Serena Lauren Ryder (born December 8, 1982 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is … Read Full Bio ↴Serena Lauren Ryder (born December 8, 1982 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian singer/songwriter who is from Millbrook, near Peterborough, Ontario. She performed in many venues around Ontario from the age of 18, including being showcased at the CBC Women's Blues Review 2002 at the Music Hall, Danforth Avenue, Ontario at 19. She has a "fearless" approach to performing. Her voice is mature beyond her years, with tremor and vivacity of a seasoned blues singer. Promotional CDs ('A Day at the Studio' and others) were available at some of her early performances and since then she has released three albums.

In 2004 she released her debut album Unlikely Emergency, which included the single "Just Another Day" which gained significant airplay on many Canadian radio stations. The album was released with the production help of Hawksley Workman, who contacted the CBC after hearing her perform on a local Live radio broadcast. The album was recorded at his studio and released on Workman's Isadora imprint.

Serena is currently signed to EMI Music Canada, and in late 2006, she released her major label debut featuring a collection of Canadian cover songs If Your Memory Serves You Well. This sophomore release featured three originals, including the standout single "Weak In The Knees", which was also featured on the 2007 'Women & Songs Volume 11' compilation.

Ryder soon found herself opening major concerts for the likes of Aerosmith and she won the 2008 Juno Award for "Best New Artist."

In November 2008, Serena released her third album, Is It O.K., mixing original work with a reprise of "Weak In The Knees". She was nominated for two Juno Awards for 2009 - including 'Artist of the Year' and 'Adult Alternative Album of the Year' for "Is it o.k.", which was eventually released in the USA almost a year later on Atlantic Records. Serena generated further awareness stateside with a duet with American Idol graduate Jason Castro on his debut album.

Revival
Serena Ryder Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I′ve been thinking about the first time we met
And I regret I made you my religion
Holding me like I was some kind of pet
You made me fetch
And said I was a vision
Funny thing about hindsight is that
There is no reset you see in perfect vision
Didn't know that I was fucked in the head

Until you said you′re making me a mission

I rejoiced when the bright light became
At the end of the tunnel of chains
Watch me come alive
Take me from the tide
No longer your disciple
Watch me come alive
Dying to survive
Our spirit its arrival
This is my revival
This place is my revival

Loving you was like an unholy hell
Under the spell of lies that you were preaching
Every time I looked into your eyes
The paradise a crime you were deceiving
Now I'm never gonna bow down to you
A final proof the truth that you're a demon
Gotta a fire inside
Mine to light
I′m taking back what right to your allegiance

I rejoiced when the bright light became
At the end of the tunnel of chains
Watch me come alive
Take me from the tide
No longer your disciple
Watch me come alive
Dying to survive
Our spirit its arrival
This is my revival
This place is my revival

I′m taking the high road you're taking a seat
This love is survival
You′re nothing to me
I'll follow the rhythm, I′ll follow the beat
I'm feeling the fire
And I′m finally free

I rejoiced when the bright light became
At the end of the tunnel of chains
Watch me come alive
Take me from the tide
No longer your disciple
Watch me come alive
Dying to survive
Our spirit its arrival
This is my revival

This place is my revival
This place is my revival

Overall Meaning

The song "Revival" by Serena Ryder is about the journey of breaking free from a toxic relationship that once consumed and controlled the singer. In the first verse, Ryder reflects on the initial attraction and eventual manipulation of her partner, whom she made her "religion." Through his words and actions, she came to realize she was "fucked in the head" and that he was using her as a "mission." The maturity that comes from hindsight and understanding the nature of the relationship helped her see clearly and seek her own revival.

The chorus conveys the message of rebirth and new beginnings. When the "bright light" appeared and she broke away from the chains of her former relationship, Ryder came alive again. The experience of being a "disciple" of someone else is over, and she has found her source of revival. The second verse highlights the toxic aspect of their relationship, describing it as "an unholy hell," where the singer is under the "spell of lies" that her partner is preaching. His false promises and manipulations create a facade of paradise that she can see right through.

In the final verse, Ryder boldly declares her newfound freedom. She's leaving behind the old and moving forward without the weight and influence of her former lover. This is the moment to follow the beat of her rhythm and feel the fire with a revived spirit. "Revival" is an empowering song about gaining the courage to break free and find one's own voice and independence.

Line by Line Meaning

I've been thinking about the first time we met
Reflecting on the start of our relationship

And I regret I made you my religion
I feel a sense of remorse for putting you on a pedestal and treating you as my god

Holding me like I was some kind of pet
Treating me like an animal that needed to be controlled and owned

You made me fetch
I was constantly seeking your validation and approval

And said I was a vision
You used flattery to manipulate me and make me believe I was special

Funny thing about hindsight is that
Looking back, it's ironic that

There is no reset you see in perfect vision
It's impossible to go back in time and undo what has been done, even with complete clarity of the past

Didn't know that I was fucked in the head
I was unaware of my own mental struggles

Until you said you're making me a mission
You made it your goal to change and save me, implying that I was not good enough as I was

I rejoiced when the bright light became
I felt extreme happiness when

At the end of the tunnel of chains
I finally saw an end to the oppressive situation I was in

Watch me come alive
See me thrive and blossom

Take me from the tide
Rescue me from the overwhelming waves of negative emotions

No longer your disciple
I am no longer under your control and influence

Dying to survive
I desperately wanted to keep going despite the harsh conditions

Our spirit its arrival
Our true selves are finally present and recognized

This is my revival
I am experiencing a rebirth and rejuvenation

This place is my revival
The location where this change occurred represents a personal revival

Contributed by Hailey S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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I’ve been thinking about the first time we met
And I regret I made you my religion
Holding me like I was some kind of pet
You made me fetch
And said I was a vision
Funny thing about hindsight is that
There is no reset you see in perfect vision
Didn’t know that I was fucked in the head
Until you said you're making me a mission

CHORUS
I rejoiced when the bright light became
At the end of the tunnel of chains
Watch me come alive
Take me from the tide
No longer your disciple
Watch me come alive
Dying to survive
Our spirit its arrival
This is my revival
This place is my revival

Loving you was like an unholy hell
Under the spell of lies that you were preaching
Every time I looked into your eyes
The paradise a crime you were deceiving
Now I’m never gonna bow down to you
A final proof the truth that you’re a demon
Gotta a fire inside
Mine to light
I'm taking back what right to your allegiance

CHORUS
I rejoiced when the bright light became
At the end of the tunnel of chains
Watch me come alive
Take me from the tide
No longer your disciple
Watch me come alive
Dying to survive
Our spirit its arrival
This is my revival
This place is my revival

I’m taking the high road you’re taking a seat
This love is survival
You’re nothing to me
I’ll follow the rhythm, I‘ll follow the beat
I’m feeling the fire
And I’m finally free

CHORUS
I rejoiced when the bright light became
At the end of the tunnel of chains
Watch me come alive
Take me from the tide
No longer your disciple
Watch me come alive
Dying to survive
Our spirit its arrival
This is my revival
This place is my revival