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)
House On Fire
Rise Against Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm falling overboard in the waves
In over my head and she's a high tide
That keeps pushing me away
I thought that we would build this together
But everything I touch just seems to break
Am I your sail or your anchor?
Am I the calm or the hurricane?
I feel the ground start to shake
I hear a voice shouting "No"
But there is no fucking way
I'd leave you
So I'll just hold you like a hand grenade
You touch me like a razor blade
I wish there was some other way right now, oh oh
Like a house on fire we're up in flames
I'd burn here if that's what it takes
To let you know I won't let go of you, oh oh
But is the soundtrack to our lives
The bang of a slamming door
What happens when we all start to feel like
Nothing matters anymore
Every day like a chambered round, a trigger pulled
A hammer click, a breath we hold
A world outside I can't control
No matter what I do
So I'll just hold you like a hand grenade
You touch me like a razor blade
I wish there was some other way right now, oh oh
Like a house on fire we're up in flames
I'd burn here if that's what it takes
To let you know I won't let go of you, oh oh
How is it a thing
That we just wanna hurt each other
I'm waiting out the rain
'Cause life is gonna rain forever
Someday you will learn
That all I ever did was for you
And I would do it all again
I would do it all again
'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade
You touch me like a razor blade
I wish there was some other way right now, oh oh
Like a house on fire we're up in flames
I'd burn here if that's what it takes
To let you know I won't let go of you, oh oh
Of you (oh oh)
Of you (oh oh)
Of you (oh oh)
Of you
The lyrics of "House on Fire" by Rise Against speak about a toxic relationship that is on the verge of collapsing. The singer describes how he can see the turmoil in the eyes of his partner and that he feels like he is drowning in the waves of her destructive behavior. He had hoped to build something with her, but every time he tries, he ends up breaking it. The singer also questions what his role is in the relationship, whether he's a sail or an anchor, calm or hurricane in her life. The song also highlights how easily we can feel like nothing matters anymore but also that we keep on holding on to each other, even when it hurts.
The chorus speaks to a sense of passion and desire within the relationship. The singer says that he will hold onto his partner, even if it means holding onto a hand grenade. This suggests that the relationship can be dangerous, but he is willing to cope with the pain if it means keeping her close. The metaphor of being up in flames is also used, indicating that the intensity of the passion is like a house on fire, burning bright and hot, similar to their tumultuous emotions. The final verses show that though they may hurt each other often, the singer would still do it all again for his partner. Despite everything, he can't see himself without her.
Line by Line Meaning
I can see the storms in her eyes now
I'm perceptive to the emotional state of my partner
I'm falling overboard in the waves
I'm experiencing intense and tumultuous emotions
In over my head and she's a high tide
I'm out of my depth and my partner is overwhelming
That keeps pushing me away
I'm consistently pushed away and feel rejected
I thought that we would build this together
I expected us to grow and develop as a couple
But everything I touch just seems to break
I can't seem to do anything right in this relationship
Am I your sail or your anchor?
I'm unsure of my role in this relationship
Am I the calm or the hurricane?
I wonder if I bring stability or chaos to this relationship
I feel the ground start to shake
I'm beginning to feel unstable
I hear a voice shouting "No"
I'm being told that something is not right
But there is no fucking way
I won't abandon my partner
I'd leave you
I won't ever leave you
So I'll just hold you like a hand grenade
I'll cling to you despite the danger it presents
You touch me like a razor blade
Your love is both healing and painful
I wish there was some other way right now, oh oh
I hope things can change and improve
Like a house on fire we're up in flames
Our love is intense and consuming
I'd burn here if that's what it takes
I'll endure anything to keep you by my side
To let you know I won't let go of you, oh oh
I want to reassure you that I won't let you go
But is the soundtrack to our lives
Our relationship is reflected in the music we listen to
The bang of a slamming door
The tension and frustration in our relationship is palpable
What happens when we all start to feel like
Our negative feelings towards each other are mutual
Nothing matters anymore
We're both feeling hopeless and helpless
Every day like a chambered round, a trigger pulled
Every day is a loaded gun, ready to go off
A hammer click, a breath we hold
Our relationship is on the edge, at the mercy of a single trigger pull
A world outside I can't control
Our relationship is a microcosm of the chaos in the world outside
No matter what I do
I can't seem to fix the problems in our relationship
How is it a thing
Why is it part of our relationship dynamic
That we just wanna hurt each other
It seems that we are both trying to cause each other pain
I'm waiting out the rain
I'm trying to patiently wait for our problems to pass
'Cause life is gonna rain forever
Our problems may never truly go away
Someday you will learn
I hope you come to realize
That all I ever did was for you
Everything I did was for us, for our relationship
And I would do it all again
I'm willing to endure everything for the sake of our relationship
'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade
I'll continue to hold on to you despite the danger it presents
You touch me like a razor blade
Your love is both healing and painful
Of you (oh oh)
Of you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brandon Barnes, Joe Principe, Timothy Mcilrath, Zach Blair
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Umi
Lyrics
I can see the storms in her eyes now
I'm falling overboard in the waves
In over my head and she's a high tide
That keeps pushing me away
I thought that we would build this together
But everything I touch just seems to break
Am I your sail or your anchor?
Am I the calm or the hurricane?
I feel the ground start to shake
I hear a voice shouting "No"
But there is no fucking way
I'd leave you
So I'll just hold you like a hand grenade
You touch me like a razor blade
I wish there was some other way right now, oh oh
Like a house on fire we're up in flames
I'd burn here if that's what it takes
To let you know I won't let go of you, oh oh
But is the soundtrack to our lives
The bang of a slamming door
What happens when we all start to feel like
Nothing matters anymore
Every day like a chambered round, a trigger pulled
A hammer click, a breath we hold
A world outside I can't control
No matter what I do
So I'll just hold you like a hand grenade
You touch me like a razor blade
I wish there was some other way right now, oh oh
Like a house on fire we're up in flames
I'd burn here if that's what it takes
To let you know I won't let go of you, oh oh
How is it a thing
That we just wanna hurt each other
I'm waiting out the rain
'Cause life is gonna rain forever
Someday you will learn
That all I ever did was for you
And I would do it all again
I would do it all again
'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade
You touch me like a razor blade
I wish there was some other way right now, oh oh
Like a house on fire we're up in flames
I'd burn here if that's what it takes
To let you know I won't let go of you, oh oh
Of you (oh oh)
Of you (oh oh)
Of you (oh oh)
Of you
cozza358
Your music has been there for me throughout the entirety of my life, shaping me as I grow, teaching me and aiding me along the way. You, Rise Against, are a part of who I am. Thank-you.
Inari De fucc
jeez same here
Patxi Fernández
Same here
Muaz Qamar
Same. They're the best
PorkBandit
Which I could say the same.
Cuz I just started listening to this band like a month ago
ilcarnifex
I was about to say the same before i saw your comment dude
FALslayer
Rise Against is like that loyal friend you wished you had. The friend who shares the same emotional struggles with you and the one who's been there since you were born. Been a fan for a decade and will never not be a fan ❤️
Spark Entertainment
I've been listening to this song for year, and every time I do, I just start ugly crying because of how close to home this hits. Thanks for being real, y'all.
jim h
Been a fan for over a decade. These guys have gotten me through a lot and I've grown with em. Thank you, Rise Against.
Philip Oliver Holes
The amount of symbolism they use in all their songs is amazing. Truly a genius group with wording and and reflecting on real life things through symbols