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    Pumping in my living room      So you may you shoot me with your words   You may cut me with your eyes   And I'll rise   I'll rise   I'll rise rise 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 rise 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'll 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 rise 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 rise 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 gold mine   Diggin' up 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 rise 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, yes I'll rise      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 rise 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 rise rise   I'm gonna rise   I'll rise   I'll rise rise rise   I'll rise   I'll rise   I'll rise rise rise