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)
But Tonight We Dance
Rise Against Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stare at my shaking hands though bone dry, blood shot eyes.
Clock strip the hours, I count the miles.
Will you be there waiting, awake until sunrise.
I have traveled in darkness, for what seems like days,
I crawl from these sinkholes collapsed under this weight
I know not your sorrow, but I know mine,
In the glow of twilight, our world is finally calm.
I felt it complete me, when the stars give way to dawn.
A language universal, but I speak not his tongue.
Is this a night that spans forever, or a dawn that never comes.
I have traveled in darkness, for what seems like days,
I, come from the same house, collapsed under this wing.
I know not your sorrow, but I know mine,
So say you'll stay and dance with me tonight.
Tomorrow we might wake in servitude and service?
I will give you everything if you would only have me!
Tomorrow we will sweat and toil,
Our hands will quiver caked with soil,
Tomorrow we'll give it one last chance,
But tonight we dance,
But tonight we dance!
And for this, I travel in darkness, for what seems like days,
I, come from the same house, collapsed under this wing.
I know not your sorrow, but I know mine,
Just say you'll stay and dance with me tonight.
Rise Against's song But Tonight We Dance is a powerful ballad about the struggle of life and the importance of living in the moment. The opening lines encourage the listener to let go of pride and embrace vulnerability, as the singer acknowledges their "blood shot eyes" and "shaking hands". There is a tension present in the song, as the singer counts the hours and miles and wonders if someone will be waiting for them "until sunrise". The verses create a sense of isolation and struggle, with the singer expressing that they have traveled in darkness and crawled out of sinkholes. However, they reach out to someone, asking them to "stay and dance" as a reminder to enjoy the present rather than focusing on the difficulties of tomorrow.
As the song progresses, the tension is replaced with a sense of peace and contemplation, as the singer describes the "glow of twilight" and the completion they feel in the world around them. However, there is still a sense of uncertainty present, as the singer recognizes that they do not speak the same language as the person they are with. The second half of the song returns to the urgency of the opening lines, with the singer offering everything they have and encouraging someone to stay with them and dance.
Overall, But Tonight We Dance is a poignant reminder of the importance of cherishing the present moment, even when life is difficult. The song encourages us to connect with others and find solace in shared experiences, rather than succumbing to the weight of our own struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Breathe deep and easy, swallow this pride.
Relax and humble yourself. Let go of pride.
Stare at my shaking hands though bone dry, blood shot eyes.
My body is tired and worn, but my spirit is still fighting.
Clock strip the hours, I count the miles.
Time passes slowly as I journey towards something unknown.
Will you be there waiting, awake until sunrise.
I hope I will find someone waiting for me, even in the darkest hours of the night.
I have traveled in darkness, for what seems like days,
I've gone through an arduous journey, facing my own difficulties.
I crawl from these sinkholes collapsed under this weight
The struggles I've had were heavy and overwhelming, but somehow I climbed out of them.
I know not your sorrow, but I know mine,
I don't know what kind of sadness you carry, but I understand my own pain.
So say you'll stay and dance with me tonight.
Let's forget about our troubles for a moment and enjoy each other's company.
In the glow of twilight, our world is finally calm.
During this tranquil moment, everything else fades away.
I felt it complete me, when the stars give way to dawn.
The beauty of the sunrise feels like it adds something significant to my life.
A language universal, but I speak not his tongue.
Despite our differences, we can still connect through shared experiences.
Is this a night that spans forever, or a dawn that never comes.
I'm unsure if this moment will last forever or if it's just a fleeting, temporary feeling.
Tomorrow we might wake in servitude and service?
Perhaps tomorrow we'll have to return to our duties and responsibilities.
I will give you everything if you would only have me!
I'm willing to give my all to keep this moment alive and make it last forever.
Tomorrow we will sweat and toil,
We'll have to work hard and face challenges in the future.
Our hands will quiver caked with soil,
Our effort will be visible through tired, worn-out hands.
Tomorrow we'll give it one last chance,
We'll try once more to face our challenges head-on.
But tonight we dance,
But for now, let's enjoy the present moment and dance.
And for this, I travel in darkness, for what seems like days,
No matter what happens, I'm willing to face the difficulties head-on and journey onward.
Just say you'll stay and dance with me tonight.
All I want is for you to stay by my side and dance with me, just for tonight.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRANDON BARNES, CHRISTOPHER CHASSE, JOSEPH PRINCIPE, TIMOTHY MCILRATH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind