Abney Park began around 1997, but their popularity exploded with the onset of internet music, with much success through MP3.com in the early 2000’s. The band was a regular chart topper, often holding the number 1 – 5 positions in Goth and Darkwave, and Industrial Dance music charts. In 2005 the band morphed from a more Darkwave/Industrial inspired act to a Steampunk inspired act.
Abney Park's music has been featured on a number of movie soundtracks, including "Insomnis Amour", "Goth", and "Lord of the Vampires". The band's music has also been featured in many compilation CD’s, including Cleopatra Records “The Unquiet Grave” vol. III, "Annihilation and Seduction", "Eighteen" and many more.
Abney Park has performed all over the North America, appearing in Portland, Chicago, Las Vegas, Reno, Hollywood, and countless shows in their home base of Seattle. Their fans form a near-cult following, and have been known to travel from as far as New Zealand and Mexico City just to see them perform.
Rise Up
Abney Park Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We've built your walls, we've lit your fucking fires
We've even fought your wars, guarded your lives
Greased your pipes, we made and laid your wires
Heavy with rust our shoulders bear your loads
Plumb out of trust, too many lives hewed low
You ask for much, but give burdens untold
Raise your fists up to the sky
Be yourself be more before you die
Take a stand from your proclivity
and march away from your captivity
Down in the dust, our feet are cold and tired
We've built your walls, we've lit your fucking fires
We've even fought your wars, guarded your lives
Greased your pipes, we made and laid your wires
Raise your fists up to the sky
Be yourself be more before you die
Take a stand from your proclivity
and march away from your captivity
Abney Park’s song “Rise Up” is a powerful call to action for listeners to break free from their current circumstances and take control of their own lives. The lyrics speak to the weariness and exhaustion that can come from carrying the weight of others’ expectations and demands. The opening lines paint a vivid picture of the physical toll this can take: “Down in the dust, our feet are cold and tired...Heavy with rust our shoulders bear your loads.”
Throughout the song, the singer speaks on behalf of those who have been taken for granted and exploited. They have built walls, lit fires, fought wars, and performed other essential tasks without recognition or appreciation. The repeated refrain, “Raise your fists up to the sky” is a rallying cry for all those who have felt marginalized or oppressed to stand up and demand their own worth and dignity. The song encourages listeners to be true to themselves and break free from their captivity, whether that be physical or metaphorical.
Ultimately, “Rise Up” is a message of hope and empowerment. By recognizing one’s own strength and agency, they can take control of their own destiny and rise above the challenges they may face.
Line by Line Meaning
Down in the dust, our feet are cold and tired
We are exhausted from doing all the hard work and menial tasks for you
We've built your walls, we've lit your fucking fires
We've provided for your basic needs which you failed to recognize
We've even fought your wars, guarded your lives
We've sacrificed ourselves to protect your interests and security
Greased your pipes, we made and laid your wires
We've maintained your infrastructure and kept your systems running smoothly
Heavy with rust our shoulders bear your loads
We are burdened and weary from carrying the weight of your expectations and demands
Plumb out of trust, too many lives hewed low
We are losing faith in your leadership which has resulted in many casualties and losses
You ask for much, but give burdens untold
You demand too much from us while failing to provide us with the support or recognition we deserve
It's time to rush, it's time to dump this load
It's time to break free from this heavy burden and move forward with our own aspirations
Raise your fists up to the sky
It's time to show our defiance and independence by raising our fists
Be yourself be more before you die
We need to take control of our own destiny and strive to be our best selves
Take a stand from your proclivity
We need to break away from our usual pattern to establish our independence
and march away from your captivity
We need to break free from your shackles and walk towards our own freedom
Contributed by Carson P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.