Some songs have a message so powerful and enduring they become timeless. Few songs in the last ten years fits that description better than Andra Day’s “Rise Up.” The beautiful ballad is an inspiring call to triumph over whatever obstacles are holding you back from reaching the mountaintop.
Originally released in 2015, the quadruple platinum hit found new life as an anthem during the 2021 Black Lives Matter protests. It’s also become popular online as an emotional soundtrack for those fighting their own personal battles.
In honor of Day’s performance at the Root 100, we wanted to take a look at why the song has become so important and showcase one of her best live performances of the track.
From the moment her flawless voice begins with, “You’re broken down and tired / Of living life on a merry go round / And you can’t find the fighter / But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out / And move mountains,” you know this song is going to be different. It’s going to take you someplace special.
Since it’s the opening verse of the track, she’s not belting these words out, but that doesn’t make them any less powerful. In fact, the way she’s softly delivering them, gives them even more meaning.
She’s truly tapping into the exhaustion behind “broken down and tired” and “living life on a merry go round.” Day is acknowledging the pain and frustration we’ve all felt.
However, just when we start to feel a little hopeless again, she lifts us with the strength of her vocals on the song’s chorus. “And I’ll rise up / I’ll rise like the day / I’ll rise up / I’ll rise unafraid / I’ll rise up / And I’ll do it a thousand times again.” It’s just what we need to know we’re not alone and that we actually do have the endurance to keep going.
As the song continues on its inspirational build with a choir and intensifying piano keys, Day’s powerhouse vocals become a force of nature. “All we need is hope,” she declares. “And for that we have each other / …And we will rise.”
In an interview with the website Genius, she revealed her intention behind some of the song’s inspirational lyrics.
“There’s a lot going on in the racial climate—politics and all—and sometimes we just need a very simple message,” she said. “No matter what you’re going through or what you’re dealing with, if you can just get up, if you can just rise to your feet and get up, then you can get through that day. And if you can do that one day, you can do it the next day, too.
One of her most stunning and emotional live performances of the song came in an appearance on the musical series “Austin City Limits.” It was recorded on June 12, 2016, the same day as the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. Day dedicated the performance to the victims, survivors, their families and the entire community.
As she encourages the audience to raise their voices, Day showcases the true power of art, particularly music. When our words and prayers aren’t enough to portray the depth of our feelings, a song like “Rise Up” says more than we ever could. And Andra Day’s voice will be far more impactful than we could ever imagine.