Rise Against - Survivor Guilt

Song: Survivor Guilt
Artist: Rise Against
Album: Endgame

Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois.

Survivor Guilt is from Rise Against's sixth studio album, Endgame, which was released on March 15 2011. The beginning of the song features this clip from the 1970 film Catch 22. "What are you talking about? America isn't going to be destroyed."

"Never? Rome was destroyed, Greece was destroyed, Persia was destroyed, Spain was destroyed. All great countries are destroyed. Why not yours? How much longer do you really think your own country will last? Forever?"

The song is an anti-war song. I think it's about soldiers going off and dying for someone else's battle. I think it might also be about how the government doesn't do what it should to help soldiers who've been injured and the families of soldiers who've been killed. About giving all you have for something that wasn't worth the price. I think it's about how war is pointless, and not the way to solve anything. And about how most wars are started for very stupid reasons. How the people in charge are hypocrites who care more about money than a human life. People tell their children that fighting isn't the way to solve problems, yet look at the world. There is another clip from the same film in the middle of the song. "You're a shameful opportunist! What you don't understand is that it's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees."

"You have it backwards. It's better to live on your feet than to die on your knees. I know."
I really love this song. I like the lyrics, the message and the music.

"Survivor Guilt"

Block the entrances, close the doors
Seal the exits because this is war

All gave some, some gave all
But for what I wanna know

Carry on, don't mind me
All I gave was everything
And yet you ask me for more
Fought your fight
Bought your lies
In return I lost my life
What purpose does this serve?

A folded flag
A purple heart
A family all but torn apart

And I fought with courage to preserve
Not my way of life but yours

Carry on, don't mind me
All I gave was everything
And yet you ask me for more
Fought your fight
Bought your light
In return I lost my life
What purpose does this serve?

The cowards preach on pedestals
With words of courage and resolve
But what they meant was fuck them all
Because freedom isn't free

They send our daughters and our sons
To deserts under burning suns
A Sacrificial slaughtering
To fill the pockets of the weak

An artificial enemy
Are we so easily deceived?
They carry on

Don't carry on
Just walk away
How many more sent to their graves
In this lesson ignored?

I fought your fight
Bought your lie
In return I lost my life
What purpose does this serve?
What purpose did I serve?

Rise Against - Survivor Guilt - Youtube (Audio Only)

Rise Against - Make It Stop (September's Children)

Song: Make It Stop (September's Children)
Artist: Rise Against
Album: Endgame

Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois.

Here is another Rise Against song. I know I'm doing a lot of Rise Against songs, but they're one of my favorite bands and they just released a new album Endgame on March 15th, 2011. So I'm probably gonna do a couple of songs from the new album. In the month of September 2010 several teenagers commited suicide as a result of anti-gay bullying. That is what this song is about. The song is about how ignorant and prejudiced people bully those who are different from them. About how gay young people and even straight kids presumed to be gay are being bullied until they reach a breaking point. And how something has to be done about the society that lets this go on. Horrible examples of homophobia are seen all the time. I once saw a child of about 7 years old on TV holding a sign that said "God Hates Fags". That was one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen. That child didn't even know the meaning of what he was being made to support. What if that child turns out to be gay? He would most likely be closeted and ashamed and scared to be himself because of his parents' homophobia. Things like this are the reason kids are killing themselves. This has to stop. During the song the names and ages of five of the teens who commited suicide are spoken. As I said before Rise Against is one of my favorite bands, and I admire them for writing a song about this. It makes me love them even more.

"Make It Stop (September's Children)"

Woah, woah.

Bang bang go the coffin nails, like a breath exhaled,
Then gone forever.
It seems like just yesterday, how did I miss the red flags raise?
Think back to the days we laughed.
We braved these bitter storms together.
Brought to his knees he cried,
But on his feet he died.

What God would damn a heart?
What God drove us apart?
What God could

Make it stop
Let this end.
Eighteen years pushed to the ledge.
It's come to this,
A weightless step.
On the way down singing,
Woah, woah.

Bang bang from the closet walls,
The schoolhouse halls,
The shotgun's loaded.
Push me and I'll push back.
I'm done asking, I demand.
From a nation under God,
I feel it's love like a cattle prod.

Born free, but still they hate.
Born me, no I can't change.
It's always darkest just before the dawn.
So stay awake with me, let's prove them wrong.

Make it stop.
Let this end,
Eighteen years pushed to the ledge.
It's come to this,
A weightless step.
On the way down singing,
Woah, woah.

The cold river washed him away,
But how could we forget.
The gatherings hold candles
But not their tongues.
And too much blood has flown from the wrists,
Of the children shamed for those they chose to kiss.
Who will rise to stop the blood?

We're calling for,
Insisting on, a different beat.
A brand new song.

Whoa, whoa
Make this stop
Make this end.
This life chose me, I'm not lost in sin.
But proud I stand of who I am,
I plan to go on living.

Rise Against - Make It Stop (September's Children) - Youtube (Audio Only)

Rise Against - Help Is On The Way

Song: Help Is On The Way

Artist: Rise Against

Album: Endgame

Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois.

Now I know I did a Rise Against song on here not that long ago, but today (January 25th) Rise Against released a new song Help Is On the Way. The song is the first single off of their upcoming new album, which will be their sixth studio album. The album is called Endgame and is set to be released on March 15th 2011. Rise Against are known for their politically charged and socially concious lyrics and this song follows that theme as well. I think the song is about the BP oil spill. About the loss of life and the pollution caused by the oil spill. About a tragedy caused by corporations trying to make more money at the cost of the environment and human lives. Also about government officials who make false reasurances that everything is fine when in fact it's not. I like the guitar and drums on this song. The lyrics are amazing. I think Rise Against has done a great job on this song, I love it, and I can't wait until Endgame comes out.

"Help Is On The Way"

I have my mother's dreams,
I have my father's eyes,
You can't take that from me,
Just go ahead and try.
The cursed city sleeps,
Watch giants in the sky,
Preparing to unleash,
Let loose a mighty cry.

Can nobody save us?
Will anyone try?
The pyre is burning,
The severance is dying.
And all along they say it.

Help is on the way
(They said, they said)
Help is on the way
(They said, they said)
Hold my hand to help see.
Right there in front of me.
Help is on the way.

Five thousand feet below,
As black smoke engulfs the sky,
The ocean floor explodes,
Eleven mothers cry.
My bones all resonate,
A burning lullaby,
You can't take that from me,
Just go ahead and try.

She says that's the shoreline,
With hands in the air,
Her words miss the dark light,
Does anyone care?
And all along they say it.

Help is on the way
(They said, they said)
Help is on the way
(They said, they said)
Hold my hand, to help see.
Right there in front of me.
Help is on the way.

Right here! Right here! [x3]

Choking on the black gold,
Upon which we rely,
We keep actions in the attics,
To see cameras in the sky.

Help is on the way
(They said, they said)
Help is on the way
(They said, they said)

We were told just to sit tight,
Cause somebody will soon arrive.
Help is on the way.
But it never came!
It never came!

Help is on the way
(They said, they said)
Help is on the way
(They said, they said)
Hold my hand, to help see.
Right there in front of me.
Help is on the way.
On the way.

Rise Against - Help Is On the Way - Youtube (Audio Only)