The band spent its first four years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which they released two studio albums, The Unraveling (2001) and Revolutions per Minute (2003). Both the albums were met with underground success, and in 2003 the band signed with the major label Dreamworks, which was absorbed by Geffen. Rise Against's major label debut Siren Song of the Counter Culture (2004) brought the band mainstream success, largely in part to the popularity of the singles "Give It All" and "Swing Life Away". The band's next album, The Sufferer & the Witness (2006), peaked at number ten on the Billboard 200 in the United States, and was Rise Against's first album to chart in countries outside of North America.
With the release of Appeal to Reason (2008), Rise Against's music shifted toward a more accessible and radio-friendly sound, with greater emphasis on production value. The album's third single, "Savior", broke the record for the most consecutive weeks spent on both the Hot Rock Songs and Alternative Songs charts. Rise Against's popularity grew with the release of Endgame (2011), which peaked at number two on the Billboard 200, and charted highly worldwide. The band's seventh and eighth albums, The Black Market (2014) and Wolves (2017) continued the trend of commercial success, and both peaked with the top ten on the Billboard 200. Their ninth and most recent album, Nowhere Generation, was released in 2021.
Rise Against is also known for their advocacy of progressivism, supporting organizations such as Amnesty International and the It Gets Better Project. The band actively promotes animal rights and most of the members are straight edge, PETA supporters and vegetarians.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rise_Against
Studio albums
The Unraveling (2001)
Revolutions per Minute (2003)
Siren Song of the Counter Culture (2004)
The Sufferer & the Witness (2006)
Appeal to Reason (2008)
Endgame (2011)
The Black Market (2014)
Wolves (2017)
Nowhere Generation (2021)
Broken English
Rise Against Lyrics
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Our walls all caved in,
And we can't comprehend this sad state
That we're in so we sift through the ashes
Of what we've become and surrender
Here one by one, so push us down
And we get right back up again
Right back up again
I'm sick of wishing for someone else to come
Let the blind lead the blind
'Cause it's eye for an eye in your so called life
Are you out there? are you listening?
Is there something we're still missing?
Let the blind lead the blind,
'Cause it's eye for an eye, we all fall down
And we get right back up again,
The things you're telling me aren't making any sense
Right back up again
I'm sick of wishing for someone else to come
We're spinning out of control
We're trying to find somewhere to land
And I don't want you to know
The things that keep me down
We get right back up again
The lyrics of Rise Against's song Broken English convey a sense of despair and confusion in the face of tragedy. The first lines describe a world in which buildings have fallen and walls have caved in, leaving those who remain struggling to make sense of a "sad state" that they find themselves in. As the song progresses, the singer describes a kind of surrender in which people are "pushed down" one by one. Despite this, however, the song is ultimately one of hope and resilience, as the chorus emphasizes the idea of getting back up again after being knocked down. The singer expresses frustration with advice that doesn't make sense to them and a desire for self-reliance rather than relying on others to come to their rescue.
One interesting aspect of the song is its use of language and wordplay. The title, "Broken English," refers both to the band's name and to the English language itself, which is often a source of confusion and miscommunication for those who are not native speakers. The repetition of "right back up again" and "eye for an eye" create a sense of rhythm and emphasis, while the alliteration in "let the blind lead the blind" adds a poetic quality to the lyrics. Additionally, the use of the phrase "somewhere to land" in the final lines is a metaphorical reference to finding stability and hope in the face of chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
Our buildings have fallen
Our society is in ruins
Our walls all caved in
Our institutions are crumbling
And we can't comprehend this sad state
We are unable to understand how we have reached this point
That we're in so we sift through the ashes
We try to make sense of the destruction
Of what we've become and surrender
We accept our failed state
Here one by one, so push us down
We keep falling apart
And we get right back up again
We persist despite setbacks
The things you're telling me aren't making any sense
We are confused by the messages we receive
Right back up again
We refuse to give up
I'm sick of wishing for someone else to come
We are tired of waiting for someone else to fix our problems
Let the blind lead the blind
We are all lost
'Cause it's eye for an eye in your so called life
People seek revenge to survive
Are you out there? are you listening?
We wonder if anyone hears us
Is there something we're still missing?
We wonder if we overlooked something
Let the blind lead the blind,
We continue to follow blindly
'Cause it's eye for an eye, we all fall down
We all suffer in this cycle of revenge
We're spinning out of control
We are in chaos
We're trying to find somewhere to land
We are seeking stability
And I don't want you to know
We hide our vulnerabilities
The things that keep me down
Our personal struggles hold us back
We get right back up again
Despite everything, we keep going
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Marianne Faithfull, Dave Genn, Matthew Good, Joe Mavety, Barry Reynolds, Terence Stannard, Stephen York
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind