Rise Up (Make Yourself Well)
Story Behind The Song by Andy Cairns (Sep 3rd, 2004)
Basically, Neil sent Michael a CD with one of his drum patterns on it which sounded thrillingly like someone bashing a load of bin lids. Michael looped this pattern and stuck a propulsive bass line over the top of it, a hybrid of Fugazi and something off Thriller by Michael Jackson (no laughing at the back, we’ve a lot of time for Mr. Jackson’s masterpiece at T? HQ).
A CD of this made it over to me and I added the “Rise up” lyric over it in a mantra stylee. At this point in time it was a hypnotic groove with repetitive vocals, a cross between Can and Public Image Ltd.
When we got to the Hive rehearsal studio in Derby we came up with a full on Ministry-like chorus chord progression with almost ‘drum and bass’ like drums.
As the album is called Never Apologise Never Explain it would be somewhat hypocritical of me to define the lyrics outright so I’ve decided to stick to sources of inspiration and points of reference in the hope that your imaginations can fill in the blanks.
“Make yourself well” was an expression used by an old friend of mine from Belfast. It translates as “Stop being an idiot”.
Read the story behind the next song on this album.
Lyrics
Check the shape of your eyes
You're taking too much
And loosen your smile
You're pushing too hard
You're lost for words
For what it's worth
The years ache on
You get the face you deserve
Time will heal these scars
I don't need your help
The melody's choked
Stuck in a swollen throat
Self-medicated and over-served
The tell-tale signs
You make your fate when you
Rise up, rise up
And make yourself well
Rise up, rise up
And make yourself well
Scream yourself awake
Snap out of the trance
Feeling clumsy watching others dance
And draining away
A tangle of nerves
Kick out of your way
And learn to
Rise up, rise up
And make yourself well
Rise up, rise up
And make yourself well
Rise up, rise up
And make yourself well
Rise up, rise up
And make yourself well
Check the shape of your eyes
Check the shape of your eyes
Check the shape of your eyes
Check the shape of your eyes
Rise up, rise up
And make yourself well
Rise up, rise up
And make yourself well
Rise up, rise up
And make yourself well
Rise up, rise up
And make yourself well
Rise up, rise up
Rise up, rise up
Rise up, rise up
Rise up, rise up