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)
Midnight Hands
Rise Against Lyrics
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Like fog lifting from valleys on a sleeping forest floor
Eyes open slowly as the dust is shaken off
To gaze upon the wreckage that the midnight hands have brought.
And now I
I feel my temperature rising.
My body explodes.
I stopped I
Vowed right then and said that,
Whatever path you take, wherever you might go,
Whenever you decide to leave,
I will follow, I will follow.
We face a crossroad never knowing what's in store.
There's an angel on my shoulder,
There's a devil at my door
She proclaimed tonight will be the greatest of our lives
And I said don't be so sure let's just wait until the morning light.
I feel my temperature rising.
My body explodes.
I feel like somebody's watching, like I'm not alone,
I stopped I
Vowed right then and said that,
Whatever path you take, wherever you might go,
Whenever you decide to leave,
I will follow, I will follow.
There in the clearing, we gathered close
Under the moon's pale light we laid out the tools.
"And you don't have to do this, and I'd forgive you if you don't"
But she just looked away and said "I know"
Gripped by the midnight hands We dream of futures that would prevent
Gripped by the midnight hands
The line's crossed over
The dawn grows closer
Let's bite off too much
Let's jump with a blind trust
In water over our head
And whatever path you take, and wherever you might go,
And whenever you decide to leave,
I will follow, I will follow, I will
Bear all falls you take, I won't let go if you decided to stray
I'll be there until you don't wake up, yeah, I will follow, I will follow
I will follow
(whatever path you take)
I will follow
(wherever you might go, I will follow)
I will follow
(whenever you decide to leave)
I will follow.
In the opening lines of Rise Against's song "Midnight Hands," the listener is presented with a series of images that evoke a sense of anticipation and foreboding. The lyrics describe a new day rising, but also a calm before the storm. The setting is a sleeping forest, with fog lifting from the valleys. The singer's eyes are slowly opening as they shake off the dust, revealing a scene of wreckage brought about by the "midnight hands."
The chorus of the song describes the singer's sense that their temperature is rising and that they feel like they're being watched. There's a sense of tension and unease, as though something is coming that can't be stopped. This feeling is heightened by the bridge of the song, which describes a moment of decision at a crossroad. There is an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other, and the singer doesn't know which path to choose.
In the final stanza, there is a gathering under the moon's pale light, as if to prepare for whatever is coming. The singer urges the other person not to go through with whatever it is they're planning, but unflinchingly says "I know." There's a sense that they're gripped by the midnight hands, that they're dreaming of futures that may not come to pass. Despite the uncertainty, the singer declares that they will follow, no matter where the other person goes or what path they choose.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a new day rising, like a calm before the storm
A sense of anticipation and excitement for what's to come, despite knowing there may be challenges ahead
Like fog lifting from valleys on a sleeping forest floor
Slowly gaining clarity and seeing things in a new light
Eyes open slowly as the dust is shaken off
Waking up to reality, perhaps after being blinded by hopes or expectations
To gaze upon the wreckage that the midnight hands have brought.
Confronting the damage that has been done, likely caused by impulsiveness or lack of control
And now I feel my temperature rising. My body explodes. I feel like somebody's watching, like I'm not alone,
Sensing a heightened state of alertness and vulnerability, as well as possible paranoia or anxiety
I stopped, I vowed right then and said that, whatever path you take, wherever you might go, whenever you decide to leave, I will follow, I will follow.
Making a solemn commitment to be there no matter what choices are made, abandoning one's own desires for the sake of loyalty
We face a crossroad never knowing what's in store. There's an angel on my shoulder, there's a devil at my door
Being confronted with difficult decisions and conflicting forces, struggling to discern the right path forward
She proclaimed tonight will be the greatest of our lives. And I said don't be so sure let's just wait until the morning light.
Experiencing a fleeting sense of optimism and possibility, tempered by a more realistic assessment of the situation
There in the clearing, we gathered close. Under the moon's pale light we laid out the tools. 'And you don't have to do this, and I'd forgive you if you don't.' But she just looked away and said 'I know'.
Preparing for an uncertain, dangerous endeavor together, acknowledging the risks but being committed to seeing it through
Gripped by the midnight hands. We dream of futures that would prevent. Gripped by the midnight hands
Feeling trapped or constrained by one's own reckless tendencies, uncertain if it's possible to escape that cycle
The line's crossed over. The dawn grows closer. Let's bite off too much. Let's jump with a blind trust. In water over our head
Being at a tipping point, ready to take a leap of faith into the unknown, even if it means being in over one's head
And whatever path you take, and wherever you might go, and whenever you decide to leave, I will follow, I will follow, I will
Repeating the pledge of loyalty and devotion, emphasizing the depth and constancy of those feelings
Bear all falls you take, I won't let go if you decided to stray. I'll be there until you don't wake up, yeah, I will follow, I will follow
Acknowledging that there may be missteps or detours along the way, but promising to remain steadfast and supportive no matter what
I will follow (whatever path you take). I will follow (wherever you might go, I will follow). I will follow (whenever you decide to leave). I will follow.
Repeating the vow one final time, underscoring the singer's unwavering commitment
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRANDON BARNES, JOSEPH PRINCIPE, TIMOTHY MCILRATH, ZACH BLAIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind