I Rise

(Oh-oh) [riff: start soft, airy “oooh-oh-oh” ascending]

Yeah [playful ad-lib: “haaa-yeah!”]

(Oh-oh) [layer harmonies: “oooh-oh”]

⸻

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]

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”]

⸻

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”]

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]

⸻

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]

⸻

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]

⸻

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