Still I Rise - Maya Angelou

qawwali, spiritual trance, world/fusion (Qawwali-trance)

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V5.5

[Intro]
(A lone, aggressive Cello plays a dark, dissonant melody. Slow, heavy strikes on a Tabla drum. The atmosphere is tense and brooding.)

[Verse 1]
(Lead Vocal - Low, raspy, and defiant)
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

[Verse 2]
(Rhythmic Qawwali hand-clapping begins. Tempo increases slightly)
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

[Chorus]
(Full Qawwali Chorus enters, powerful and spiritual. Cello plays sharp, rhythmic stabs)
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.
(Chorus repeat) Still I'll rise!

[Verse 3]
(Lead Vocal - Angry and mocking. Music strips back to just Cello and vocals)
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?

[Verse 4]
(Tabla and hand-clapping return with aggressive energy)
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.

[Pre-Chorus]
(Lead Vocal with rapid, fiery delivery)
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

[Instrumental Break]
(A furious, shredding Cello solo played over a fast-paced, hypnotic Qawwali drum beat and loud rhythmic clapping.)

[Verse 5]
(Lead Vocal - Confident and soaring)
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

[Bridge - The Ascent]
(Music builds into a spiritual frenzy. Call and Response format)
(Lead): Out of the huts of history’s shame
(Chorus): I rise!
(Lead): Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
(Chorus): I rise!
(Lead and Chorus together): I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

[Outro - Grand Finale]
(Maximum intensity, ecstatic Qawwali trance - 'Wajad'. Cello playing frantic high notes)
(Lead): Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
(Chorus): I rise!
(Lead): Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
(Chorus): I rise!
(Lead): Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

(The beat becomes a massive, echoing pulse)
I rise
(Chorus): I rise!
I rise
(Chorus): I rise!
I rise.

(A final, aggressive, scraping bow on the Cello. Sudden silence.)
[End]

2504/7500

[Intro] (A lone, aggressive Cello plays a dark, dissonant melody. Slow, heavy strikes on a Tabla drum. The atmosphere is tense and brooding.) [Verse 1] (Lead Vocal - Low, raspy, and defiant) You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise. [Verse 2] (Rhythmic Qawwali hand-clapping begins. Tempo increases slightly) Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? ’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room. [Chorus] (Full Qawwali Chorus enters, powerful and spiritual. Cello plays sharp, rhythmic stabs) Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise. (Chorus repeat) Still I'll rise! [Verse 3] (Lead Vocal - Angry and mocking. Music strips back to just Cello and vocals) Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries? [Verse 4] (Tabla and hand-clapping return with aggressive energy) Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard ’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin’ in my own backyard. [Pre-Chorus] (Lead Vocal with rapid, fiery delivery) You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise. [Instrumental Break] (A furious, shredding Cello solo played over a fast-paced, hypnotic Qawwali drum beat and loud rhythmic clapping.) [Verse 5] (Lead Vocal - Confident and soaring) Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I've got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs? [Bridge - The Ascent] (Music builds into a spiritual frenzy. Call and Response format) (Lead): Out of the huts of history’s shame (Chorus): I rise! (Lead): Up from a past that’s rooted in pain (Chorus): I rise! (Lead and Chorus together): I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. [Outro - Grand Finale] (Maximum intensity, ecstatic Qawwali trance - 'Wajad'. Cello playing frantic high notes) (Lead): Leaving behind nights of terror and fear (Chorus): I rise! (Lead): Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear (Chorus): I rise! (Lead): Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. (The beat becomes a massive, echoing pulse) I rise (Chorus): I rise! I rise (Chorus): I rise! I rise. (A final, aggressive, scraping bow on the Cello. Sudden silence.) [End]

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