Am 
You may write me down in history 

          Dm 
With your bitter twisted lies 

        Dm 
You may trod me down in the very dirt 

          Dm       C         Am 
And still like the dust I'll rise 


        Am 
Does my happiness upset you 

    Dm 
Why are you best with gloom 

        Dm 
Cause I laugh like I've got an oil well 

       Dm    C     Am 
Pumpin' in my living room 


           Am 
So you may shoot me with your words 

        Dm 
You may cut me with your eyes 

         Dm 
And I'll rise 

     F 
I'll rise 

     Am 
I'll rise 


           Am 
Out of the shacks of history's shame 

          Dm 
Up from a past rooted in pain 

     Dm 
I'll rise 

     F 
I'll rise 

     Am 
I'll rise 

(Am Dm Dm Dm C Am) 
Now did you want to see me broken 
Bowed head and lowered eyes 
Shoulders fallen down like tear drops 
Weakened by my soulful cries 


(Am Dm Dm Dm C Am) 
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 

(Am Am Dm Dm F Am) 
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 

(Am Am Dm Dm F Am) 
Out of the shacks of history's shame 
Up from a past rooted in pain 
I'll rise 
I'll rise 
I'll rise 

(Am Dm Dm Dm C Am) 
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 

(Am Dm Dm Dm C Am) 
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 

(Am Am Dm Dm F Am) 
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 

(Am Am Dm Dm F Am) 
Out of the shacks of history's shame 
Up from a past rooted in pain 
I'll rise 
I'll rise 
I'll rise