Still I Rise

Y   o    u                           m   a   y                w  rit                     e me do   w n i n       h  ist     or       y
W it h yo u r bi t te r, t wi st ed l i e s,
Y       o          u           ma y t r od m e i n  t    he ve   ry d       irt
B                     u   t         s   til   l, l   ike dust, I'l            l                                            rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like

hopes
springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me

b r o k e n ?

B   o w    e     d    hea d a n d lo we red e yes?
S  h   o                u lde         rs f  a  l  l i ng d          w n l i     ke t        ea rd r   o  p               s,
W e aken ed b y my so ulfvu   l crie s?

            Y     o u ma y  sh o o t  m e with your words,
You may c  u t  m e wi th your eyes,
Y ou  m a  y ki    l m   e w   it h you r hate f   ul     ness,
B   u   t   s  ti      l             l, l i k e  ai r, I’ll                                rise.

Out

o  f     t  h    e huts of hi      st  o ry ’s sh am       e

I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise
I  'm a bl   a  ck o ce  an, le a ping and wide,
  W el l in g  and swelling I be ar in t e tide.
L e av in g beh ind n ig hts of te  ror an d f                ea  r
I rise
In to a dayb r e ak th at’s w o nd rously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise

I rise.