An acoustic version of this song was performed live on the CJZN Radio station in Victoria, British Columbia, on January 18, 2007, before a Billy Talent concert featuring Rise Against, Anti-Flag, and Moneen.
On March 12, 2009, the song became a downloadable song in the video game, Guitar Hero World Tour. It is also featured in Tap Tap Revenge 3 on iPhone and iPod Touch as a downloadable double song pack with Audience of One.
The song featured in 2009 action movie 12 Rounds.
Music video
Made in 2006, the video is about pollution and its effects on the environment. The video is 3 minutes and 51 seconds long, and cuts between shots of the band playing and shots of animals being saved or dying, if not already dead, from various environmental hazards caused by humans. At the end of the video, lead singer Tim McIlrath says, "Every action has a reaction. We've got one planet, one chance."
As well as the version played on television, there was another, more graphic version created. This was never released officially but is available on certain websites. The video serves a testimony to veganism. Rise Against is an active supporter of PETA, an animal rights organisation, and the band members are all active vegetarians.
The video was filmed at Brandywine Falls Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada.
The song is most often performed last at Rise Against's live performances.
Ready to Fall
Rise Against Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know I've been gone for what seems like forever
But I'm here now waiting
To convince you that I'm not a ghost or a stranger
But closer than you think
She said just go on
To what you pretend is your life
But please don't die on me
Wings won't take me
Heights don't faze me
So take a step
But don't look down
Take a step
Now I'm standing on the rooftop, ready to fall
I'm think I'm at the edge now but I could be wrong
I'm standing on a rooftop ready to fall
Perpetual motion, the image won't focus
A blur is all that's seen
But here in this moment like the eye of the storm
It all came clear to me
I found a shoulder to lean on
An infallible reason to live all by itself
I took one last look from the heights that I once loved
And then I ran like hell
Wings won't take me
Heights don't faze me
So take a step
But don't look down
Take a step
Now I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I'm think I'm at the edge now but I could be wrong
I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I count the times that I've been sorry
I know, I know
Now my compassion slowly drowns
I know, I know
If there's a time these walls could guard you
I know, I know
Then let that time be right now
Now I'm standing on the rooftop
Now I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I'm think I'm at the edge now but I could be wrong
I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
Now I'm standing on the rooftop (ready to fall)
Now I'm standing on the rooftop (ready to fall)
Now I'm standing on a rooftop (ready to fall)
Now I'm standing on a rooftop ready to fall
The lyrics of "Ready to Fall" are about a person who is contemplating suicide while standing on the rooftop of a building. He has been gone for a while and is trying to reconnect with someone who is important to him. He tries to convince them that he is not a ghost or a stranger, but closer than they think. However, she tells him to move on and live his life, but not to die on her. The person then reflects on his life, and in the moment of clarity, he finds a reason to live. The song ends with him standing on the rooftop, ready to fall but uncertain whether he will follow through with the act.
The lyrics of the song are powerful and emotional, portraying the struggles of those who are battling their inner demons. The song reminds us that it is important to reach out to those who may be suffering and remind them that they are not alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold on slow down again from the top now and tell me everything
Please slow down and explain everything to me from the beginning so that I can catch up on what I have missed.
I know I've been gone for what seems like forever
I realize that I've been away for a long time.
But I'm here now waiting
I'm back now and waiting for you to accept my return.
To convince you that I'm not a ghost or a stranger
I want to make you believe that I'm not someone you don't know or someone who is dead.
But closer than you think
I'm actually much closer to you than you might think.
She said just go on to what you pretend is your life
Someone suggested that I should continue living the life that I'm pretending to lead.
But please don't die on me
But I hope you don't take that advice and end up hurting yourself.
Wings won't take me
Heights don't faze me
So take a step
But don't look down
Take a step
I'm not afraid of flying or heights, so I'm going to keep moving forward, but I won't look down.
Now I'm standing on the rooftop, ready to fall
I'm think I'm at the edge now but I could be wrong
I'm standing on a rooftop ready to fall
I feel like I'm at my breaking point, and one more thing could make me fall completely, but I know I could be wrong.
Perpetual motion, the image won't focus
A blur is all that's seen
But here in this moment like the eye of the storm
It all came clear to me
Everything feels like a blur, but in this moment of clarity, I can see things more clearly, like being in the eye of a hurricane.
I found a shoulder to lean on
An infallible reason to live all by itself
I took one last look from the heights that I once loved
And then I ran like hell
I found someone to rely on, and that alone is reason enough for me to keep living. I took one last glance at my old life before quickly moving on to the next chapter.
I count the times that I've been sorry
I know, I know
Now my compassion slowly drowns
I know, I know
If there's a time these walls could guard you
I know, I know
Then let that time be right now
I've apologized many times, and now I feel like my empathy is slipping away. If there was ever a time to protect you, it's now.
Now I'm standing on the rooftop
Now I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I'm think I'm at the edge now but I could be wrong
I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I'm still in a precarious place where it feels like I could fall at any moment, but I'm standing my ground for now.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRANDON BARNES, CHRISTOPHER CHASSE, JOSEPH PRINCIPE, TIMOTHY MCILRATH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymaeg
it's the small things that help change the world
do what you can
stop wasting
stop supporting the slaughter of factory farmed animals
minimise how much you litter
use public transportation instead of your car everyday
stop supporting companies who harm wildlife, humans and the enviourment
stuff like that
and teach those arround you to follow in your footsteps
it's the best we as humans can do (:
Fear no evil - Tasker
lyrics
Hold on slow down again from the top now and tell me everything
I know I've been gone for what seems like forever
But I'm here now waiting
To convince you that I'm not a ghost or a stranger
But closer than you think
She said just go on
To what you pretend is your life
But please don't die on me
Wings won't take me
Heights don't faze me
So take a step
But don't look down
Take a step
Now I'm standing on the rooftop, ready to fall
I'm think I'm at the edge now but I could be wrong
I'm standing on a rooftop ready to fall
Perpetual motion, the image won't focus
A blur is all that's seen
But here in this moment like the eye of the storm
It all came clear to me
I found a shoulder to lean on
An infallible reason to live all by itself
I took one last look from the heights that I once loved
And then I ran like hell
Wings won't take me
Heights don't faze me
So take a step
But don't look down
Take a step
Now I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I'm think I'm at the edge now but I could be wrong
I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I count the times that I've been sorry
I know, I know
Now my compassion slowly drowns
I know, I know
If there's a time these walls could guard you
I know, I know
Then let that time be right now
Now I'm standing on the rooftop
Now I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I'm think I'm at the edge now but I could be wrong
I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
Now I'm standing on the rooftop (ready to fall)
Now I'm standing on the rooftop (ready to fall)
Now I'm standing on a rooftop (ready to fall)
Now I'm standing on a rooftop ready to fall
Nath Nath
Hold on slow down again from the top now and tell me everything
I know I've been gone for what seems like forever
But I'm here now waiting
To convince you that I'm not a ghost or a stranger
But closer than you think
She said just go on
To what you pretend is your life
But please don't die on me
Wings won't take me
Heights don't faze me
So take a step
But don't look down
Take a step
Now I'm standing on the rooftop, ready to fall
I'm think I'm at the edge now but I could be wrong
I'm standing on a rooftop ready to fall
Perpetual motion, the image won't focus
A blur is all that's seen
But here in this moment like the eye of the storm
It all came clear to me
I found a shoulder to lean on
An infallible reason to live all by itself
I took one last look from the heights that I once loved
And then I ran like hell
Wings won't take me
Heights don't faze me
So take a step
But don't look down
Take a step
Now I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I'm think I'm at the edge now but I could be wrong
I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I count the times that I've been sorry
I know, I know
Now my compassion slowly drowns
I know, I know
If there's a time these walls could guard you
I know, I know
Then let that time be right now
Now I'm standing on the rooftop
Now I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I'm think I'm at the edge now but I could be wrong
I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
Now I'm standing on the rooftop (ready to fall)
Now I'm standing on the rooftop (ready to fall)
Now I'm standing on a rooftop (ready to fall)
Now I'm standing on a rooftop ready to fall
Here!
PissedOffCookie
To me, I still have some faith in humanity.
I try not to think too much about the negative or bad things that we've done in our past or may still do now.
In a way, this song and video is supposed to show you that even after seeing a lot of the negative things that we may do, that doesn't mean you yourself are meant to have any part of those things and that you're capable of being a much better human being who can find ways to have a much better impact on others, or the world, than those who have not.
Also, none of us are perfect; just make an effort to be a good person in the right way(s).
All of Rise Against's songs are pure awesomeness. :D
blur 123
Hold on slow down again from the top now and tell me everything
I know I've been gone for what seems like forever
But I'm here now waiting
To convince you that I'm not a ghost or a stranger
But closer than you think
She said, "just go on to what you
Pretend is your life but
Please don't die on me"
Wings won't take me
Heights don't phase me
So take a step
But don't look down
Take a step
Now I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I think I'm at the edge now but I could be wrong
I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
Perpetual motion the image won't focus
A blur is all that's seen
But here in this moment like the eye of the storm
It all came clear to me
I found a shoulder to lean on
An infallible reason to live all by itself
I took one last look from the heights that I once loved
And then I ran like hell
Wings won't take me
Heights don't phase me
So take a step
But don't look down
Take a step
Now I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I think I'm at the edge now but I could be wrong
I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I count the times that I've been sorry
I know, I know
Now my compassion slowly drowns
I know, I know
If there's a time these walls could guard you
I know, I know
Then let that time be right now
Now I'm standing on the rooftop
Now I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
I think I'm at the edge now but I could be wrong
I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
Now I'm standing on the rooftop (ready to fall)
Now I'm standing on the rooftop (ready to fall)
Now I'm standing on the rooftop (ready to fall)
Now I'm standing on the rooftop ready to fall
Sonik
"Perpetual motion, the image won't focus
A blur is all that's seen
But here in this moment, like the eye of the storm
It all came clear to me
I found a shoulder to lean on
An infallible reason to live all by itself
I took one last look from the heights that I once loved
And then I ran like hell"
Absolutely. Brilliant.
Arnold Stallone Reeves
Rise Against was so underrated they deserve more.
Jonas
Half of their music videos have 20 Million - 150 Million views, wdym underrated
Zac Campa
They're not underrated. It took them a little while to gain traction but once this album came out they blew up. Deservedly so. They've been my favorite band since I was 13 years old. I'm 31 now lol
Bran Scam
Our world,right? Fuck it. Lol
Maobrien
I wouldn’t say they were underrated they were crazy popular when these songs came out. Although I don’t disagree that they deserve more.
BellPepper
exactly im so jealous my parents are going to there concert without me i love there music
STARCAST RADIO
These guys were waaayy ahead of their time, so glad to see people finally giving them the props they deserve
Zen
amen brother or sister
blackmarketstarlight
Meaningful lyrics, a strong voice, heavy instruments. My favorite type of music
Degenerate Gentleman
Whatever People Its a joke. You may not find it funny. 99% Of the time people with dark humor dont mean to hurt people. If they personaly bodthered we wont do it in front of them!