Mi grow wid pressure pon mi back like stone Nuff nights mi heart a talk when mi deh alone Dem seh, “Hold yuh head,” but dem nuh see the load Barefoot dreams pon a long rough road Mi learn fi smile when mi spirit tired Faith pon low but di flame neva wire Mi nah beg favor, mi nah sell mi soul Mi know who mi be, mi know mi role Dem only see di crown when mi stand upright Dem never see di tears pon di sleepless night But Yah know mi walk every mile Through di storm, mi still have style Still mi rise, still mi rise From di dust, from di pain, from di fight Mi nah bow, mi nah hide Head to di sky, soul upright Yeah mi bend but mi nah break inside Still mi rise — every time Nuff voice chat loud but dem heart dem hollow Dem follow trends, mi follow tomorrow Mi nah move fast just fi get seen Mi build slow, solid, brick by brick clean Mi mother seh, “Son, keep yuh word correct” So mi talk wid care, mi nah show disrespect Mi losses teach mi more than win ever could Bad mind fade, real love still good Mi know dark, mi know doubt But mi never let di light burn out If di road narrow, mi still go through Cah truth is di thing weh guide mi through Still mi rise, still mi rise From di weight weh dem try fi apply Mi nah bow, mi nah hide Heart full strong, spirit wide Yeah mi bend but mi nah break inside Still mi rise — every time Mi nah perfect, mi human same way But mi nah lose mi soul pon di highway Every scar tell a story true Every fall show mi weh fi do If dem doubt mi, mi let dem doubt Mi nah explain mi blessing route Mi know di source, mi know di sign What Yah write fi mi come right on time Break (Call & Response feel) Mi say — who hold mi? (Yah do) Who guide mi? (Yah do) When di road get cold? (Yah do) Mi still stand firm, mi still true Still mi rise, still mi rise Through di fire, through di longest night Mi nah bow, mi nah hide Hope pon mi tongue, truth in mi eyes Yeah mi bend but mi nah break inside Still mi rise — every time From di soil to di sky mi climb One step strong, one breath at a time Mi nah rush greatness, mi nah compromise Still mi rise… still mi rise
