NeedToBreathe - Rise Again Lyrics
Lyrics
I know how it started the walls that we build to separate us
Make it wider, stronger, 'til it's too tall for us to touch
Heaviness is on me I don't see how we might be whole again
We might be better off in the wake of a bitter end
Oh I know I'm gonna rise again
Set my sights on where I'm going
And my goodbyes to where I've been
Oh I know I'm gonna rise again
Singing farewell king of the broken
So long my friend
We could always count on the same things
The ups and the downs like time
We crawl through the abyss then we came through the other side
Heaviness is only temporary the daylight will soon break in
The sunlight can change a heart in the wake of a bitter end
Oh I know I'm gonna rise again
Set my sights on where I'm going
And my goodbyes to where I've been
Oh I know I'm gonna rise again
Singing farewell king of the broken
So long my friend
I could see us moving on I can feel that coming on strong
We'll never start all over like this and I still can't believe it
Oh I know I'm gonna rise again
Set my sights on where I'm going
And my goodbyes to where I've been
Oh I know I'm gonna rise again
Singing farewell king of the broken
So long my friend
Video
NEEDTOBREATHE - "Rise Again" [Official Audio]
Meaning & Inspiration
NeedToBreathe's "Rise Again," released on April 15, 2014, as a compelling track from their album *Rivers In the Wasteland*, immediately immerses the listener in a profound spiritual journey from desolation to defiant hope. The song begins with an earnest admission of profound brokenness, describing the "walls that we build to separate us" which grow "wider, stronger, 'til it's too tall for us to touch." This imagery speaks to the deep divisions—whether in relationships, within one's own soul, or a perceived chasm with God—that leave a heavy burden and a sense of irreversible damage, prompting the mournful thought that perhaps it's "better off in the wake of a bitter end." It’s a raw articulation of human despair, a spiritual wilderness where reconciliation seems impossible and the weight of past failures or wounds threatens to consume all hope.
However, the chorus acts as a powerful pivot, shifting from lament to a resolute declaration of faith: "Oh I know I'm gonna rise again, Set my sights on where I'm going, And my goodbyes to where I've been." This is not a passive wish but an active commitment to spiritual resurrection. It echoes the profound truth found in Philippians 3:13-14, where Paul speaks of "forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead," pressing on towards the divine calling. This rising is a deliberate choice to leave the past, with its disappointments and brokenness, behind, much like the new creation spoken of in 2 Corinthians 5:17, where "the old has passed away; behold, the new has come." The song rejects the tyranny of past circumstances, choosing instead to fix its gaze on a future shaped by divine purpose and renewal.
The second verse introduces a comforting rhythm to life's struggles, acknowledging that "the ups and the downs like time" are constant, and having "crawl[ed] through the abyss then we came through the other side." This reflection builds resilience, recognizing that hardship is a familiar path that has been overcome before. The crucial insight arrives with the declaration, "Heaviness is only temporary the daylight will soon break in," a promise that aligns beautifully with Psalm 30:5, which assures us that "weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." The "sunlight can change a heart in the wake of a bitter end," suggesting that even after profound loss or pain, divine light, representing God's presence and transformative power, can bring healing and new perspective. It’s a testament to the truth of John 8:12, where Jesus proclaims, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
The powerful pronouncement, "Singing farewell king of the broken, So long my friend," in the chorus, is more than just letting go; it's a dethroning. It’s a spiritual act of refusing to let past brokenness define one's identity. This resonates deeply with Ephesians 4:22-24, urging believers "to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life... and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." The song embraces this new identity, actively bidding farewell to the dominion of sorrow and despair. The bridge reinforces this vision, articulating a clear foresight: "I could see us moving on I can feel that coming on strong." It’s a powerful affirmation of an impending restoration, a genuine transformation that isn't merely a return to an old state but a progression to something entirely new and stronger, a profound grace that allows for a future "we'll never start all over like this." "Rise Again" stands as a potent anthem of spiritual resilience, reminding us that even in the deepest "wasteland" of life, faith can indeed make a way, bringing forth rivers of hope and a resounding declaration of new beginnings.