Ben Harper
"I'll Rise"

Words by Maya Angelou
Music by Ben Harper

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 - rise - 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 - rise - rise

Now did you want to see me broken
Bowed head and lowered eyes
Shoulders fallen down like teardrops
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 - rise - 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 - rise - 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

You may shoot me with your words
You may cut me with your eyes
And I'll rise - I'll rise - I'll rise - rise - 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 - yes I'll rise

You may shoot me with your words
You may cut me with your eyes
And I'll rise - I'll rise - I'll rise - rise - 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 - rise - rise
I'm gonna rise - I'll rise - I'll rise - rise - rise