Shortly after Cold Chisel both defined and popularized the sound of Austral… Read Full Bio ↴Shortly after Cold Chisel both defined and popularized the sound of Australian pub rock, the Choirboys formed in Sydney's Northern Beaches. Singer Mark Gable, guitarist Brad Carr, and drummer Lindsay Tebbutt performed around Sydney's pub scene for several years through the early '80s before one of their demos fell into the hands of George Young of the Easybeats. Together with Harry Vanda he produced the Choirboys' self-titled debut album in 1983. "Never Gonna Die," their first single, made it to the Top 20 of the national charts. While touring, Gable ruptured his vocal chords and the band were forced into hiatus, unable to capitalize on their sudden popularity for three years.

When they re-emerged in 1987 with new guitarist Brett Williams and a new album called Big Bad Noise things continued as if they'd never been gone. The album eventually went double platinum and its lead single "Run to Paradise" became the biggest hit of their career, remaining a soundtrack for football games and backyard barbecues for decades to come. Big Bad Noise's other singles, "Struggletown" and "Boys Will Be Boys" both charted as well. This success afforded them the chance to travel to Los Angeles in 1991 to record their follow-up album, Midnight Sun, but like all of their later releases it didn't repeat the success of Big Bad Noise. That year they also recorded a live album, Dead Drunk Live Hangovers, at a concert in Melbourne. Richard Lara of the Screaming Jets and Barton Price of the Models joined the band on guitar and drums respectively in 1996, when they released two albums, Dancing on the Grave of Rock 'N' Roll and Yo Yo. Price left to be replaced by Paul Wheeler of fellow pub rock legends Icehouse before their 2004 album, Evolver. That year they had a bigger hit when Mark Gable contributed a new vocal take for a remix of "Run to Paradise" by Nick Skitz, a DJ known for making minimal changes to pop hits of yesteryear to turn them into dance hits of today. The single, credited to Nick Skitz vs. the Choirboys, went platinum. In 2007 they released their tenth album, So Easy.

Rise Up
Choirboys Lyrics

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I see the night time people, see the lovers out in bright sunlight
You started something special, well, revolutions never turn out right
Well, do you know,
Where you're going, or are you hangin' on for the ride
That's not the worst of things, I can say you will be all right
You burned your candle at two ends,
And you're down at the bottom once again

Rise up
Won't you raise your eyes into the sun, your battle's begun
You can rise above all the things you love, just hold on till the end

You say that life means nothing,
Lay on the beach and you get blown away
But I hear your heart beatin', baby.
Your pulse is weak, I think, you'll be ok
Yes, I've seen the best of things,
Alive somewhere and I guess I've knowledge
Bullshit ends where faith begins, your down at the bottom, at the end

Rise up
Won't you raise your eyes into the sun, your battle's begun
You can rise above all the things you love, just hold on till the end

Rise up
Well, it's not too late,
Got to play it rough, when push comes to shove
You can rise above all the things you
Love, and time won't stop us then, no

Can you get up? Can you get up? Can you get up?
Can you feel it? Can you feel it? Can you feel it?

...Down at the bottom, at the end

Rise up
Won't you raise your eyes into the sun, your battle's begun
You can rise above all the things you love, and hold on till the end

Rise up
Well, it's not too late,
Got to play it rough, when the push comes to shove
You can rise above all the things you love... whoh, whoh, whoh

Rise up
Rise up
Rise up
Rise up

Whoho, you can rise above all the
Things you love, and time won't stop us then

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Choirboys' "Rise Up" convey a message of resilience and determination in the face of challenges. The first verse alludes to the disillusionment that can come with starting a revolution, and the uncertainty that can follow. The chorus urges the listener to rise above their struggles and face their battle head-on. The second verse speaks directly to someone who may have given up on life, encouraging them to keep going and assuring them they will be okay. The repeated refrain of "Rise up" echoes the message of hope and empowerment throughout the song.

The lyrics also contain a sense of urgency, as the song urges the listener to rise up now, to hold on till the end, to play it rough when push comes to shove. It's a call to action for the troubled and the downtrodden: rise up, seize the day, overcome your obstacles.

Overall, Choirboys' "Rise Up" is a powerful anthem of perseverance that encourages its listeners to embrace their inner strength and rise above their struggles.

Line by Line Meaning

I see the night time people, see the lovers out in bright sunlight
I can see people living their lives in all different ways, some at night and some during the day, but ultimately they all share the common experience of love.

You started something special, well, revolutions never turn out right
You may have had good intentions, but often times revolution and change are met with resistance and don't end up the way we expect them to.

Well, do you know, Where you're going, or are you hangin' on for the ride
Do you have a clear idea of what you want in life and where you're headed, or are you just going along with the flow and hoping for the best?

That's not the worst of things, I can say you will be all right
Even if you don't have everything figured out, things will work out in the end and you will be okay.

You burned your candle at two ends, And you're down at the bottom once again
You've pushed yourself too hard and now you find yourself struggling to keep going.

Rise up Won't you raise your eyes into the sun, your battle's begun You can rise above all the things you love, just hold on till the end
You can overcome anything if you stay focused on your goals and never give up on what you love.

You say that life means nothing, Lay on the beach and you get blown away But I hear your heart beatin', baby. Your pulse is weak, I think, you'll be ok
You may feel like life is meaningless and you're just going through the motions, but I believe that deep down you still have passion and energy that can help you pull through tough times.

Yes, I've seen the best of things, Alive somewhere and I guess I've knowledge
I've experienced some of the best things life has to offer and I think that gives me a unique perspective and understanding of what really matters.

Bullshit ends where faith begins, your down at the bottom, at the end
When things get tough, it's time to let go of the negativity and embrace a more positive outlook based on faith in yourself and your abilities.

Rise up Won't you raise your eyes into the sun, your battle's begun You can rise above all the things you love, and hold on till the end
No matter how difficult the journey gets, keep pushing forward towards the things you love and the things that matter most to you.

Well, it's not too late, Got to play it rough, when push comes to shove You can rise above all the things you love... whoh, whoh, whoh
It's never too late to make a change and fight for what you believe in, even if it means enduring some hardships along the way.

Rise up Rise up Rise up Rise up Whoho, you can rise above all the Things you love, and time won't stop us then
Keep rising up and never give up on pursuing what you love, because time is always moving forward and there is no better time to act than now.

Writer(s): Marc Tanner, Ian Hulme, Lindsay Tebbutt, Brett Williams, Mark Gable

Contributed by Charlotte L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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