The Rising
²¼Â³Ë¹¡¤Ë¹ÆÕÁÖ˹͢Bruce Springsteen Lyrics
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Can't see nothin' coming up behind
Make my way through this darkness
I can't feel nothing but this chain that binds me
Lost track of how far I've gone
How far I've gone, how high I've climbed
On my back's a sixty pound stone
On my shoulder a half mile of line
Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight
Left the house this morning
Bells ringing filled the air
I was wearin' the cross of my calling
On wheels of fire I come rollin' down here
Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight
Li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li
There's spirits above and behind me
Faces gone black, eyes burnin' bright
May their precious blood bind me
Lord, as I stand before your fiery light
Li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li
I see you Mary in the garden
In the garden of a thousand sighs
There's holy pictures of our children
Dancin' in a sky filled with light
May I feel your arms around me
May I feel your blood mix with mine
A dream of life comes to me
Like a catfish dancin' on the end of my line
Sky of blackness and sorrow (a dream of life)
Sky of love, sky of tears (a dream of life)
Sky of glory and sadness (a dream of life)
Sky of mercy, sky of fear (a dream of life)
Sky of memory and shadow (a dream of life)
Your burnin' wind fills my arms tonight
Sky of longing and emptiness (a dream of life)
Sky of fullness, sky of blessed life
Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight
Li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li
The lyrics of "The Rising" by Bruce Springsteen portrays the struggles of an individual who feels lost and burdened by the weight of their responsibilities but is determined to keep moving forward regardless of the obstacles in their way. The artist tries to create a visual that the audience can relate to as he sings about the darkness that engulfs the singer, making it impossible to see what's in front of them or behind them. The metaphorical "chain" that binds the singer signifies the responsibilities or problems they are facing that are pulling them down. The sixty-pound stone on their back and the half-mile line on their shoulder are symbolic of the weight that they are carrying.
However, as the song progresses, the tone changes from despair to hope. The chorus of "Come on up for the rising" is a call to action, a plea to overcome these obstacles and rise above the difficulties. The bells ringing signify hope, and the "cross of my calling" represents the singer's faith, which gives them strength to move forward.
In the latter half of the song, there is a shift in the perspective of the lyrics. The singer is no longer speaking about themselves, but it's more of a collective "us" now. The sky of blackness and sorrow contrasts with the sky of love, tears, glory, and mercy, representing the ups and downs of life. The song concludes with a call to come together and rise above life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't see nothin' in front of me
I am in a state of absolute darkness, where I am unable to see anything that lies ahead of me.
Can't see nothin' coming up behind
The future is a mystery to me, as is the past; I am unable to look back to what I have left behind.
Make my way through this darkness
Despite being in complete darkness, I am still trying my best to move forward and find my way.
I can't feel nothing but this chain that binds me
I am weighed down by something that I can't seem to shake off, and it has become the only thing that I am able to feel.
Lost track of how far I've gone
I can't even begin to estimate the distance that I have covered, as I have lost all sense of direction and time.
How far I've gone, how high I've climbed
I have no idea about the progress that I have made, either in terms of distance or achievement.
On my back's a sixty pound stone
I am carrying an enormous weight on my shoulders, which is weighing me down and making my journey even more difficult.
On my shoulder a half mile of line
Carrying such a heavy weight is also slowing me down, making it feel like I am carrying something that extends for a very long distance.
Come on up for the rising
I am calling out for someone to join me and rise above the darkness that surrounds us.
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
By joining hands, we can support each other and help one another overcome our struggles.
Left the house this morning
I have taken the first step towards going out into the world, starting my journey with hope and faith.
Bells ringing filled the air
The sound of bells ringing represents a feeling of hope and inspiration, and symbolizes the start of a new beginning.
I was wearin' the cross of my calling
The cross represents the responsibilities and obligations that come with my calling, which I am proud to bear.
On wheels of fire I come rollin' down here
I am moving forward with great energy and determination, powered by an intense passion that cannot be quenched.
There's spirits above and behind me
I feel like there are higher powers and unseen forces that are guiding me and looking out for me.
Faces gone black, eyes burnin' bright
Despite the darkness that surrounds me, there are still bright sparks of hope and inspiration that keep me going.
May their precious blood bind me
I hope to be influenced and guided by the spirits and memories of those who have come before me, and who have left their mark on the world.
Lord, as I stand before your fiery light
I am humbly submitting myself to a higher power, and asking for guidance and wisdom in the face of difficulties.
I see you Mary in the garden
I am imagining a spiritual vision of someone who represents hope and inspiration for me, and who gives me strength to carry on.
In the garden of a thousand sighs
The garden represents a place of tranquility and peace, but also reflects the many struggles and difficulties that we face in our lives.
There's holy pictures of our children
The children represent hope for the future, and the promise of a better world that we can create together.
Dancin' in a sky filled with light
The sky represents the limitless potential that we have to achieve great things, and the light represents hope and inspiration.
May I feel your arms around me
I am asking for comfort and support, and the assurance that I am not alone in my struggles.
May I feel your blood mix with mine
I hope to be connected with those around me in a profound and meaningful way, sharing our struggles and triumphs together.
A dream of life comes to me
I am imagining a vision of a better life, where we can all work together to overcome our struggles and achieve our dreams.
Like a catfish dancin' on the end of my line
This represents the feeling of being in control, and of feeling like the world is within our grasp, just like a skillful fisherman with a firm grip on their catch.
Sky of blackness and sorrow (a dream of life)
The sky represents the limitless potential of the world, but it can also be a source of darkness and pain, which we must overcome to achieve our dreams.
Sky of love, sky of tears (a dream of life)
The sky represents the full range of emotions and feelings that we experience in our lives, from love and hope to pain and sorrow.
Sky of glory and sadness (a dream of life)
The sky represents the highs and lows of life, and the need to persevere through difficult times in order to reach moments of joy and triumph.
Sky of mercy, sky of fear (a dream of life)
The sky represents the mercy and compassion that we need to show to others, as well as the fear and insecurity that we all feel at times.
Sky of memory and shadow (a dream of life)
The sky represents the memories and shadows of our past, which we must face in order to move forward and achieve our dreams.
Your burnin' wind fills my arms tonight
I am embracing the power of the natural world, and allowing the elements to inspire and motivate me as I journey forward.
Sky of longing and emptiness (a dream of life)
The sky represents the longing and emptiness that we all feel at times, and the desire to find fulfillment and meaning in our lives.
Sky of fullness, sky of blessed life
The sky represents the fullness and abundance of life, and the blessings that we have to be thankful for, even in the midst of our struggles.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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