Give It All
● Rise Against Lyrics
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Your hands I can't seem to find,
Pollution burns my tongue,
Cough the words I can't speak so I stall myself again, then I fall to the surface,
Fill my lungs with air,
Then let it out
I give it all,
So give it all,
Cause it's these reasons that belong to me
Rock bottoms where we live,
And still we dig these trenches,
Bury ourselves in them,
Backs breaking on the tension
For far too long these voices,
Muffled by distances,
It's time to come to our senses,
And from the dark
We give it all,
This is the reason why I sing,
So give it all,
It's these reasons that belong to me
Breathe, the air we give,
The life we live,
Our voices raising distances,
So when my tongue,
Break into song,
You seize a competition,
So please believe your eyes,
Of sacrifice,
Is not what we had in our minds,
I'm coming home tonight, home tonight
We give it all,
This is the reason why I sing,
So give it all,
It's these reasons that belong to me
Today I offer myself up to this I'm living for my dying wish,
I give it all,
Now there's a reason, there's a reason,
To give it all
"Give It All" by Rise Against is a powerful song about standing up against oppression and fighting for what one believes in. The song begins with the idea of breaking through the undertow, or the strong currents that can pull a person under in the ocean. The metaphorical undertow can represent the struggles and hardships that one faces in life, but the singer of the song refuses to give up. The singer cannot find their hands, or their way out of the difficult situation, and pollution burns their tongue, making it physically difficult to speak. But they push through, filling their lungs with air and giving it all they've got.
The chorus of "Give It All" is a call to action for anyone who feels oppressed or held down. The singer sings that they give it all, and that this is the reason that they sing. This could represent the idea that music is a way to express oneself and fight against injustice. The reasons that belong to the singer could be their beliefs, their passions, or their values. Whatever it is that they fight for, they are willing to give everything they have.
The second verse of the song talks about how people can get trapped in difficult situations, such as digging trenches or burying themselves in their own stress. The backs of those who suffer from this tension can break under the weight of their problems. The idea is that these voices are muffled by the distances between people, but it's time for them to come together and make a change. The song calls for people to come to their senses and rise up against whatever it is that is holding them down.
Overall, "Give It All" is a powerful song that speaks to the struggles that many people face in their lives. It encourages them to never give up and to fight for what they believe in, even when it seems impossible.
Line by Line Meaning
Break through the undertow
Overcome the struggle that pulls you under
Your hands I can't seem to find
Feeling lost and helpless in the chaos
Pollution burns my tongue
Words are hard to say with all the negativity in the air
Cough the words I can't speak so I stall myself again, then I fall to the surface
Hesitating to speak up, then giving in to the pressure
Fill my lungs with air, Then let it out
Taking a deep breath to regain composure
I give it all, This is the reason that I sing, So give it all, Cause it's these reasons that belong to me
Offering everything to make a difference, singing for a purpose
Rock bottoms where we live, And still we dig these trenches, Bury ourselves in them, Backs breaking on the tension
Living in despair but still struggle to survive, despite the toll it takes
For far too long these voices, Muffled by distances, It's time to come to our senses, And from the dark
Silenced for too long, it's time to confront the truth and bring it to light
Breathe, the air we give, The life we live, Our voices raising distances, So when my tongue, Break into song, You seize a competition
The importance and power of sharing ideas and speaking out
So please believe your eyes, Of sacrifice, Is not what we had in our minds, I'm coming home tonight, home tonight
Clarifying that the struggle is not about personal sacrifice, but about supporting a larger cause
Today I offer myself up to this I'm living for my dying wish, I give it all, Now there's a reason, there's a reason, To give it all
Committing fully to the cause, with a sense of purpose and determination
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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