I Rise

[Intro]
(Oh-oh) [riff: start soft, airy “oooh-oh-oh” ascending]
Yeah [playful ad-lib: “haaa-yeah!”]
(Oh-oh) [layer harmonies: “oooh-oh”]

⸻

[Verse 1]
You can write my name in shadows [riff on “shadows”: quick 3-note run]
Say whatever helps you sleep [soft ad-lib: “sleep, sleep”]
Try to press me in the pavement [slide up on “pavement”]
Bury me too deep [riff: 4-note melisma on “deep”]
But I’m lighter than your gravity [short run on “gravity”]
Stronger than your doubt [call-and-response: Zona sings “stronger” / backing “stronger”]
Every time you pull me under [soft glide on “under”]
I come rising out [long held note, airy vibrato]

[Pre-Chorus]
You don’t like the way I’m shining [riff on “shining”: upward spiral]
Like I own the air I breathe [light vocal runs on “air I breathe”]
Like my hands are full of future [riff: “full of fu-u-ture”]
Like there’s more in store for me [ad-lib: “more, more, more”]

⸻

[Chorus]
I get up again, again [riff on “again”: 3-note ascending, repeat 2x]
Higher than I’ve ever been [riff on “been”: 2-note lift]
Like the sun don’t ask permission [riff on “sun”: playful trill]
Like the tide keeps rolling in [riff: “rolling in” melismatic flourish]
You can bend me, you can test me [call-and-response: “You can bend me!” / “I won’t fall!”]
Say I’ll never win [riff on “win”: octave leap]
But I get up again [ad-lib: “up again, yeah!”]
Yeah, I rise up again [vocal riff run: long “aaaahhhh rise”]

[Post-Chorus Hook]
Again and again and again [layered riff: each “again” higher than last]
I rise [soft melisma “I ri-i-ise”]
Again and again and again [backing “oooh-oh-oh”]
I rise [vocal hold, airy vibrato]

⸻

[Verse 2]
Were you hoping I’d be quiet? [riff on “quiet”: subtle 3-note slide]
Head down, out of sight? [short ad-lib: “nooo”]
Like I’d fold beneath the pressure [riff on “pressure”: 4-note pull]
Disappear into the night? [ad-lib: airy “ahh”]
I’ve been walking with a treasure [riff on “treasure”: playful octave jump]
You can’t measure with your hands [riff on “hands”: descending run]
Got a fire in my bloodstream [call-and-response: “fire!” / “Yeah!”]
Built from where I stand [riff: long vibrato hold]

⸻

[Pre-Chorus]
If my laughter sounds like freedom [riff: “freee-dom” long note, airy]
If my confidence cuts deep [riff: “deep”: 3-note slide]
It’s ‘cause I’ve been through the darkness [vocal runs on “darkness”]
And I kept my dream [riff: “dream” soft melisma]

⸻

[Chorus ]
I get up again, again [riff: repeat previous chorus riff]
Higher than I’ve ever been [riff: add trill on “been”]
Like the stars don’t lose their sparkle [riff on “sparkle”: staccato notes]
Just because the night sets in [ad-lib: “na-na-na”]
You can doubt me, try to break me [call-and-response: “break me!” / “I rise!”]
But I won’t give in [riff: ascending octave run]
I get up again [ad-lib: “yeah, again!”]
Yeah, I rise up again [vocal riff flourish to bridge]

Again and again and again

I rise

I rise

Retro Funk Soul Groove
Groovy Retro Soul
Modern Funk Soul Jam
Soul Funk Pop
Funky Soul Bounce, male, live