The Rising
S.A. Adams Lyrics

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The Greek, the Gypsy, the Italian
And the Pole, took a look around
Chewed up the gauntlet,
Spat it out
Raised them to the ground
Scorpio rising
Scorpio rising
Scorpio rising

Scorpio rising
Four young men, greasy hair
Don't know zip
Leather jackets, big packets
Into it, into it.
Knock 'em dead sweetie, then sock four
My body, cha-cha, and orf
Four young men on big bad bikes
Ben Hur daddy argent!
Give me a flash of white white skin
Above the stocking part
Cool it with the jewels, appreciate
The world finest work of art.
Four young men a-come through hot
The last of the moccasins

Don't sit around with their chi-chi friends
And talk....

Overall Meaning

The song "The Rising" by S.A. Adams paints a picture of youth and rebellion in the 1960s. The first stanza of the lyrics describes four different cultural groups – the Greek, the Gypsy, the Italian, and the Pole – with an attitude of curiosity and defiance. They "chewed up the gauntlet" – a symbol of challenge or provocation – and "raised them to the ground," implying that they were ready to take on any obstacles.

The refrain of "Scorpio rising" is repeated throughout the song, invoking the astrological concept of Scorpio as a symbol of intensity, passion, and transformation. The four young men with "greasy hair" and "leather jackets" are described as not knowing "zip," suggesting that they may not have much material comfort or societal status, but they are still deeply engaged in their own subculture. They are into "knocking them dead sweetie" and "socking four," indicating a desire for excitement and confrontation.

The last stanza of the lyrics describes the four young men on motorcycles, who are apparently different from their "chi-chi friends" who talk without action. This suggests that they feel a sense of isolation or alienation from mainstream society, and instead seek validation and kinship among their own kind. Overall, the song portrays a generation of young people who are fierce in their individuality and rebellious spirit, but also vulnerable and searching for a sense of belonging.

Line by Line Meaning

The Greek, the Gypsy, the Italian
People of different ethnicities or nationalities

And the Pole, took a look around
Including people of Polish descent

Chewed up the gauntlet,
They seized the challenge, and were unafraid

Spat it out
They triumphed over it, and were not consumed by it

Raised them to the ground
They overpowered and conquered their enemies

Scorpio rising
The alignment of the stars and the skies

Four young men, greasy hair
Young men with unkempt hair

Don't know zip
They are ignorant or naïve

Leather jackets, big packets
They have large wallets or money

Into it, into it.
They are enthusiastic about their pursuits

Knock 'em dead sweetie, then sock four
They want to impress and hurt their opponents