Rise Up
Well, I was there when you were torn apart
And now a piece of you is gone
Somehow you wish that you could only find
A little strenght to carry on
You tried so hard to make it on your own
That your heart has come undone
So I am here to prove that I alone
Have the power to overcome
Don't let your heart be troubled
This world will never keep you down
It will never keep you down
So rise up, my friend
No, this will never be the end
So rise up, my friend
And live again
I didn't want you to feel this way
It's not what life was meant to be
And so for you, my friend, I'll take your shame
You can give it all to Me
'Cause you've wrestled demons every day
And they've dragged you to your knees
But in your weakness you will learn to find
That I will always be your strength
Don't let your heart be troubled
This world will never keep you down
It will never keep you down
So rise up, my friend
No, this will never be the end
So rise up, my friend
And live again
In life or in death, through joy or regret
And all of the secret things you have done
No matter what comes, my friend
Nothing can keep you from the love of God
So rise up, my friend
No, this will never be the end
So rise up, my friend
And live again
So rise up
So rise up
So rise up, my friend
And live again
Rise up, my friend
Rise up, my friend.
Brad actually said quite a lot about this song, You can read everything he said below.
No, this will never be the end
So rise up, my friend
And live again
So rise up
So rise up
So rise up, my friend
And live again
Rise up, my friend
Rise up, my friend.
Brad actually said quite a lot about this song, You can read everything he said below.
"It sometimes feels as if "real life" is about how we deal with whatever is thrown our way while we journey on..... on through the triumphs, on through the failures, and on through the status quo. Real life. It is so hard to move on with it when we feel so dead inside. Every ounce of energy depleted every ray of hope gone, every thing empty. But there exists a voice. One that our hearts recognize. One that calls us out of our tomb, and revives our hope, and restores our strength. "Rise Up" and "keep going", He shouts. This is not the end. We have only just begun.
We decided that this song would be a great way to finish the record. It wraps up the message of hope that we are striving to communicate, and the truth that God will meet you Wherever You Are. It again is a song that begins with melancholy emotion and than erupts into a liberating charge and anthem that sends you on your way, ready to embrace all that "Real Life" has to offer."
Here is some more information about this song. Brad himself explained even a little more about the song "Rise Up". This is a part from the book "Lessons from the Road", written by Nigel James, Third Day's road pastor,
"A couple of years ago, God started doing something in my life that left a permanent mark on my heart. In little more than a twelve-month span, I grieved the loss of both my grandfathers and one of my aunts. Also, during this time, my pastor lost his father. I watched my parents wrestle through the memories and pain of abuse they suffered as children and the abuse they suffered while ministering in the church for over twenty years. I had friends around me struggling through divorce, addictions, and financial woes. God was opening my eyes to the turmoil and hardships of His children.
I wanted to write a song that not only encouraged my loved ones and friends, but was also therapeutic for my own condition. As I was reading in the Gospels one day, I came upon the story of Lazarus. He was a close friend of Jesus and the brother of Mary and Martha, and he had tragically died. The Scriptures say Jesus wept when he saw him. Mary, Martha, and their friends were distraught. They had seen Jesus perform amazing miracles, often seeing Him completely heal those who had the infirmities as their brother Lazarus eventually succumbed to. Jesus, knowing He wanted to bring glory to God, had waited until after Lazarus's death to come and heal him. He knew the impact it would make on the world as people realized that the Messiah had power over life and death.
I needed that power in my life. I wanted that power for my family and friends. We longed to be brought back to life from the depths of our grief and despair.
I tried to approach the lyrics as if Christ were speaking to the listener personally; I could think of nothing more endearing than to be referred to as a "friend of Jesus", just as Lazarus was described in the Scripture. I imagined that what I was enduring emotionally was similar to what Christ and Lazarus's family must have felt that day. It was comforting to know that I was not alone; Christ was there with me in my struggle and pain. I wanted the listener to feel this same comfort. As I worked through the song's verses, I was reminded of the passage proclaiming that "nothing can separate us from the love of God." My dark cloud was suddenly pierced with a new ray of hope. This wasn´t the end. The One who conquered death was all-powerful over everything this world could dish out was at my side. He was calling me to "rise up" and "come forth", to press on and live again with the hope of eternity as my fuel for forging ahead.
Christ is calling all of His friends who are burdened with heartache and bound by addiction to crawl out of the depths of despair, set our eyes on things eternal, and carry on with the comfort, peace, and expectant hope of a blessed life ahead."
