Rise Above 2
Jennifer Damiano Lyrics
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Are the ones who start the fire
And the lawless make the laws
And every preacher is a liar
And the ones who damn the innocent
Well they own the nightly news and front page
An old man said to me
And knowledge isn't wisdom without control
Better still to be the changes
That you want to see
But they come slow, I know
And you said rise above
Open your eyes up
And you said rise above
I can't, I can't
For every heart that bleeds
Will color your world red
And the sorrow in the night
Will be the blue you cannot shed
But your strength will be a vision
Beyond visibility
And the gift you have within
Will give you new eyes to see
That you can rise above
Swing through the skies above
And you shall rise above
Yourself
Know that I'll be watching
Know that I'll be waiting
Standing on the precipice
I can soar away from this
And you can rise above
Free your soul
Open your eyes up
Rise above yourself and take control
And you can rise above
The need to love
Yourself
To release yourself and rise above it all
And you can rise above
I will be there
Open your eyes up
You were never alone
And you can rise above
Inside your dreams
Yourself
I’ve been watching and waiting for you
And you can rise above
Open your eyes to love
And you can rise above
Yourself
And every heart that bleeds
Will color your world red
And the sorrow in the night
Will be the blue you cannot shed
And your strength will be a vision
Beyond visibility
And the gift you have before you
Will give you new eyes to see
The first verse of the song Rise Above 2 by Jennifer Damiano, Original Cast Reeve Carney & T.V. Carpio paints a picture of a world gone wrong, where those in authority are dishonest and nothing seems to make sense. The verse seems to suggest a sense of hopelessness and despair with the line "they own the nightly news and front page" indicating the ones in power are controlling the narrative. However, an old man tells the singer it's not who you know, but what you know that matters, and knowledge isn't enough- control is necessary. The chorus follows, urging the listener to rise above the madness and to open their eyes to new perspectives, but the response is "I can't, I can't".
The second verse tries to encourage the listener amidst the chaos. It says that while every heart that bleeds will color your world red, you can rise above it all and free your soul. The strength you have within you will give you new eyes to see, enabling you to swing through the skies above and rise above yourself, taking control. The chorus repeats but with more determination, the words "free your soul," "take control" are added indicating a shift in thinking from hopelessness to seizing control of your destiny. The song ends on a hopeful note, saying "I’ve been watching and waiting for you" and that you are not alone in your struggles.
Interesting facts about the song * Rise Above 2 was written by Bono and The Edge of U2 for the Broadway musical Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark. * The song is a reworked version of the original Rise Above which featured Chris Martin of Coldplay on vocals * Jennifer Damiano was a cast member of Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark and played Mary Jane Watson alongside Reeve Carney, who played Peter Parker * The Edge got the inspiration for the song lyrics from his daughter's involvement in the Occupy Wall Street movement * Rise Above 2 was performed live on the David Letterman show in 2011 * The song has continued to be popular beyond the musical, with covers by musicians such as Matt Bellamy of Muse * The lyrics of the song speak to the themes of facing adversity and rising above it, a theme that resonates with many people * The song features powerful vocals from all three singers, making it a showstopper during live performances * The music video for the song features striking visuals and shows the three singers in various locations, with Jennifer Damiano ending up in a sunflower field. Overall, the song is an uplifting anthem that encourages listeners to take control of their lives and not give up in the face of adversity.
Chords: Unfortunately, the chords for this version of the song are not available as it was produced specifically for the musical. However, the original version can be played with the chords D, G, A, and Bm.
Line by Line Meaning
When the ones who run the firehouse
When those in charge are also the ones causing the problems
Are the ones who start the fire
They are the root cause of the issues at hand
And the lawless make the laws
Those who don't follow the rules are the ones making and enforcing them
And every preacher is a liar
Even religious figures can be dishonest and untrustworthy
And the ones who damn the innocent
Those who unfairly judge and condemn the blameless
Well they own the nightly news and front page
Those who control the media are the ones spreading the false narratives
An old man said to me
The advice of a wise elder
It's not who but what you know
Knowledge is more important than status or connections
And knowledge isn't wisdom without control
Having information alone is not enough; it must be wielded responsibly
Better still to be the changes
Rather than just talking about change, it's important to be the change you want to see
That you want to see
Making a difference in the world requires personal action
But they come slow, I know
Significant progress takes time and patience
And you said rise above
Encouragement to overcome the negative influences and obstacles
Open your eyes up
Be aware of the world around you
I can't, I can't
Feeling overwhelmed or unable to make a difference
For every heart that bleeds
Every person who suffers or is hurt
Will color your world red
Their pain will affect you deeply
And the sorrow in the night
Feeling sad and alone during difficult times
Will be the blue you cannot shed
The sadness may seem overwhelming and never-ending
But your strength will be a vision
Through adversity, you will gain insight and endurance
Beyond visibility
Your understanding will expand beyond what's superficially apparent
And the gift you have within
The unique abilities and talents you possess
Will give you new eyes to see
You'll be able to view the world and your problems in a new way
Swing through the skies above
Overcoming obstacles and soaring high
Inside your dreams
The power to change the world lies within
I’ve been watching and waiting for you
A supportive presence, waiting for the right moment to offer aid
Open your eyes to love
Look for the positive influences in your life
The need to love
Love is necessary for self-improvement and growth
To release yourself and rise above it all
Freeing yourself from insecurity and negativity in order to succeed
Know that I'll be watching
A reminder that someone is supporting and rooting for you
Know that I'll be waiting
A promise of aid and encouragement in tough times
Standing on the precipice
Being on the edge of change or uncertainty
I can soar away from this
Taking the initiative to make a change for the better
Free your soul
Unburden yourself from negativity and insecurity
Rise above yourself and take control
Improving oneself and taking charge of your life
You were never alone
Support was there all along
Inside your dreams
The potential for greatness lies within
And your strength will be a vision
Your struggles will give you fortitude and insight
And the gift you have before you
Your unique abilities and potential
Will give you new eyes to see
A fresh perspective on the world and yourself
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVE EVANS, PAUL DAVID HEWSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind