As the years progressed, the PiL line-up would change, adding renowned drummer Martin Atkins in 1979 as the direction of the band evolved. Compared to their first three albums, the later 1980's/early 1990's period saw a more conventional sound to the musical aspect, but still retaining Lydon's biting lyrics. The album compact disc (aka Album or Cassette, depending on what format you have it on), recorded by Lydon with a slate of studio musicians organized by producer Bill Laswell, is considered the artistic highpoint of this period of PiL's evolution. PiL reached their commercial zenith with their aptly titled ninth album, 9, during 1989/1990.
PiL kept going as a Lydon project until 1993, when Lydon disbanded the group. Their final lineup consisted of Lydon, Ted Chau (guitar, keyboards), Mike Joyce of The Smiths (drums), John McGeoch of Magazine and Siouxsie and the Banshees (guitar), and Russel Webb (bass).
In September 2009, Lydon announced that the band would reform, including earlier members Bruce Smith and Lu Edmonds, for a number of Christmas shows in the UK. The One Drop Songfacts reports that Lydon financed the reunion using money he earned doing a UK television commercial for Country Life butter. This Is PiL, the band’s first album for 20 years was recorded at Steve Winwood’s studio, which is located in a barn, in the middle of the Cotswolds in southern England. It was released on May 28, 2012.
Rise
Public Image Ltd. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
could be wrong
I could be wrong I could be right
I could be black I could be white
I could be right I could be wrong
I could be white I could be black
Your time has come your second skin
The cost so high the gain so low
Walk through the valley
The written word is a lie
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
Could be wrong I could be right
Could be wrong I could be right
I could be wrong I could be right
I could be black I could be white
I could be right I could be wrong
I could be black I could be white
They put a hot wire to my head
'cause of the thing I did and said
And made these feelings go away
Model citizen in every way
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Could be wrong I could be right
Could be wrong I could be right
I could be wrong I could be right
I could be black I could be white
I could be right I could be wrong
I could be black I could be white
Your time has come your second skin
The cost so high the gain so low
Walk through the valley
The written word is a lie
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
Could be wrong I could be right
Could be wrong
They put a hot wire to my head
'Cause of the things I did and said
They made these feelings go away
A model citizen in every way
Your time has come your second skin
The cost so high the gain so low
May the road rise with you (Hey)
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Public Image Ltd's song "Rise" features lyrics that are open to interpretation. The verses in the song present the idea of being uncertain about one's own identity. The lyrics state, "I could be wrong, I could be right, could be black, could be white." These lines suggest that the singer is unsure of their own identity, but that it doesn't matter because they are still human.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "May the road rise with you" which is an Irish blessing used to wish someone well on their journey. The song's title "Rise" also suggests a journey, possibly a journey towards self-discovery.
The verse, "They put a hot wire to my head, 'cause of the thing I did and said, and made these feelings go away, model citizen in every way" suggests that the singer has been brainwashed or tortured in some way to conform to society's expectations of what a "model citizen" should be. This, combined with lines such as "The written word is a lie," may suggest that the song is about the dangers of conformity and blind acceptance of societal norms and beliefs.
Overall, "Rise" is a complex song that presents multiple interpretations, including ideas about identity, self-discovery, conformity, and societal norms.
Line by Line Meaning
I could be wrong I could be right
I'm aware of the possibility of being right or wrong
could be wrong
acknowledging the possibility of being incorrect
I could be black I could be white
The color of my skin does not define me or my abilities
Your time has come your second skin
It's time to reveal your true self and leave behind any facades
The cost so high the gain so low
The price of success might be too steep and not worth the reward
Walk through the valley
Face your challenges and go through difficult times
The written word is a lie
Words on paper can be misleading and not convey the true meaning
May the road rise with you
May you have success and good fortune in your journey
Anger is an energy
Emotions can fuel and motivate a person
They put a hot wire to my head
Punished for expressing oneself through actions and words
'cause of the things I did and said
Consequences for behavior and speech
They made these feelings go away
Society tries to suppress individuality and creativity
A model citizen in every way
Expected to fit societal norms and expectations
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Lydon, Bill Laswell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
g zimmermann
cost so high, gain so low.
I could be black, I could be white
They put a hot wire to my head
'Cause of the things I did and said
They made these feelings go away
Model citizen in every way
nwo ish... :/
Mike K
I could be wrong, I could be right
I could be wrong
I could be wrong, I could be right
I could be black, I could be white
I could be right, I could be wrong
I could be white, I could be black
Your time has come your second skin
The cost so high the gain so low
Walk through the valley
The written word is a lie
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
Could be wrong, I could be right
Could be wrong, I could be right
I could be wrong, I could be right
I could be black, I could be white
I could be right, I could be wrong
I could be black, I could be white
They put a hot wire to my head
'Cos of the things I did and said
And made these feelings go away
Model citizen in every way
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Could be wrong, I could be right
Could be wrong, I could be right
I could be wrong, I could be right
I could be black, I could be white
I could be right, I could be wrong
I could be black, I could be white
Your time has come your second skin
Cost so high the gain so low
Walk through the valley
The written word is a lie
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
Could be wrong, I could be right
Could be wrong
They put a hot wire to my head
'Cos of the things I did and said
And made these feelings go away
Model citizen in every way
Your time has come your second skin
Cost so high the gain so low
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
kittykait
I could be wrong I could be right
could be wrong
I could be wrong I could be right
I could be black I could be white
I could be right I could be wrong
I could be white I could be black
Your time has come your second skin
The cost so high the gain so low
Walk through the valley
The written word is a lie
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
Could be wrong I could be right
Could be wrong I could be right
I could be wrong I could be right
I could be black I could be white
I could be right I could be wrong
I could be black I could be white
They put a hot wire to my head
'cause of the thing I did and said
And made these feelings go away
Model citizen in every way
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Could be wrong I could be right
Could be wrong I could be right
I could be wrong I could be right
I could be black I could be white
I could be right I could be wrong
I could be black I could be white
Your time has come your second skin
The cost so high the gain so low
Walk through the valley
The written word is a lie
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
Could be wrong I could be right
Could be wrong
They put a hot wire to my head
'Cause of the things I did and said
They made these feelings go away
A model citizen in every way
Your time has come your second skin
The cost so high the gain so low
May the road rise with you (Hey)
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Zero F's
I could be wrong
I could be right
I could be wrong
I could be wrong, I could be right
I could be black, I could be white
I could be right, I could be wrong
I could be white, I could be black
Your time has come, your second skin
The cost so high, the gain so low
Walk through the valley
The written word is a lie
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
I could be wrong
I could be right
I could be wrong
I could be right
I could be wrong, I could be right
I could be black, I could be white
I could be right, I could be wrong
I could be black, I could be white
They put a hot wire to my head
'Cause of the things I did and said
They made these feelings go away
Model citizen in every way
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
I could be wrong
I could be right
I could be wrong
I could be right
I could be wrong, I could be right
I could be black, I could be white
I could be right, I could be wrong
I could be black, I could be white
Your time has come, your second skin
The cost so high, the gain so low
Walk through the valley
The written word is a lie
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
I could be wrong
I could be right
I could be wrong
They put a hot wire to my head
'Cause of the things I did and said
They made these feelings go away
A model citizen in every way
Your time has come, your second skin
Cost so high, the gain so low
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
May the road rise with you
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Kevin D
Here's the line-up for the LP ('Album'); 'Rise' (aka 'Single') is track #2. Per Wikipedia.
So, yeah, that's Bill Laswell, Steve Vai, Nicky Skopelitis, Tony Williams & Ryuichi Sakamoto prob along w Bernard Fowler to boot on this one. Whew.
Personnel
Public Image Limited
John Lydon – lead vocals
with:
Bill Laswell - bass (1-6), producer
Steve Vai – guitar
Nicky Skopelitis – guitar (1-4, 6)
Ryuichi Sakamoto – Fairlight CMI (2, 3, 5, 7)
Bernie Worrell – organ (1, 4, 6), Yamaha DX7 (3)
Ginger Baker – drums (3-5, 7)
Tony Williams – drums (1, 2, 6)
Bernard Fowler – backing vocals
Jonas Hellborg – bass (4)
Additional personnel
Shankar – electric violin on 2,4
Malachi Favors – acoustic bass on 3,5,7
Steve Turre – didgeridoo on 7
Aïyb Dieng – chatan pot drums on 4
Steve Oh
One of the most epic anthems from the 80’s, just brilliant.
Project Redfoot
So good!
Joe Dotson
The only thing better than a John Lydon song is watching someone try and interview him.
Ninja Tyler Black
Had no clue until today that this was Johnny rotten
Adolf Stalin
he's a hoot. Lydon is Irish and living in the UK. we're all fucked up people.
timkjazz
One of the best interviews is with Conan O'Brien who kept the interview moving, kept Lydon engaged and asked questions that Lydon actually didn't seem to mind answering or elaborating on.
laura lee
You're in for a treat come Mar 11th on Epix. XD
Kenny Lovejoy
This moves me like Dylan, yet expresses my anger like punk. Johnny looks possessed, and crazy, and I love it! What a fn genius this man is. I can't get enough of this tune, or it's video.
Charles Melchiorre
For years..
Photoshoott Photography
Oh yeh, this is the song, we loved it, danced to it, slam danced to it and enjoyed life and friends that we were with. We went to new wave clubs and just met people and hang out, enjoyed great music and this one one of them, all back in the 80s. Still love this music and enjoy it up to this day and brings back a lot of great memories, timeless and ageless music.