You may hurt me
with your bitter, ugly tongue
You may despise me
Still I’ll rise.

Are you jealous of me?
Why do you dislike me?
‘Cause I express things
that you can’t say.

Do you want to see me shattered
into little broken pieces
Floating in space
with no return

You might poison me with words
You might break my heart
You might try to keep me down
But still, like the sun, I’ll rise.

Out from your judgment
I’ll rise
Out from your hateful words
I’ll rise

I am the sun
that you should expect to rise
My meaning is to survive
I’ll rise

I am the hope of tomorrow
I will rise.