The first time I heard Rise on MTV, I was captivated and enthralled–especially since I knew what a rare thing it was to see a PiL video. I rarely saw it again.
This is a great song, a bastardization of a traditional Irish blessing/folk song. The singer seems to be challenging the notion that anything you know is right, and that anything other than conformity will be squashed–sort of typical for John Lydon. Still, what really makes this song is the steady bass line, the pounding drums, the strings, and John Lydon’s hectoring vocals (yes, I know he really can’t sing, but he can use his limited range very, very effectively).
And of course, the lyrics:
I could be wrong, I could be right
I could be wrong, I could be right
I could be wrong, I could be right
I could be black, I could be white
I could be right, I could be wrong
I could be white, I could be black
Your time has come, your second skin
The cost so high the gain so low
Walk through the valley
The written word is a lie
May the road rise with you
I could be wrong, I could be right
I could be black, I could be white
I could be wrong, I could be right
I could be black, I could be white
I could be right, I could be wrong
I could be black, I could be white
They put a hot wire to my head
Cos of the things I did and said
They made these feelings go away
Model citizen in every way
May the road rise with you
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
Anger is an energy
I could be wrong, I could be right
I could be wrong, I could be right
They put a hot wire to my head
Cos of the things I did and said
They made these feelings go away
Model citizen in every way
May the road rise with you
They put a hot wire to my head
Cos of the things I did and said
They made these feelings go away
Model citizen in every way
Your time has come, your second skin
The cost so high the gain so low
May the road rise with you
Anger is my energy
Anger is my energy
Anger is my energy
Anger is my energy
