Rise Or Fall
Common Rider Lyrics


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Sleeping in my mother's arms
Inches from a world of harm
Ten years later 5:00 A.M.
Alcoholic hell and then

I heard it call:
Rise or Fall
Living like an effigy
Vultures staring down at me
Went to hell and touched the ground
Then I heard a subtle sound

Do you like the neighborhood?
Do you think it feels good?




Do you want to Rise - or Fall?
Rise!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Rise or Fall" by Common Rider can be interpreted as a depiction of the trials and tribulations of life. The first two lines of the song reflect the feeling of protection and safety that a child feels in his mother's arms, but as he grows up and becomes an adult, he is confronted with the harsh realities of the world. The line "Ten years later 5:00 A.M. Alcoholic hell and then" suggests that the singer has experienced some kind of tragedy, possibly related to alcoholism.


The line "I heard it call: Rise or Fall" can be interpreted as a call to action in the face of adversity. The singer has a choice to either rise above the challenges he is facing or succumb to them and fall. The verses that follow illustrate the various challenges that the singer has faced, including being treated like an "effigy" and having "vultures" stare down at him. But in the end, he hears a "subtle sound" that encourages him to move on and make a change.


The chorus of the song asks three questions: "Do you like the neighborhood?" "Do you think it feels good?" "Do you want to Rise - or Fall?" The repetition of the question "Do you want to Rise - or Fall?" reinforces the idea that the choice is ultimately up to the individual. The final word of the chorus, "Rise," is a call to action and an encouragement to choose the path of strength and resilience.


Overall, "Rise or Fall" is a powerful song that inspires listeners to confront their challenges head-on and to make the choice to rise above them. It encourages a spirit of resilience and determination in the face of adversity.


Line by Line Meaning

Sleeping in my mother's arms
As a child, I felt safe and secure in my mother's embrace


Inches from a world of harm
Despite feeling protected by my mother, danger and chaos always felt close by


Ten years later 5:00 A.M.
As I grew older, I found myself awake at ungodly hours, dealing with the weight of the world


Alcoholic hell and then
I turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism, but it only led me to greater despair


I heard it call:
In my darkest moments, I heard a voice calling out to me


Rise or Fall
The voice presented me with a choice - either to rise above my struggles or to succumb to them


Living like an effigy
I felt like a lifeless statue, merely existing without truly living


Vultures staring down at me
I felt judged and scrutinized by those around me, as if waiting for me to fail


Went to hell and touched the ground
I hit my rock bottom and felt as if I couldn't sink any lower


Then I heard a subtle sound
In the midst of my despair, I heard a faint glimmer of hope


Do you like the neighborhood?
The voice returned, asking me if I was happy with my life as it was


Do you think it feels good?
It challenged me to take a hard look at my circumstances and evaluate if I was truly content with them


Do you want to Rise - or Fall?
The voice presented me with a choice once again, urging me to decide which direction I wanted my life to take


Rise!
I chose to rise above my struggles and strive for a better life, fueled by hope and determination




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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