The Decemberists – Rise to Me

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Big mountain, wide river,
There's an ancient call,
These tree trunks, these stream beds,
Leave our bellies full
They sing out, I am gonna stand my ground
You rise to me and I'll blow you down
I am gonna stand my ground
You rise to me and I'll blow you down

Hey Henry, can you hear me,
Let me see those eyes
This distance, between us
Can seem a mountain size
But boy, you are gonna stand your ground
They rise to you you'll blow them down
Let me see you stand your ground
They rise to you you'll blow them down

My darling, my sweetheart,
I am in your sway,
Two cold climbs, come spring time
So let me hear you say, my love
I am gonna stand my ground, they rise to me and I'll blow them down
I am gonna stand my ground, they rise to me and I'll blow them down
'Cause I am gonna stand my ground
You rise to me and I'll blow you down

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Lyrics submitted by MarcelLionheart, edited by Astarte24

Track duration: 04:59

"Rise to Me" as written by Colin Meloy

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC

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Rise to Me song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:"Stand your ground" is a legal principle which states that a person who is attacked can fight back, even if that person has a chance to safely flee. If you rise to me, I'll blow you down (shoot you).
    Flag ASaltyDogon February 22, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I think it's kind of talking to mother earth saying that we can hear her and we are in tune with her. To prove my point: "Big mountain, wide river, there's an ancient pull." Then there's also;
    "These tree trunks, these stream beds,
    Leave our bellies full
    They sing out, I am gonna stand my ground
    You rise to me and I'll blow you down
    I am gonna stand my ground
    You rise to me and I'll blow you down" That's saying that that is what the Earth says. When it says "You rise to me and I'll blow you down" I think that means that if you try to hurt the Earth, the Earth will fight back
    Flag Astarte24on December 13, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Just found this song, and it chokes me up at each hearing. Wanted to add that as a parent of an "aspie" (kid with asperger's)I think I read even more into these lyrics. One hallmark of a child with this stripe of autism is immovability -- they are comfortable with things a certain way and do not want to budge. Grownups and the world in general will rise against that immovability and try to mold it but this child's stubbornness can be rooted like a tree. The father (Meloy) encourages: stand your ground; do not be broken. We want our kids to stand their ground because an autistic kid gets a lot of criticism from people who do not understand and it seems like they are in danger of having their spirits broken. We parents have to stand our ground because it's a battle all the way from diagnosis thru adulthood and remaining firm in what we know and believe about our own child. I love the image of this child saying, "I'll blow you down." That was where my little one was all through childhood. Now at age 14, the social pressures are causing her to waver. More often I am having to be the one to "blow them down" and urge her, "let me see you stand your ground."
    Flag valavenderon May 30, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:In the first stanza, the immovability and grandeur of the mountains"leaves our bellies full," but with awe comes the recognition that it is immovable and would a fool's game to challenge it. So he applies the wisdom about the mountain to the immovable reality of having a child with a challenging condition that makes connection really hard. It's not going to be changed. But in that inchangeability there is also strength to admire: when the world rises to him, he'll just "blow it down." And so, taking cues from both the mountains and his son, Malloy says to his wife, let us be like this mountain and this child, who stand firm against the elements. Paradoxically, while he writes of becoming as immovable as mountains, he has done the opposite--humbled himself to the reality that won't be budged, and accepted that reality.
    It's a really hard thing to put such deep ideas so simply. A truly beautiful song.
    Flag batmoabon November 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:In the first stanza, the immovability and grandeur of the mountains"leaves our bellies full," but with awe comes the recognition that it is immovable and would a fool's game to challenge it. So he applies the wisdom about the mountain to the immovable reality of having a child with a challenging condition that makes connection really hard. It's not going to be changed. But in that inchangeability there is also strength to admire: when the world rises to him, he'll just "blow it down." And so, taking cues from both the mountains and his son, Malloy says to his wife, let us be like this mountain and this child, who stand firm against the elements. Paradoxically, while he writes of becoming as immovable as mountains, he has done the opposite--humbled himself to the reality that won't be budged, and accepted that reality.
    It's a really hard thing to put such deep ideas so simply. A truly beautiful song.
    Flag batmoabon November 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:But in simply doing that he creates a moving beautiful love song
    Flag oljoneson September 07, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:None of the words are that deep. He is talking about Montana and youth and singing to his son.
    Flag oljoneson September 07, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The song is about perseverance and love. The first stanza takes an environmentalist stance and says that the nature that provided for us will eventually reclaim us and the earth. The second and third stanzas are addressed to his son, Henry/"Hank", and his wife, Carson. He's telling them to stay strong and assures them that he'll stay strong for them too.

    And wow, I didn't know that Colin's son is autistic. Makes this song so incredibly beautiful and sad.
    Flag blue.painted.tearson June 22, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Simply beautiful. I get all choked up thinking about Colin singing this and thinking of his son... What a lucky boy his Henry is to have such a father.
    Flag screenager0on June 08, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I was listening to this album on my way back and forth to the hospital after my wife had given birth to our son, Harry, at the end of January. i was driving home after visiting times and listening to this tune over and over and the words " let me so those eyes", I hadn't yet, and "This distance between us
    Can seem of mountain size" described my feelings entirely.
    Reading your comments have made the song even more appropriate.

    Flag Platoonanon May 19, 2011   Link

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