Rise Up
Yvonne Kay Lyrics

The song 'Rise Up' by Yvonne Kay (1980) portrays the reality of Germany being divided by the wall that ran down Berlin. The song starts with 'East and West', which could symbolise the two different worlds existing in Germany. The phrase seems to evoke the division created by the Berlin Wall, which separated the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the German Federal Republic (FRG) for several decades. The fact that the chorus repeats "Germany, Germany" twice suggests that the song is emphasising that the wall is in one country, Germany, and that it wants reunification. The line "Torn by East and West" highlights the conflict and separation that the two different worlds have created, which led to the construction of the Berlin Wall. This verse also notes a problem: "They wanted our best; that's not the view of all." It highlights the different perspectives that people may have had about the wall and states that: some may have believed that the barrier wall was necessary and some may have disagreed and wanted the walls to be taken down.

The song encourages listeners that it is possible to bridge the gap that has been created between the people living in East and West Germany. Towards the end of the song, it suggests the solution: music is the universal language that could unite them all. The phrase "Music we love, Is not allowed on the other side of the wall" emphasises the restrictions and differences that the wall has created. It inspires people to join their hearts and souls through music, which can eventually bring them together. The final phrase 'until the wall is washed away' visualises a world in which the wall doesn't exist, and people are living in harmony.