You may e me down in ory
itter, ted lies,
You may trod me in t
But still, like dust, Ill rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
h gloom?
Cause I oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
itainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still Ill rise.
Did you to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Seardrops.
eakened by my soulful cries.
Does my iness offend you?
Dont you take it awful hard
Cause I laug gold mines
Diggin in my own back yard.
You may s me h your words,
You may cut me h your eyes,
You may kill me efulness,
But still, like air, Ill rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
t I dance like Ive got diamonds
At ting of my thighs?
Out of ts of orys shame
I rise
Up from a past ts rooted in pain
I rise
Im a black ocean, leaping and wide,
elling and side.
Leaving bes of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak ts wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing ts t my ancestors gave,
I am the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.