The Rising
Bruce Springsteen (WOAD Tour) 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 Rising" by Bruce Springsteen is a song that captures the emotions of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. In the opening lines of the song, Springsteen describes the feeling of being lost in darkness and weighed down by a heavy burden. He compares this burden to a chain that binds him and carries a 60-pound stone on his back.
As the song progresses, Springsteen encourages the listener to join him in rising above the darkness and lays hands on his to symbolize unity and togetherness. He then talks about leaving his house and coming to this place with bells ringing, indicating that people are coming together despite the darkness that surrounds them.
The rest of the song is a mix of spiritual and earthly imagery that conveys a sense of hope in the context of suffering. He talks about the "spirits above and behind" and describes their faces as "gone black" and eyes "burning bright." He then asks the Lord to bind him with their precious blood so he can stand before him with fiery light.
The lyrics then turn their focus to Mary, an example of motherly love and peacefulness, and the hope of feeling her embrace during the tough times. Springsteen describes a dream of life and a sky filled with contrasting elements of love and sorrow, glory, and sadness, mercy, and fear, memory, and shadow. He ends the song once again encouraging the listener to rise up, lay their hands in his, and rise up for the rising.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't see nothin' in front of me
I'm feeling lost and unsure about the future.
Can't see nothin' coming up behind
I'm so focused on the present that I don't have any perspective on the past or future.
Make my way through this darkness
I'm struggling through a difficult time.
I can't feel nothing but this chain that binds me
I'm feeling trapped and weighed down by my problems.
Lost track of how far I've gone
I'm feeling disoriented and unsure of my progress or accomplishments.
How far I've gone, how high I've climbed
I'm wondering how much progress I've made and how far I still have to go.
On my back's a sixty pound stone
My problems feel heavy and exhausting.
On my shoulder a half mile of line
I'm carrying a heavy burden that stretches far into the distance.
Come on up for the rising
Let's lift each other up and work together to overcome our struggles.
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Let's connect and support each other.
Left the house this morning
I'm starting a new day.
Bells ringing filled the air
I'm feeling hopeful and inspired by my surroundings.
I was wearin' the cross of my calling
I'm acting in accordance with my faith or sense of purpose.
On wheels of fire I come rollin' down here
I'm feeling energized and enthusiastic about my mission or goals.
There's spirits above and behind me
I feel supported and watched over by higher powers or ancestors.
Faces gone black, eyes burnin' bright
I'm encountering both good and bad influences in my life.
May their precious blood bind me
I'm asking for protection and guidance from those who have passed on.
Lord, as I stand before your fiery light
I'm praying and seeking guidance from a higher power.
I see you Mary in the garden
I feel comforted by an image of Mary, a maternal symbol of love and protection.
In the garden of a thousand sighs
I'm experiencing both beauty and sadness in my life.
There's holy pictures of our children
I'm reminded of the innocence and purity of youth.
Dancin' in a sky filled with light
I feel hopeful and inspired by the beauty of the world around me.
May I feel your arms around me
I'm seeking comfort and love from someone I care about.
May I feel your blood mix with mine
I want to be intimately connected with someone and share their joys and struggles.
A dream of life comes to me
I have hope and optimism for the future.
Like a catfish dancin' on the end of my line
I'm feeling proud and satisfied that I've achieved something.
Sky of blackness and sorrow (a dream of life)
I'm experiencing both pain and hopefulness in my life.
Sky of love, sky of tears (a dream of life)
I'm encountering both joy and pain in my relationships.
Sky of glory and sadness (a dream of life)
I'm experiencing both triumph and loss in my life.
Sky of mercy, sky of fear (a dream of life)
I'm encountering both comfort and uncertainty in my spiritual life.
Sky of memory and shadow (a dream of life)
I'm experiencing both good and bad memories that shape who I am.
Your burnin' wind fills my arms tonight
I'm encountering forces that are beyond my control and influence.
Sky of longing and emptiness (a dream of life)
I'm experiencing both desire and loss in my life.
Sky of fullness, sky of blessed life
I'm experiencing moments of joy and contentment in my life.
Li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li, li
This repeated phrase serves as a refrain that ties the whole song together and emphasizes the themes of hope, struggle, and community.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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