Songs That I Love #39 Ben Harper - I'll Rise

The Lyrics to this song are adapted from a poem from Maya Angelou, you can find the full poem here I love the song and because of the song I discovered Maya Angelou which is no bad thing!

I have posted 2 versions of the song, the album version which although powerful is understated and a live version where the song takes on a whole new life. Harper usually performs I'll Rise without any accompaniment (often without a microphone) standing centre stage ring hand held to the sky and fist clenched (the salute of the Black Panthers). In later years he would merge I'll Rise into Like A King (written about the beating of Rodney King by LA Police). Whatever your political persuasion you can't deny the power of this song.

You may write me down in history
With your bitter twisted lies
You may trod me down in the very dirt
And still like the dust I'll rise
Does my happiness upset you
Why are you best with gloom
Cause I laugh like I've got an oil well
Pumpin' in my living room

So you may shoot me with your words
You may cut me with your eyes
And I'll rise
I'll rise
I'll rise
Out of the shacks of history's shame
Up from a past rooted in pain
I'll rise
I'll rise
I'll rise

Now did you want to see me broken
Bowed head and lowered eyes
Shoulders fallen down like tear drops
Weakened by my soulful cries

Does my confidence upset you
Don't you take it awful hard
Cause I walk like I've got a diamond mine
Breakin up in my front yard

So you may shoot me with your words
You may cut me with your eyes
And I'll rise
I'll rise
I'll rise
Out of the shacks of history's shame
Up from a past rooted in pain
I'll rise
I'll rise
I'll rise

So you may write me down in history
With your bitter twisted lies
You may trod me down in the very dirt
And still like the dust I'll rise

Does my happiness upset you
Why are you best with gloom
Cause I laugh like I've got a goldmine
Diggin' up in my living room

Now you may shoot me with your words
You may cut me with your eyes
And I'll rise
I'll rise
I'll rise
Out of the shacks of history's shame
Up from a past rooted in pain
I'll rise
I'll rise
I'll rise