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