The Power of Lyrics.
A few days ago, I happened to catch a portion of the show The Voice. I heard lyrics that literally stopped me in my tracks. I remember getting ready to leave the room when I heard the song Rise Up. It was being beautifully performed by Tamar Davis, one of the contestants on the show. It was such a moving performance I had to stay and watch the rest of it.
After doing an internet search for the lyrics, I found out that the song Rise Up was written and originally sang by Andra Day . Andra is a young African-American retro-soul singer with a gripping Jazzy sound. The depth and substance of the song was so rare I decided to dig a little deeper.
All we need, all we need is hope
And for that we have each other
My research unveiled the reason for these powerful Lyrics. The Lyrics come from a self reflecting woman who faced her own mistakes and chose to tell the truth about her shortcomings. Rise Up is a song of hope, faith, redemption, togetherness and courage. It touches on that “thing” that recognizes the universal ripple effects of our actions on those around us. We call it “Ubuntu” in Africa. Ubuntu is a quality made up of sympathy, kindness, and respect toward other people, that is considered to be a part of the African way of life.
If you hurt, I hurt; If you rise, I rise and together we can do life.
Lyrics-Scripture Connection.
The Lyrics to Rise Up also resonate with scriptures that challenge me to look beyond my own needs and to minister to others:
Philippians 2:1-4
If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
Galatians 6:1-3
Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.
Lyrics to Rise Up by: Andra Day
You’re broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry-go-round
And you can’t find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains
We gonna walk it out
And move mountains
And I’ll rise up
I’ll rise like the day
I’ll rise up
I’ll rise unafraid
I’ll rise up
And I’ll do it a thousand times again
And I’ll rise up
High like the waves
I’ll rise up
In spite of the ache
I’ll rise up
And I’ll do it a thousand times again
For you
When the silence isn’t quiet
And it feels like it’s getting hard to breathe
And I know you feel like dying
But I promise we’ll take the world to it’s feet
And move mountains
Bring it to it’s feet
And move mountains
And I’ll rise up
I’ll rise like the day
I’ll rise up
I’ll rise unafraid
I’ll rise up
And I’ll do it a thousand times again
For you
All we need, all we need is hope
And for that we have each other
And for that we have each other
We will rise
We will rise
We’ll rise, oh oh
We’ll rise
I’ll rise up
Rise like the day
I’ll rise up
In spite of the ache
I will rise a thousand times again
And we’ll rise up
High like the waves
We’ll rise up
In spite of the ache
We’ll rise up
And we’ll do it a thousand times again
For you
