Another on the Rise
Indigo Girls Lyrics


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I was taken by surprise
I was haunted by his eyes
And the drink I came here for
Doesn't matter anymore
And the night wind falls
With the moonlight from above
Is it winter is it summer or is it love
And it's probably cold outside
But I don't really feel it no
Every hour that passes by
Is another heart healer
And you can't stop the rain from falling down
On the new leaves of summer on the ground
And for every bright star that falls from the sky
There's another
Oh another on the rise

I've been broken
I've been blind
Been afraid to look inside
But his words were soft and warm
What did I come here for
An abandoned garden lost
In bittersweet and Queen Anne's lace
Looked inside where a single rose grew
There I saw love's face

And it's probably cold outside
But I don't really feel it
Every hour that passes by
Is another heart healer
And you can't stop the rain from falling down
On the new leaves of summer on the ground
And for every bright star that falls from the sky
There's another
Oh another on the rise

And it's probably cold outside
But I don't really feel it
Every hour that passes by
Is another heart healer
And you can't stop the rain from falling down
On the new leaves of summer on the ground
And for every bright star that falls from the sky
There's another




Oh another on the rise
On the rise

Overall Meaning

The Indigo Girls' "Another on the Rise" is a song that speaks to the power of love to heal and renew in the face of heartbreak and loss. The singer is in a bar or club, nursing a drink, when she is taken aback by the gaze of someone new. In that moment of connection, the distractions of the outside world -- even the seasons -- fade away. The second verse reveals that the singer has been through tough times before and has been hesitant to open herself up to love, but she is won over by the warm and tender words of her new suitor. The imagery of an abandoned garden, full of bittersweet and Queen Anne's lace, serves to emphasize the redemptive power of love in even the most unlikely of places. The chorus repeatedly declares that while every heart will inevitably break ("you can't stop the rain from falling down / on the new leaves of summer on the ground"), there is always another opportunity for love to grow and flourish ("for every bright star that falls from the sky / there's another / oh, another on the rise").


Line by Line Meaning

I was taken by surprise
I did not expect to be affected by this encounter


I was haunted by his eyes
His eyes left a lasting impression on me


And the drink I came here for
The reason I came here is insignificant now


Doesn't matter anymore
It is no longer important


And the night wind falls
The sound of the wind is audible


With the moonlight from above
Illuminated by the moonlight


Is it winter is it summer or is it love
I cannot tell the season, but I feel something for this person


And it's probably cold outside
The weather is most likely chilly


But I don't really feel it no
It does not affect me


Every hour that passes by
Time is moving forward


Is another heart healer
Helping me move on from the past


And you can't stop the rain from falling down
There are some things you cannot prevent


On the new leaves of summer on the ground
New beginnings are sprouting


And for every bright star that falls from the sky
For every ending, there is a new beginning


There's another
Another opportunity for growth


Oh another on the rise
Another chance to rise above


I've been broken
I have experienced emotional pain


I've been blind
I have been unable to see clearly


Been afraid to look inside
I have been scared to confront my inner feelings


But his words were soft and warm
His kind words were comforting


What did I come here for
I am questioning my motives


An abandoned garden lost
A metaphor for my heart


In bittersweet and Queen Anne's lace
Mixed emotions and beauty


Looked inside where a single rose grew
A symbol of hope amidst the pain


There I saw love's face
I realized there is a chance for love


On the rise
Improving and increasing




Contributed by Cameron G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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