You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me down in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my happiness upset you?
Why are you best with gloom?
Cause I laugh like I've got an oil well
Pumping in my living room.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
and I´ll rise, I´ll rise, I´ll rise

Out of the shots of history's shame
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I´ll rise, I´ll rise, I´ll rise

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my confidence upset you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I walk like I've got a diamond mine
breaking up in my front yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
and I´ll rise, I´ll rise, I´ll rise

Out of the shots of history's shame
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I´ll rise, I´ll rise, I´ll rise

I´ll rise, You may shoot me with your words,
Ohh yeah, I´ll rise, You may cut me with your eyes,

´cause You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me down in the very dirt
Still, like the dust, I'll rise.

Does my happiness upset you?
Why are you best with gloom?
'Cause I laugh like I got diamond mine
digging up, digging up my living room.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
I´ll rise, I´ll rise, I´ll rise

Out of the shots of history's shame
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I´ll rise, I´ll rise, I´ll rise

I´m gonna rise, I´m gonna rise,
and nothing can keep me down....
I´ll rise, I´ll rise, I´ll rise
I´m gonna rise, I´m gonna rise, yeah
Like the sun in the morning,
Like the moon in the evening
I´ll rise, I´ll rise, I´ll rise