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)
This Is Letting Go
Rise Against Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always stepped in time, regardless of the beat
I moved my feet, I carried weight
What I could not do I faked
I dug seeking treasure
Just to wake up in an early grave
So I stopped right there and said
This isn't giving up, no this is letting go
Out with the old dreams I've borrowed
The path I carve from here on out will be my own
The path will be my own
This is the part where the needle skips
And the chorus plays like a sink that drips
A syllable repeating, like a warning we aren't heeding
Until all of a sudden we noticed it
When the wheels brace and the tires grip
A map we've been misreading
A defeat we're not conceding
Until now
There must be some other way out
Go on alone, because I won't follow
But this isn't giving up no this is letting go
Out with the old dreams I've borrowed
The path I carve from here on out will be my own
A path to take me home
(Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!)
The wind died
The whole world ceased to move
Now so quiet
Her beating heart became a boom
We locked eyes
For just a moment or two
She asked why
I said "I don't know why,
I just know"
The wind died
The whole world ceased to move
Now so quiet
Her beating heart became a boom
We locked eyes
For just a moment or two
She asked why
I said "I don't know why
I just know
I just know"
Go on alone, 'cause I won't follow
This isn't giving up, no this is letting go
I made most of all this sorrow
I tried to brave this discontent, but now I'm through
I'm letting go of you.
This is letting go
This is letting go
Once upon a time I could take anything, anything.
The song "This Is Letting Go" by Rise Against is a reflection of the idea of letting go of toxic past relationships and taking back control of one's own life. The artist paints a picture of someone who used to endure anything and everything in life, always staying on cue and following the rhythm of everyone else. The lyrics express the desire to liberate oneself from the shackles of an insincere life that leads to emptiness and despair.
The first verse begins with the idea that the artist previously had the ability to go on any journey, but also faked many things resulting in a mundane existence. The need to find the purpose of one's life is what drives the individual to step back and say "Go on alone, this isn't giving up, this is letting go." The passage emphasizes the individual's desire to find their own path in life, rather than following the same old dreams they borrowed from others.
The next section of the song is a transition that implies the artist has gone through a troubling and turbulent time. This feeling is conveyed by describing the chorus repeatedly as a warning that is ignored until the individual realizes that they have been reading the map inappropriately. The stanza highlights the importance of taking the right path and not letting the past hold you back.
The last part of the song describes how after bravely fighting discontent, the artist realizes that they need to move on and let go of this past love. The lyrics "I made most of all this sorrow, I tried to brave this discontent, but now I'm through, I'm letting go of you" signify the liberation of moving on from such a toxic relationship. Therefore, this song can be an inspiration for people to move on from toxic relationships and take control of their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time I could take anything, anything.
There was a time when I felt invincible and could handle anything that came my way.
Always stepped in time, regardless of the beat
I moved my feet, I carried weight
What I could not do I faked
I dug seeking treasure
Just to wake up in an early grave
So I stopped right there and said
I always tried to keep up with everyone else even if it meant pretending and ignoring what I truly wanted. I worked hard but it didn't lead to happiness, so I had to stop and take a different approach.
Go on alone, 'cause I won't follow.
This isn't giving up, no this is letting go
Out with the old dreams I've borrowed
The path I carve from here on out will be my own
The path will be my own
I can no longer follow others' dreams and expectations, so I have to let go of them and carve my own path, even if it means going alone.
This is the part where the needle skips
And the chorus plays like a sink that drips
A syllable repeating, like a warning we aren't heeding
Until all of a sudden we noticed it
When the wheels brace and the tires grip
A map we've been misreading
A defeat we're not conceding
Until now
There must be some other way out
We've been ignoring signals of trouble and discomfort until it finally hits us. We've been following a path that doesn't lead us to where we want to be and we need to find another solution.
The wind died
The whole world ceased to move
Now so quiet
Her beating heart became a boom
We locked eyes
For just a moment or two
She asked why
I said "I don't know why,
I just know"
In a moment of stillness and quiet, we were able to connect and question our paths. Even though I didn't have the answers yet, I knew something needed to change.
Go on alone, because I won't follow
But this isn't giving up no this is letting go
Out with the old dreams I've borrowed
The path I carve from here on out will be my own
A path to take me home
I need to let go of old dreams and inspiration of others to find my own way home. I may have to do it alone, but it's not giving up, it's taking control of my path.
Go on alone, 'cause I won't follow
This isn't giving up, no this is letting go
I made most of all this sorrow
I tried to brave this discontent, but now I'm through
I'm letting go of you.
This has been a difficult journey, but I need to let go of the pain and the people who don't lead me to happiness. It's not giving up, it's taking control of my life.
This is letting go
This is letting go
Letting go is not a negative action, it's a positive step towards finding one's own path and happiness.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRANDON BARNES, JOSEPH PRINCIPE, TIMOTHY MCILRATH, ZACH BLAIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
B Mouch
I always had a problem with letting go. And it meant the heartbreak would never heal. It would just fester and get worse.
Letting go is the only viable way to move on and heal. Once it's over, it's over. Keep moving on with your life.
Hallie
Same 😔 At 17 years old, I'm still working on overcoming all of my sensitivities, whether big or small because at the end of the day, they always get me down.
Music helps though. It helps because you find something you like and they you relate to.
Anyways, the main reason I'm here is because I'll be seeing Rise Against in Concert this Saturday. I never heard of them before buying tickets to the concert but I decided to check them out so that I know some of their songs.
rimisark
@A F dump him
A F
For me its Not Like that. I Love my man. I would die For him. But we are Just so different. I wanna be an Aktivist , live and Fight For what i believe in. But He IS the best thing ever Happend to me... But i feel Like the Other Thing IS My path... Sounds Strange but.. i dont Know.
Vlad Seheda
in letting go you gain in clasping you loose brother. such is the law
Crumblossom
I'm just learning this now. I didn't relate to this song for almost a decade, but letting go seems worth a try.
Fabian1991
just one question why is every song of rise agaist such a masterpiece :D
Still-Standing Runner 810
Tim McIlrath
Jimmy's Channel
Because the message is art, the art isn't the message :)
Alvaro López Villodas
porque amooo el rock bendito angloparlanteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee