Random Thinking

It’s Friday and time for a song of the week from my iPod. This is another of the groups that Beth put on my iPod.

Rise Against is a punk rock band from Chicago. The group was formed in 1999 and consists of Tim McIlrath (vocals, guitar), Joe Principe (bass guitar), Brandon Barnes (drums), and Zach Blair (guitar). Other than Barnes, all members of the group are vegan and practice straight edge (no drugs, alcohol, or tobacco). The members of the group are active supporters of PETA. In 2009, the band was voted Best Animal-Friendly Band by PETA. The group has been vocal about supporting left-wing causes and supported Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential election. A bulletin released by the group after Obama was sworn in said, “Few things are more exciting than watching Bush finally release America as his eight year hostage.”

The groups most recent albums have all gone gold with their last two going platinum in Canada. Their last album, Appeal to Reason reached #3 on Billboard’s US chart. The album The Sufferer & the Witness, released in 2006, was the group’s first album to crack the top of the Billboard charts, reaching #10. The first single from the album, “Ready To Fall” is about pollution and its effect on the environment, the benefits of veganism, and the cruelty animals suffer from the factory meat industry.

Ready To Fall
Hold on slow down
Again from the top now and tell me everything.
I know I’ve been gone for
What seems like forever
But I’m here now waiting
To convince you that I’m not
A ghost or a stranger
But closer than you think
She said just go on to what you
Pretend is your life but
Please don’t die on me

Wings won’t take me
Heights don’t phase me
So take a step
But don’t look down, take a step

Now I’m standing on a rooftop ready to fall (ready to fall)
I think I’m at the edge now but I could be wrong
I’m standing on a rooftop ready to fall

Perpetual motion the image wont focus
A blur is all that’s seen
But here in this moment like the eye of the storm
It all came clear to me
I found a shoulder to lean on
An infallible reason to live all by itself
I took one last look from the heights that I once loved
And then I ran like hell

Wings won’t take me
Heights don’t phase me
So take a step
But don’t look down take a step

Now I’m standing on a rooftop ready to fall (ready to fall)
I think I’m at the edge now but I could be wrong
I’m standing on a rooftop ready to fall

I count the times that I’ve been sorry (I know I know)
Now my compassion slowly drowns (I know I know)
If there’s a time these walls could guard you (I know I know)
Then let that time be right now

Now I’m standing on a rooftop
Now I’m standing on a rooftop ready to fall (ready to fall)
I’m standing on a rooftop ready to fall
I think I’m at the edge now but I could be wrong
I’m standing on a rooftop ready to fall
Now I’m standing on a rooftop (ready to fall)
Now I’m standing on a rooftop (ready to fall)
Now I’m standing on a rooftop (ready to fall)
Now I’m standing on a rooftop ready to fall

Click here to see the video.