Verse 1 (Braille):
Rise from the ashes ? my pride and passion is to prize the everlastin' ? more than self-satisfaction,
But on the average ? my actions show that I'm more of a savage and less of a saint ? now I'm learnin' lessons in restraint,
Cause it's so easy to taint the picture you try to paint,
When you try with all your strength to do something you can't,
Stretchin' to rhyme ? rise to the occasion,
I'm here lookin' for signs ? waitin' for the right time,- to stretch wings instead of rhyme schemes,
But it seems like these arms ? might not be able to fly,
Let's be real ? I walk on land with two feet ? the earth dweller,
No feathers, no propellers, no jetpack on my back,
It's a setback ? but when I step back I see the contrast,
The rise and the fall ? I acknowledge it all,
My sin, my guilt, my shame, my God have mercy on a sinner like me ? I wanna rise!
Chorus:
We didn't start the fire ? but one thing's for sure yeah we came to burn,
Pushing out the planet - had to wait my turn, enough is enough I'm about to erupt ? blow up, watch me rise!
I rise! (Repeat 6x)
Rise! (Repeat 6x)
Verse 2 (Propaganda):
Homie the story is not new ? it's practiced and rehearsed,
And my little brothers' blood is still stain on my converse,
Courage to fight wars ? man it ain't really that extreme I just ? picture my daughters face and run straight to the screams,
And I've never accepted that environments can make a person ? too many good examples and ample exceptions,
Serious sufferin' servant service ? the wordiest of all emcees should all be nervous ? boy I ain't budgin',
Still hold a grudge and I bludgeon my own flesh and ?
Serve these superfluous rappers with superb word play,
As long as Elohim pleases ? He excites ? my windpipes ? with cool breezes ? of insight ? to ignite change,
I don't even speak of haters ? waste of breadth ? don't care at all,
I am in communication with the one who made it all,
Elevate ? execute ? excellent ? no excuse,
Confident ? competent ? the risen King ? He's got this, yeah!
(Chorus)
Proxy Verse:
Internal pressure mounted, too many mistakes to count it, my worst enemy is me will I ever break loose - break free? Some doubt it,
Because how I act about it, but still I talk about my destiny - what I want to be - success and my reach out and grab it,
Self sabotage my story,- lot of hard work - little glory, with friends like me who needs enemies - judges and juries,
Everyday I'm guilty - so filthy - not worthy, hangups hung me to dry - so many times - livin a lie,
Feels like I gotta die - for me to fly, something is calling my name - calling me out - tellin me to rise,
Above statistical facts - every last odd they've stacked, them generational whips - that I got on my back,
Something's gotta change, and it starts with me, I gotta resist - rebel - re-escape - all for that "give us free",
Awake from from your sleep - slumber no more, tomorrow's right now let's sing out show the world what we came here for!!
(Chorus)
Rise
Rise Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
The song "Rise" by Braille, featuring Propaganda and another powerful voice in the "Proxy Verse," is a compelling exploration of internal conflict, struggle, and the determined will to overcome personal limitations and external pressures. Braille opens the track by articulating a deeply personal battle between his aspirations and his actions. He describes the desire to prioritize the eternal over immediate gratification and the stark reality of his behavior often falling short, feeling more like a "savage" than a "saint." This candid admission of his struggle highlights the difficulty of maintaining integrity when striving for ideals that feel beyond reach, painting a picture of attempting to achieve something one "can't." Despite feeling earthbound, lacking the inherent ability to "fly," he recognizes this limitation but also sees the broader context of "the rise and the fall," ultimately acknowledging his sin, guilt, and shame while crying out for mercy and expressing a profound desire to "rise."
Propaganda adds another dimension to the narrative, framing his resilience and courage not as something easily attained but as rooted in deeply personal motivation – picturing the face of his daughters. He firmly rejects the notion that environment alone dictates destiny, pointing to numerous examples of individuals who defy their circumstances. His verse exudes confidence in his craft ("superb word play") and his spiritual connection, attributing his insight and ability to ignite change to "Elohim" who excites his "windpipes" with "cool breezes." Propaganda dismisses detractors, placing his focus instead on his communication with "the one who made it all," emphasizing themes of elevation, execution, excellence, and ultimately finding confidence and competence in the power of the "risen King."
The "Proxy Verse" delves further into the internal battlefield, describing mounting pressure, countless mistakes, and the feeling that one's worst enemy is oneself. This section powerfully captures the cycle of self-sabotage and the doubt it creates, contrasting it with the persistent talk of destiny and success. It speaks to the weight of feeling unworthy and perpetually guilty, likening personal hangups to being "hung to dry." The verse presents the idea that a form of death might be necessary for true liberation or the ability to "fly," highlighting a persistent inner calling to "rise" above statistics, stacked odds, and even generational burdens. It concludes with a clear call to action – urging an awakening from slumber, a resistance, a rebellion, and an escape to claim freedom and declare one's purpose to the world.
The chorus serves as the explosive core of the song, a collective declaration of powerful intent. While acknowledging they didn't initiate the challenges ("We didn't start the fire"), the artists assert their presence and transformative power ("we came to burn"). It speaks to a waiting period now concluding, with the impending moment of eruption and ascension. The repeated, emphatic declaration of "I rise!" is not just a statement of future intent but an immediate, powerful assertion of overcoming, a defiant stand against gravity, limitation, and past failures. This chant reinforces the central theme of ascension and transformation after enduring struggle.
The song's themes of overcoming internal brokenness and external pressures resonate deeply with timeless spiritual principles. The acknowledgment of sin and need for mercy mirrors sentiments found in passages like Psalm 51, where David cries out for cleansing and renewal. The idea of rising to a new state of being after a form of death or transformation can be linked to New Testament concepts of resurrection and new life in Christ, as found in Romans 6:4, which speaks of being buried with Christ and rising to walk in newness of life, or Ephesians 2:4-6, which describes God making us alive with Christ and raising us up with Him. The confidence and strength derived from a connection to the divine, as expressed by Propaganda, echoes Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," or Isaiah 40:31, which promises that those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength and "mount up with wings like eagles." The song captures the universal human struggle with flaws and the inspiring hope for redemption and the power to transcend limitations, driven by an internal fire and a calling to ascend. The impactful song video was released on March 13, 2025, visually complementing these powerful lyrical themes.
