Crane formed Valley Maker in 2010 with a self-titled collection of songs written for his undergrad thesis project at the University of South Carolina, tracing existential questions around biblical origin narratives, as embedded in his spiritually-infused Southern upbringing. Similar themes shade his vision on Rhododendron, which follows 2015’s When I Was A Child. Prophetic and apocalyptic language shapes Crane’s lyrics, but his outlook is not bound by dogma. Instead, he uses the metaphors of faith to explore the ineffable and to navigate the intersection of belief, time, place, and the political present. Much of the album was written leading up to the 2016 US presidential election and in the months after as Crane was traveling for his PhD research on migration, borders, and humanitarianism. Tellingly, it grapples with what it means to share space with others as popular political discourses veer towards exclusion.
Rise Up
Valley Maker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was something left to tell you Rise up
All will be made new
But there's no clue
There is no vision
Only time now
Only time to listen
Rise up
Rise up
Haze on my brain
Old as time now
The time that it takes
Just to witness
Just to hear you say
Rise up
I am swinging from the trees
Rise up
I am diving in the sea
Just to find you
To find just what I mean
In my only mind
Now as it turns on me
Oh rise up
Lie down
All is forgiven
Lie down
Nothing left to witness For the day is spent But my mind is endless Old as time
I'm numbered
I am always spinning Oh lie down
Lie down beside me
Nothing feels right
Quite like the warmth of your body Oh lie down
The night erasing
Crows in the rain
What did you build your nest in Go lie down
Rise up
God as my witness
Set my mind on the end
Jesus Christ visits
In a dream I guess
I was five years old
Mumbled little meanings
Doing as I'm told
Now rise up
And was I washed clean
Brought me something
Spirit upon me
Oh rise up
I know you loved me
You tried to feed me but I was not hungry
Oh rise up
Made my peace with the forest
Moments of light are how I know the darkness Oh rise up
New day is breaking
I hold my lifeline
Giving and taking
Oh rise up
My foolish nation
My fractured mind
No I could not place it
Oh rise up
Rise up
The end is nigh
Rise up
An eye for an eye
Do you see me now
My only vision
Were you keeping count It's all forgiven
The love I've found Hold what I'm given
Will you lie me down Will you raise me again Oh rise up
The lyrics of Rise Up by Valley Maker convey a sense of longing and searching for meaning and purpose. The repeated phrase "Rise up" can be seen as a call to action or a plea for a higher power to intervene. The opening lines suggest that there is something important that the singer still needs to communicate before it's too late. They are urging themselves, or perhaps someone else, to rise up and embrace a new beginning. However, there is a lack of clarity or guidance in this pursuit, as indicated by the lines "There is no vision / Only time now / Only time to listen." The singer is emphasizing the need to be patient and attentive, allowing time to reveal the answers they seek.
The middle section of the song continues with a reflection on the passage of time and the struggles faced. The line "Old as time now" underscores the universal nature of the human experience and the timeless nature of the challenges we encounter. The imagery of swinging from trees and diving into the sea represents a willingness to explore and venture into the unknown in order to find meaning. The repeated plea to "lie down" suggests a desire for rest and serenity. The singer seeks solace and comfort in the presence of another, finding reassurance in the warmth of their body.
The final section of the song introduces religious imagery, with references to God, Jesus Christ, and a dream from childhood. The singer reflects on their past, questioning whether they have been cleansed, and acknowledging the presence of a spiritual force in their life. The lines "Moments of light are how I know the darkness" indicate that the singer finds hope and clarity through periods of enlightenment, despite the struggles they have faced. The song ends with a plea to rise up again, perhaps suggesting a cycle of growth and renewal.
Overall, Rise Up by Valley Maker explores themes of searching, longing, and the quest for meaning. It speaks to the universal human experiences of struggle, finding solace in relationships, and seeking spiritual guidance.
Line by Line Meaning
Rise up
Take action and stand tall
There was something left to tell you Rise up
I have unfinished words for you, so rise and listen
All will be made new
Everything will be transformed
But there's no clue
I have no indication or hint
There is no vision
I lack insight or foresight
Only time now
All that remains is the passing of time
Only time to listen
A moment to pause and hear
Days in my wake
My past remains behind me
Haze on my brain
Confusion clouds my thoughts
Old as time now
As ancient as the universe itself
The time that it takes
The duration required
Just to witness
Merely to observe
Just to hear you say
To listen to your words
I am swinging from the trees
I embrace freedom and adventure
I am diving in the sea
I submerge myself in the depths
Just to find you
In search of your presence
To find just what I mean
To discover the true essence of my existence
In my only mind
Within my solitary thoughts
Now as it turns on me
As circumstances change against me
Lie down
Rest and surrender
All is forgiven
All past wrongdoings are pardoned
Nothing left to witness
There is no more to see
For the day is spent
The day has come to an end
But my mind is endless
Yet my thoughts continue without limit
I'm numbered
I am counted and marked
I am always spinning
I am constantly in motion
Lie down beside me
Rest beside me, be close
Nothing feels right
Nothing seems to be in harmony
Quite like the warmth of your body
Except the comforting heat of your presence
The night erasing
As darkness sweeps away
Crows in the rain
Birds in the wet weather
What did you build your nest in
Where did you construct your home
Go lie down
Find rest and repose
God as my witness
The divine testifies to this
Set my mind on the end
Direct my thoughts toward the conclusion
Jesus Christ visits
The savior appears in my dream
In a dream I guess
Presumably within a dream
I was five years old
During my early childhood
Mumbled little meanings
Incoherent, significant murmurs
Doing as I'm told
Complying with instructions
And was I washed clean
Did I undergo purification
Brought me something
Provided me with something
Spirit upon me
Divine influence resting upon me
I know you loved me
I am aware of your affection for me
You tried to feed me but I was not hungry
You attempted to nourish me, but my appetite was not present
Made my peace with the forest
Attained harmony with the natural world
Moments of light are how I know the darkness
Through brief instances of brightness, I comprehend the concept of darkness
New day is breaking
A fresh dawn is emerging
I hold my lifeline
I grasp onto my means of survival
Giving and taking
Exchanging and receiving
My foolish nation
My ignorant society
My fractured mind
My fragmented thoughts
No I could not place it
I cannot identify or comprehend it
The end is nigh
The conclusion is near
An eye for an eye
Retribution and vengeance
Do you see me now
Can you perceive my existence at this moment
My only vision
My sole perspective
Were you keeping count
Did you track and tally
It's all forgiven
All transgressions are pardoned
The love I've found
The affection I have discovered
Hold what I'm given
Embrace and cherish what I receive
Will you lie me down
Can you help me find rest
Will you raise me again
Can you lift me up once more
The meaning remains unclear
The significance remains uncertain or ambiguous
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jonathan Austin Crane
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Severian
This song is amaaaaaaaazing
Severian
This song is still amazing <3
Vousss Orépa
Incredible...