RISE
Enemy Of? Lyrics
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You got to tell 'em JUST LIKE THAT, you know what I'm sayin'?
Cause yo, man let me tell you a little somethin' man
All these brothers around here fiendin' for that crack-a-lack-a-lack
You dig what I'm sayin'? Yo man, all they wanna do is get what you got
But when you ain't got nothin', then they wanna cut you off
So what you gotta do, you gotta play 'em long distance
You know what I'm sayin'? I mean long distance
C'mon, kick it!
Back one more time, here to put the message in a rough rhyme
It's important that you knowin' the time
Cause I'm seein' the program, know what I know and
Until we get together we will never be up for sure
So I wreck like I'm posessed by Malcolm X
See the feds want us dead, we too complex
I always speak the truth, comin' from me to you
We movin' as a unit so you know we refuse to lose
I got my eyes on the lies from Washington
I'm a survivor, I know how the West was won
See a show and tell, the way the CoIntel
Undermine the real hip-hop so the cops can trail
But know bad boys move in silence
Save us all from the pain of a life of violence
They tappin my phone, full grown and knowin'
And still prone to refute the lies, won't stop until we rise
[Chorus]
Rise up! "C'mon, ah-c'mon"
Rise rise up! "One more time"
We rise rise up! "C'mon, ah-c'mon"
Rise rise up! "To the beat y'all"
I'm a hard truth soldier to the bone for change
Demonstrate and separate the fact from strange
Blame companies killin' our children
When the villain's on the record
Never think for a second that's the way we live
Wanna squeeze on the fleas at MTV
We quiz knots for the cops at BET
Seize the time, always rhymin' combinin' the antidote
For dope Interscope and fake gangster quotes
Cause I can recollect times when records set
Collect a dead brother you mind if you silence it yet
Rest the program, defeat the beastie
Cause on the street they do as we influenced by what we see
And yes it "Weighs a Ton" I say it once again
That's why the Enemy is down with Paris and KAM
It's all fam, we collide we live
Better decide on which side you ride, won't stop until we rise
[Chorus]
Y'all don't know, y'all don't know uh
Y'all don't know, y'all don't know uh
Y'all don't know, y'all don't know uh
Y'all don't know, y'all don't know uh
I know the power of fame, ain't never playin' no games
Never croonin' is provin', that we ready for change
Never simpin' but they pimpin' my people, for the dollars
So I holla back it keep us from evil 'til them devils are collared
And like I said it's on, I say it once again
Better know the plan to keep us ignorant
Brother to brother, ain't no other can smother
Or erase my case, we marry words with bass
Just another wicked rhyme that I'm rappin' on
S1's got my back if the clappin' come
Pass on the work, makin' sure the words are known
Keep 'em nervous, make 'em understand we servin' foes
Keep it goin' strong, nevertheless, know the enemy
And never back down, you can take it to press
'Less the mic like the art dart told you before
We for the prize emphasis the fight, now c'mon and rise
[Chorus]
The song is a call to action for people to rise up against oppression and injustice. Chuck D is telling his listeners that they need to be aware of the world around them, and that they need to take a stand against the powers that be. He talks about the government spying on him, and how they want to silence him because he speaks the truth. He also talks about the media, and how they are complicit in keeping people ignorant and apathetic.
The chorus of the song is a call to action, telling listeners to rise up and fight. The verses are full of powerful lyrics that speak directly to the listener, telling them that they are not alone and that they need to keep fighting. The song is a powerful anthem of resistance, and it is clear that Chuck D is passionate about his message.
Overall, "Rise" is an important song that speaks to the need for people to rise up against oppression and injustice. Chuck D's lyrics are powerful and inspiring, and they call on people to take a stand and fight for what they believe in. The song is a reminder that we all have a voice, and that we need to use it to create positive change in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah that's right Chuck man, that's what you gotta do
Chuck has to be straightforward with people
You got to tell 'em JUST LIKE THAT, you know what I'm sayin'?
Speak directly to people without hesitation
Cause yo, man let me tell you a little somethin' man
Listen closely to what I'm about to say
All these brothers around here fiendin' for that crack-a-lack-a-lack
Many people are addicted to crack
You dig what I'm sayin'? Yo man, all they wanna do is get what you got
They want what you have
But when you ain't got nothin', then they wanna cut you off
When you have nothing left, people abandon you
So what you gotta do, you gotta play 'em long distance
Keep people at a distance to protect yourself
You know what I'm sayin'? I mean long distance
Keep people away
They think we takin' shorts, show 'em this is Cold Medina man
Prove that we are strong and not weak
C'mon, kick it!
Let's start the song
Back one more time, here to put the message in a rough rhyme
Sharing a resounding and meaningful message through music
It's important that you knowin' the time
It's crucial to understand the current situation
Cause I'm seein' the program, know what I know and
Understanding the bigger picture
Until we get together we will never be up for sure
Unity is necessary for success
So I wreck like I'm posessed by Malcolm X
Draw strength and inspiration from Malcolm X
See the feds want us dead, we too complex
The government sees us as a threat
I always speak the truth, comin' from me to you
I always speak honestly
We movin' as a unit so you know we refuse to lose
Working together to achieve our goals
I got my eyes on the lies from Washington
Watching out for lies told by the US government
I'm a survivor, I know how the West was won
I am resilient and persevere despite adversity
See a show and tell, the way the CoIntel
How the FBI works against hip-hop music
Undermine the real hip-hop so the cops can trail
Diminish the power of true hip-hop music to allow surveillance of artists
But know bad boys move in silence
Real gangsters are silent and secretive
Save us all from the pain of a life of violence
Putting an end to violence to protect everyone
They tappin my phone, full grown and knowin'
The FBI is surveilling me despite my knowledge
And still prone to refute the lies, won't stop until we rise
Continuing to resist lies and fighting for change until we succeed
Rise up! "C'mon, ah-c'mon"
Encouragement to rise up and fight against injustice
Rise rise up! "One more time"
Call to rise up and fight one more time
We rise rise up! "C'mon, ah-c'mon"
Unifying cry to rise up and fight
Rise rise up! "To the beat y'all"
Rising up to the beat of the song
I'm a hard truth soldier to the bone for change
Dedicated to fighting for truth and change
Demonstrate and separate the fact from strange
Laying out the facts and separating them from fiction
Blame companies killin' our children
Blaming companies for causing harm to children
When the villain's on the record
When the real culprit is in plain sight
Never think for a second that's the way we live
Making it clear that we won't tolerate injustice
Wanna squeeze on the fleas at MTV
Taking down oppressive figures in the entertainment industry
We quiz knots for the cops at BET
Exposing the flaws in the Black Entertainment Television network
Seize the time, always rhymin' combinin' the antidote
Taking advantage of the present moment and creating music with a powerful message
For dope Interscope and fake gangster quotes
Exposing record labels that promote false messages in music
Cause I can recollect times when records set
Reflecting on how music has always been used to send a message
Collect a dead brother you mind if you silence it yet
Silencing artists who fight for change
Rest the program, defeat the beastie
Putting an end to oppressive systems and defeating detractors
Cause on the street they do as we influenced by what we see
People on the streets are influenced by what they see and hear
And yes it "Weighs a Ton" I say it once again
The situation is heavy and weighty
That's why the Enemy is down with Paris and KAM
Partnering with like-minded artists to fight for change
It's all fam, we collide we live
Working together as a family to achieve success
Better decide on which side you ride, won't stop until we rise
Choosing a side and fighting until we succeed
Y'all don't know, y'all don't know uh
People don't understand the true nature of the struggle
I know the power of fame, ain't never playin' no games
Understanding the power and responsibility that comes with fame
Never croonin' is provin', that we ready for change
Refusing to compromise or sell out, proving readiness for change
Never simpin' but they pimpin' my people, for the dollars
Opposing the exploitation of Black people for profit
So I holla back it keep us from evil 'til them devils are collared
Calling out injustice to keep us safe
And like I said it's on, I say it once again
Reiterating that the fight is on
Better know the plan to keep us ignorant
Exposing the institutions that aim to keep us uninformed
Brother to brother, ain't no other can smother
Unifying as brothers and refusing to be silenced
Or erase my case, we marry words with bass
Using music to amplify our message
Just another wicked rhyme that I'm rappin' on
Sharing a powerful message through hip-hop music
S1's got my back if the clappin' come
Having support to stay safe in a dangerous situation
Pass on the work, makin' sure the words are known
Passing on the message so that others can learn and take action
Keep 'em nervous, make 'em understand we servin' foes
Making oppressors nervous and exposing their wrongdoings
Keep it goin' strong, nevertheless, know the enemy
Continuing to fight despite difficulty and always understanding the adversary
And never back down, you can take it to press
Never backing down and making sure the message is heard
'Less the mic like the art dart told you before
Using the microphone as a tool for change, as art does
We for the prize emphasis the fight, now c'mon and rise
Emphasizing the importance of the fight and calling for unity to rise up against injustice
[Chorus]
The chorus is a call to action for everyone to rise up and fight against injustice
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILL O. LASWELL, JOHN LYDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Moruga Scorpion
James Boyle Your thinking is more nuanced than most people but you are missing some vital information to provide a fuller perspective: Given the history of US/UK/French involvement in the ME post WW2, there is a pattern of supporting radical Islamists and radical nationalists/dictators by western powers, as a tactic to...
A. Fight proxy war (as in the case of Afghanistan with islamists)
B. To prevent democracy and autonomy so as to control price of oil, minerals and other resources as well as geopolitical advantage. (As in KSA With their theocracy, in Iraq with Saddam, in Libya with Ghaddafi, etc).
C. To keep the nationalist dictators they’ve selected in check using Islamist groups as a threat to their power.
D. To divide and rule
E. As in case of Islamists- to destabilise the region to gain control of resources, fight proxy war, gain geopolitical advantages
There are other factors. To understand US strategy in the region wrt islamists, I recommend “Secret Affairs: Britain’s Collusion with Radical Islam, by Mark Curtis. It’s been very well researched, based on declassified government documents, accounts from high officials in Security, historical documents, etc. It’s been praised by Chomsky, Pilger and others. Really worth a read to fully grasp why there is such a proliferation of islamists. Britain’s strategic model is identical to that of the US in so far as supporting islamists go. Unfortunately this Al Jazeera is just more obfuscation.
I believe people have a natural proclivity toward moderation, to wanting freedom and progress, and toward greater spirituality. Under 1000 years of Islamic rule in many regions accords the world, Islam was practised in a spiritual way with great emphasis on debating ideas and encouraging progress, when there wasn’t war or great strife. People reach for a more ossified religiosity when they feel their lives spinning out of control since it gives them a psychological sense of structure when all else is in chaos.
Myanmar Poet
Thinking back now.....
The point is WHY US didn't let
other countries by theirselves..?
Wanted to hunt Bin Ladin ?
Do it without invading other homeland.
The world'd be better without US.
Boring... though.
:)
Earth Uncut TV
Opening sequence very much inspired by Homeland it would seem!
jason m.
Where’s the crazy gurl?
Lori O'Neill
Lol I thought the same thing
Errico Malatesta
another excellent programme from the al jazeera team. informative, well balanced and insightful. the key point of radicalisation of prisoners is still relevant in the EU or elsewhere.
lvgxc10
Al Jazeera English... providing the English speaking world with documentaries with meticulous eye for detail. Well balanced
Blake Parker
Good production - Accurate & unbiased reporting - credible sources
jason m.
Gjvefu
Abdihakim
can't wait for the second part... my God! if any body is still left ignorant of what has really happened and is happening in Iraq then they're forever destined to remain ignorant about it!... the perfect documentary.
The Phenomenon
Everyone thought Saddam was bad he had to manage to control all these mess together without any help from anyone imagine that
Jamie Wilden
@Tom Tom well said