Listen mister brother sister
family and friend
I fear with each day pass
our time grows closer to the end

listen stranger passer by
and those I never knew
there's not one day that you are living
has been promised to you

I am a God fearing man
I'm a God fearing man
I reach out for my God's hand
I'm a God fearing man

listen mother sister brother
relatives and kin
you want to know just where you're going
you got to know where you've been

tell me what gives one the right
to say their God is better than anybody else
don't we all have a right
to find God for our self

I am a God fearing man
I'm a God fearing man
I reach up for my God's hand
I'm a God fearing man

when I rise with the morning sun
I give thanks to my God
for the gift of another one

and when my day is over
and complete
I reach to my God
to put me back on my feet

I am a God fearing man
I'm a God fearing man
I reach up for my God's hand
I'm a God fearing man

You may write me down in history
With your bitter twisted lies
You may trod me down in the very dirt
And still like the 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
Pumpin' in my living room

So 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 shacks of history's shame
Up from a past rooted in pain
I'll rise
I'll rise
I'll rise

Now did you want to see me broken
Bowed head and lowered eyes
Shoulders fallen down like tear drops
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
Breakin up in my front yard

So 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 shacks of history's shame
Up from a past rooted in pain
I'll rise
I'll rise
I'll rise

So you may write me down in history
With your bitter twisted lies
You may trod me down in the very dirt
And still like the dust I'll rise

Does my happiness upset you
Why are you best with gloom
Cause I laugh like I've got a goldmine
Diggin' up in my living room

Now 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 shacks of history's shame
Up from a past rooted in pain
I'll rise
I'll rise
I'll rise