You Will Rise
Sweetback Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴I got a story that must be heard,
About a little girl who wished she was a bird
She was unhappy livin' in her ghetto cage,
But it gave her hope when her sweet grandma would say:

(Baby, you will rise)
Rise
(Limit is the skies)

The skies
(Don't let nobody fill your head with their lies)
Nobody. fill your head with lies
(Baby, you will rise)
Rise
(Never compromise)
Compromise
(Milk and honey is waitin' for you on the other side)
Waitin' for you on the other side

Yeah

She had a burning desire to go far,
And she had lively hopes of reaching every star
One day she'd leave this place,
But never forget her people's face
And when she found her dreams,
She'd come back and proclaim:

(Baby, you will rise)
Rise
(Limit is the skies)
The skies
(Don't let nobody fill your head with their lies)
Nobody. fill your head with lies
(Baby, you will rise)
Rise
(Never compromise)
Compromise
(Milk and honey is waitin' for you on the other side)
Waitin' for you on the other side

You will rise.

(Baby, you will rise)
Rise
(Limit is the skies)
The skies
(Don't let nobody fill your head with their lies)
Nobody. fill your head with lies
(Baby, you will rise)
Rise
(Never compromise)
Compromise
(Milk and honey is waitin' for you on the other side)
Waitin' for you on the other side

Got a burning in my heart,
To keep it real and do my part
Got a burning in my soul,
To recognize where I'm from, yeah
Got a burning in my heart,
To keep it real and do my part

Got a burning in my soul
To recognize where I'm from, yeah

Overall Meaning

The song “You Will Rise” by Sweetback is an empowering anthem that tells the story of a little girl living in the ghetto, dreaming of one day soaring freely like a bird. The lyrics celebrate the resilience of the human spirit and serve as a reminder that regardless of where we come from, we can rise above our circumstances and achieve greatness. The little girl's sweet grandmother is a source of inspiration, reminding the girl that she is capable of rising above her situation and achieving her dreams. The lyrics also emphasize the importance of remaining true to oneself and not allowing others to dictate one's path in life.

The song's chorus serves as a mantra, repeating the phrase “Baby, you will rise” six times, followed by other affirmations such as “Limit is the skies” and “Never compromise.” These empowering phrases encourage listeners to embrace their potential and never give up on their dreams. The lyrics also celebrate the journey of self-discovery, encouraging listeners to recognize their roots and honor where they come from as they move forward in life.

Overall, the song “You Will Rise” is a powerful message of hope and inspiration that encourages listeners to embrace their potential and never give up on their dreams, no matter what obstacles they may face.

Line by Line Meaning

I got a story that must be heard,
The singer has an important story to tell.

About a little girl who wished she was a bird
The story is about a young girl who dreams of freedom.

She was unhappy livin' in her ghetto cage,
The girl lived in a poor and oppressive environment.

But it gave her hope when her sweet grandma would say:
Despite this, she found comfort in her grandmother's words.

(Baby, you will rise)
Her grandmother told her she would succeed.

Rise
She will achieve her dreams.

(Limit is the skies)
There are no limits to what she can achieve.

(Don't let nobody fill your head with their lies)
She should not be influenced by negative opinions.

Nobody. fill your head with lies
Don't let anyone deceive you.

(Never compromise)
She should not settle for less.

(Milk and honey is waitin' for you on the other side)
Success and abundance are waiting for her to attain it.

Waitin' for you on the other side
These successes are yet to be achieved.

She had a burning desire to go far,
The girl was driven to succeed.

And she had lively hopes of reaching every star
She had big dreams and aspirations.

One day she'd leave this place,
She planned to escape her unfavorable environment.

But never forget her people's face
Nonetheless, she would remember where she came from.

And when she found her dreams,
If she reached her goals,

She'd come back and proclaim:
She would return to her community and share her success.

Got a burning in my heart,
The singer feels a strong passion.

To keep it real and do my part
They have a desire to be honest and contribute to society.

To recognize where I'm from, yeah
The artist acknowledges their roots.

Got a burning in my soul,
The passion they feel is strong and deep-seated.

To recognize where I'm from, yeah
They will not forget where they came from.

Writer(s): Stuart Matthewman, Andrew Hale, Amel Larrieux, Paul Denman, Laru Larrieux

Contributed by Andrew B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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