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 Mirrors
Rise Against Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your final days are near?
A freefall of fire and ice
And explosions in the sky
A fate that we deserve
There's no escaping
No it's your turn
It's been years
Since our luck ran out and left us here
Like broken mirrors
Ten million shards of glass and tears
But now we are
Awake enough to show what we hear
Like broken mirrors
Reflections of an unfamiliar face
Hey, hey!
Hey, man, you got the time?
Hey, can I trouble you for a light
No, me? no, I'm not the old town cryer
I'm the one who sets it all on fire
A fate that we deserve
And there's no escaping
No, it's your turn
Now it's your turn
It's been years
Since our luck ran out and left us here
Like broken mirrors
Ten million shards of glass and tears
But now we are
Awake enough to show what we hear
Like broken mirrors
Reflections of an unfamiliar face
We hide from the mirrors
They might show our scars
And hear us
Reflection that we want to be
The people we are (the people we are)
Fight your reflection
Smash what you see
And let's restart
'Cause mirrors can't see our heart
It's been years
Since our luck ran out and left us here
Like broken mirrors
Ten million shards of glass and tears
But now we are
Awake enough to show what we hear
Like broken mirrors
Like broken mirrors
Like broken mirrors
Like broken mirrors
Like broken mirrors
Reflections of an unfamiliar face
The lyrics of the song "Broken Mirrors" by Rise Against is about a man who is told that his final days are near and that he has to face the consequences of his actions. The lines, "A freefall of fire and ice, and explosions in the sky", indicate that the man is about to face something catastrophic, possibly the end of the world. The song suggests that the man and humanity, in general, are paying the price for their actions, and there is no escaping the fate they deserve.
The chorus of the song talks about the aftermath of this destruction. The comparison of the shattered glass to broken mirrors, "Ten million shards of glass and tears", describes the pain and suffering that resulted from the man's actions. However, the lines, "But now we are awake enough to show what we hear, reflections of an unfamiliar face", suggest that there is still hope. The people have woken up and are ready to fight back against the destruction, but they need to accept their scars and fight against themselves to become the people they want to be.
Overall, the song is about taking responsibility for one's actions and facing the consequences. It is a call to action for humanity to wake up and take control of the world before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, man did you hear
Are you aware of your imminent demise?
Your final days are near?
Are you aware that you are about to die?
A freefall of fire and ice
A chaotic and catastrophic end
And explosions in the sky
A spectacular display of destruction
A fate that we deserve
We are responsible for what we reap
There's no escaping
There is no avoiding the consequences
No it's your turn
It is your time to face the music
Now it's your turn
It is now your turn to face the consequences
It's been years
It has been a long time
Since our luck ran out and left us here
Since we have been abandoned by fortune and left stranded
Like broken mirrors
Like shattered reflections of ourselves
Ten million shards of glass and tears
Countless fragments of pain and sorrow
But now we are
However, we are now
Awake enough to show what we hear
Aware enough to express what we perceive
Reflections of an unfamiliar face
Our self-image has changed and is now alien to us
Hey, man, you got the time?
Do you have a moment?
Hey, can I trouble you for a light
Can I ask for a cigarette lighter?
No, me? no, I'm not the old town cryer
No, I am not a messenger of doom
I'm the one who sets it all on fire
I am responsible for my own destruction
We hide from the mirrors
We avoid facing our true selves
They might show our scars
They might reveal our vulnerabilities
And hear us
And bare witness to our innermost thoughts
Reflection that we want to be
A reflection of our aspirations
The people we are (the people we are)
Our true selves, flaws and all
Fight your reflection
Confront the parts of yourself that you dislike
Smash what you see
Destroy your self-deception and delusions
And let's restart
Let us begin again
'Cause mirrors can't see our heart
Our true character lies beyond what can be seen
Like broken mirrors
Like shattered reflections of ourselves
Reflections of an unfamiliar face
Our sense of identity has been shaken and is now foreign to us
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRANDON BARNES, JOSEPH PRINCIPE, TIMOTHY MCILRATH, ZACH BLAIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind