Who talks to a man that they can't see?
Who finds power in an old book they read?
In a world full of doubt, who still believes?
Who talks to a man that they can't see?
Call me crazy, call me a fool
I ain't scared cuz I know the truth
Ain't gonna run, ain't gonna hide
Ain't gonna change my mind
When the crowd goes one way, I go the other
When the battle rages I won't back down
The gates of hell are gonna shake and tremble
In the name of Jesus gonna stand my ground
If a rebel's what it takes
A rebel's what I'll be
Cause the one I follow
Was a rebel like me
Rebel rebel
Rebel rebel
Got a long line of rebels in the family tree
The ones who weren't afraid to make history
David to Goliath, Daniel to the lion
Moses pushing back the sea
Got a long line of rebels in the family tree
When the crowd goes one way, I go the other
When the battle rages I won't back down
The gates of hell are gonna shake and tremble
In the name of Jesus gonna stand my ground
If a rebel's what it takes
A rebel's what I'll be
Cause the one I follow
Was a rebel like me
Rebel rebel
A rebel like me
Rebel rebel
A rebel like me
Who takes His own cross up a hill
Who loves a sinner nobody else will
Who changed the world when His blood was spilled
Who takes His own cross up a hill
They called Him crazy, called Him a fool
But He's the way, the life, the truth
Ain't gonna run, ain't gonna hide
Ain't gonna change my mind
When the crowd goes one way, I go the other
When the battle rages I won't back down
The gates of hell are gonna shake and tremble
In the name of Jesus gonna stand my ground
If a rebel's what it takes
A rebel's what I'll be
Cause the one I follow
Was a rebel like me
Rebel rebel
A rebel like me
Rebel rebel
Cause the one I follow
Was a rebel like me
REBEL
REBEL Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Anne Wilson's song "REBEL" presents a powerful declaration of faith and identity in the face of societal pressure and doubt. The lyrics frame adherence to Christian beliefs not as conformity, but as a form of rebellion against a world that questions faith, the Bible, and the existence of God. The opening verses pose rhetorical questions highlighting the perceived strangeness of faith – talking to an unseen God, finding power in an old book, believing in a world of doubt. This sets up the core conflict between mainstream perspective and the believer's stance.
The chorus serves as the anthem of this "rebel" identity. It boldly states defiance: "Call me crazy, call me a fool / I ain't scared cuz I know the truth." The commitment is unwavering: "Ain't gonna run, ain't gonna hide / Ain't gonna change my mind." The central act of rebellion is going "the other" way when "the crowd goes one way" and standing firm when "the battle rages." The lyrics connect this personal resolve to spiritual power, asserting that "The gates of hell are gonna shake and tremble / In the name of Jesus gonna stand my ground." The chorus culminates in embracing the label: "If a rebel's what it takes / A rebel's what I'll be / Cause the one I follow / Was a rebel like me."
The bridge expands on this idea of rebellious faith by drawing a connection to biblical history. It invokes a "long line of rebels in the family tree" who "weren't afraid to make history." Specific examples cited include David facing Goliath, Daniel confronting the lion's den, and Moses pushing back the sea – figures who challenged overwhelming odds or powerful authorities through faith and divine intervention. This lineage reinforces the idea that standing against the current for one's beliefs is a historically validated, even celebrated, path within the faith tradition.
The song brings the concept to its ultimate source in the third verse, focusing on Jesus Himself. It asks rhetorical questions mirroring the first verse, portraying Jesus' actions – taking up His cross, loving sinners, changing the world through His sacrifice – as counter-cultural and challenging to His time. The lyrics explicitly state that "They called Him crazy, called Him a fool," directly linking His experience to the label embraced by the singer. Yet, despite this opposition, He is declared "the way, the life, the truth." This powerful parallel underscores the song's central theme: following Jesus necessitates a willingness to be perceived as a rebel by conventional standards, because He Himself defied worldly norms and expectations.
The release of the song's video on October 3, 2023, provided a visual dimension to this message, allowing listeners to connect with the themes through Anne Wilson's performance and accompanying imagery. Overall, "REBEL" serves as an inspirational call to believers to stand unashamedly in their faith, viewing their counter-cultural stance not as an oddity but as an act of strength and alignment with the example set by Christ and figures throughout biblical history. It encourages listeners to embrace the label of "rebel" for the sake of truth and conviction.
