Inspired by Day, A. (2015). Rise up. On Cheers to the fall [Audio album]. Warner Records.

Photo by Tatiana Rudneva on Unsplash

The opening lyrics to this song reflect something of the challenge all of us face in life, the tiredness that comes from life on the merry-go-round. In this emotionally charged tune, Day speaks of that feeling we get when we are tired of battling the struggles of life. We can begin to feel overwhelmed, exhausted by a lack of hope. It’s a common human feeling, that we cannot carry on fighting against the things which hold us back or put us down. It’s a feeling which can lead us to despair and depression.

The lyrics emphasise a feeling of impending doom. But this is not a song of despair. It’s a song of empathy, encouraging us in times of overwhelming difficulty to arise once more. So how? The hint is the we in the song's lyrics. When we are not strong enough to carry on we need others around us who are strong enough to walk with us and see the potential. We need people who can see the light at the end of the tunnel and believe it’s not a train on its way to mow us down. Those who can see and believe for us that whilst we might be in our own metaphorical night, we will rise like the day. The people around us who will stick with us because they see what we cannot yet see.

This dependency on other people is not a sign of weakness or a lack of independence. It’s simply a recognition that there are times when we need the hope others can see for us. Indeed, it could be argued that true independence leads us to a state where we recognise our interdependence. We are both self-sufficient and in need of a relationship with others if we are to truly thrive.

One final important aspect of the song is its ordinariness. The song isn’t describing unique or obscure circumstances, rather its talking about the things we will face a thousand times. It’s describing the challenges of everyday life and the reality of a life improved by relational resilience. A life in which, with the support of others we can once again arise.

Want to get the song on Amazon? Click here.

Please note that any purchase made using this link will earn us a small commission which helps support our work of making living life well accessible for all.