[Verse 1]
I came up muddy, came up mean
Hands all cut, but the name still clean
Clock in early, leave bone-tired
Still chase dreams when the rent get higher
Mama said, "Boy, don't fold for the room"
I learned to bloom in the heat and the gloom
Smile on cue, then I bite my tongue
Every scar on me got a story sprung
They laughed loud when I moved too slow
Now they lean in when the numbers grow
I ain't lucky, I been in the fire
Built from a little and a lot of tired
[Pre-Chorus]
Working hard, that's half of it
The rest is bones and acid spit
Keep my head up, face that crowd
Even when my heart sinks down
[Chorus]
Prove me wrong, prove me wrong
I been hurt, but I stay strong
Laugh out loud, cry inside
Still I rise, still I rise
Prove me wrong, prove me wrong
Say my name when I'm gone
They can doubt, I can grind
Still I rise, still I rise
[Verse 2]
I seen fake love with a gold front tooth
Seen good friends fold when the pressure moved
Had to build me a spine from loss
Had to pay every step I crossed
I wear calm like a patched-up coat
Inside, storms in a tight back road
But I keep that hurt in a locked-up box
Turn the ache to a longer shot
Every “you can't” made me sharper
Every closed door made me farther
Now they point when the crowd gets packed
Like they knew me back when I had no stack
[Pre-Chorus]
Working hard, that's half of it
The rest is bones and acid spit
Keep my head up, face that crowd
Even when my heart sinks down
[Chorus]
Prove me wrong, prove me wrong
I been hurt, but I stay strong
Laugh out loud, cry inside
Still I rise, still I rise
Prove me wrong, prove me wrong
Say my name when I'm gone
They can doubt, I can grind
Still I rise, still I rise
[Bridge]
If I break, I break in motion
If I bleed, that's just devotion
I don't need their praise tonight
I got years in these eyes
[Final Chorus]
Prove me wrong, prove me wrong
I been hurt, but I stay strong
Laugh out loud, cry inside
Still I rise, still I rise
Prove me wrong, prove me wrong
Say my name when I'm gone
They can doubt, I can grind
Still I rise, still I rise