requires rising every day as your best self, ready to take on the world.

Rise Up Lyrics & Meaning

You’re broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry go round
And you can’t find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains

We gonna walk it out
And move mountains
And I’ll rise up
I’ll rise like the day
I’ll rise up
I’ll rise unafraid
I’ll rise up
And I’ll do it a thousand times again
And I’ll rise up
High like the waves
I’ll rise up
In spite of the ache
I’ll rise up
And I’ll do it a thousands times again
For you
For you
For you
For you

When the silence isn’t quiet
And it feels like it’s getting hard to breathe
And I know you feel like dying
But I promise we’ll take the world to its feet
And move mountains
We’ll take it to its feet
And move mountains

And I’ll rise up
I’ll rise like the day
I’ll rise up
I’ll rise unafraid
I’ll rise up
And I’ll do it a thousand times again
For you
For you
For you
For you

All we need, all we need is hope
And for that we have each other
And for that we have each other
We will rise
We will rise
We’ll rise, oh oh
We’ll rise

I’ll rise up
Rise like the day
I’ll rise up
In spite of the ache
I will rise a thousands times again
And we’ll rise up
Rise like the waves
We’ll rise up
In spite of the ache
We’ll rise up
And we’ll do it a thousands times again
For you oh oh oh oh oh
For you oh oh oh oh oh
For you oh oh oh oh oh
For you

Songwriters: Cassandra Monique Batie / Jennifer Decilveo