He is currently on Broadway as Orpheus in the Tony Award-winning musical Hadestown, which won the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
Carney started to play guitar at age 12 and three years later he was playing guitar professionally at B.B King's night club in Los Angeles. When living in California, Carney released his first EP Looking Glass in 2004 and promoted it by performing with other musicians, including Jonny Lang. At age 22 he signed with Interscope and formed his jazz-infused rock namesake band, Carney, consisting of Carney (songwriter, vocals and guitar), his brother Zane (guitar), Aiden Moore (bass) and Jon Epcar (drums). The band's vision led the manager David Sonenberg to work with them. Carney released their first EP Nothing Without You in 2008 and their debut album, Mr. Green Vol. 1, in May 2010. In 2009 the band went on tour with The Veronicas in their Revenge Is Sweeter world tour and in 2011 they opened for Arcade Fire and U2 in Moncton, Canada on July 30 on the final date of the U2 360° Tour.
When acting on Broadway, Carney was invited to be part of the album Broadway's Carols for a Cure in 2011 ("St. Nicholas Sky" ft T.V. Carpio) and 2013 ("A Savior is Born"). Carney also recorded the single "Rise Above 1" with Bono and The Edge in 2011, an adapted song from the musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. Apart from making his own music, Carney also writes songs for soundtracks for films such as The Tempest (2010) and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 (2012). In October 2016 Carney released his debut solo album, Youth Is Wasted, which he wrote and produced himself. Since then Carney was on tour two times (Reeve Carney Fall Tour 2016 and Youth Is Wasted Tour 2017). Three songs from his album as well as the album itself were nominated in six categories on the 16th annual Independent Music Awards (The IMAs). "Think of You" won "Best Song – Acoustic", "Resurrection" won "Best Song – Rock or Hard Rock" and the album won "Best Album – Adult Contemporary".
Rise Above 1
Reeve Carney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Open your eyes up
And you said rise above
But I can't
I can't
How long will it take
Before these feelings
How much longer do I wait
And are there any real answers
Anyway
Your silence in a crowded room
Louder than the loudest tune
I hang on every word
And you said rise above
Open your eyes up
And you said rise above
But I can't
I can't
I miss you in everything
I was too fast traveling
To take you in
I know, silence is no crime
Just wish I could hear you fill it up
One more time
Yes, I know what you'd say to me
Exactly what you said to me
I Still hang on every word
And you said rise above
Open your eyes up
And you said rise above
Yourself
In a time of treason
Is there time for trust
Where there's no them
Only us
Is there time for reason?
Has your heart had enough
Is it time to let go
And rise above?
And you said rise above
Open your eyes to love
And you said rise above
Yourself
The opening lines of Reeve Carney's "Rise Above" speaks to the desire one has to reach a higher level, to break through the limitations and obstacles that they might be facing. They are seeking answers to the questions that they have and trying not to be overwhelmed by the weight of their emotions. The second verse speaks to the quiet desperation of being alone in a crowded room, where even the loudest sound cannot fill the crushing silence that surrounds them. The chorus repeats the message of trying to rise above, but the singer admits that they are struggling to do so. They miss the person they are addressing, and they regret not taking the time to fully appreciate them before they were gone.
Line by Line Meaning
And you said rise above
You urged me to rise above my problems
Open your eyes up
You wanted me to be aware of the problem
But I can't
I am not capable of rising above the problems
How long will it take
Wanting to know how long it will take for the emotions to subside
Before these feelings
Before the negative emotions go away
Go away
Subside altogether
How much longer do I wait
Asking how much more time is needed to allow the negative emotions to pass
And are there any real answers
Questioning if there are any answers to the issue
Anyway
Regardless
Your silence in a crowded room
Your being quiet in a crowded room
Louder than the loudest tune
Creates more of an impact than anything else in the room
I hang on every word
I pay attention to everything you say
I miss you in everything
I miss everything about you
I was too fast traveling
I was moving too quickly
To take you in
To appreciate you
I know, silence is no crime
I know that it is not a crime to be quiet
Just wish I could hear you fill it up
Just wish I could hear you talk to me more
Yes, I know what you'd say to me
I know what you would say to me
Exactly what you said to me
The exact words you have spoken to me before
And you said rise above
You have encouraged me to rise above the issue
Yourself
To rise above myself
In a time of treason
During a time of betrayal
Is there time for trust
Is it the right time for trust
Where there's no them
When there are no others
Only us
Only we matter
Is there time for reason?
Is it reasonable to think that everything will work out
Has your heart had enough
Is your heart tired of the situation
Is it time to let go
Is it time to move on
And rise above?
And rise above the situation
Open your eyes to love
Open your eyes to the possibility of love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVE EVANS, PAUL DAVID HEWSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@NancyKing-kr5np
It’s 2024 and I still get twisted up with the emotional intensity of this beautiful song! Timeless treasure! Saw Spiderman on Broadway right after Reeve had left the show…Hope to meet him some day. The man has PRESENCE.
@newvideoplaylist
I had the exact same experience! Saw it on broadway back in the day! Spectacular ❤❤❤❤❤
@WolfgangWillms
One of the most underrated songs written by U2. Esspecially because of the lyrics!
@shakyrrairish2479
Yes
@ralimanolov2876
SOOOO TRUE!
@Adam-yf3ss
Agree. Classic U2/Bono using Peter Parker/Uncle Ben relationship to talk about Bono/His Father.
@MrZooropop
i still dont understand why this song went unnoticed...
@qwahaxahn
Probably because the musical's mistakes overshadowed what they did right, like this song.
@RB01.10
IKR?
It's such an underrated song!
@matthewmoran5297
@@qwahaxahn
Unfortunately.