Music has this weird, almost supernatural way of sticking to the ribs of our memories. You know how it is. You hear a certain chord progression or a specific line about hope, and suddenly you're transported back to a dusty church basement or a crowded arena in the late 70s. For a lot of folks, that specific emotional trigger is Rise Again with lyrics that feel more like a conversation than a performance. It’s not just a song. It is a cornerstone of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) history that somehow hasn't lost its punch, even in an era of high-production worship anthems and synth-heavy gospel.
Dallas Holm didn’t just write a hit; he captured a perspective. Most songs about the resurrection are written from the viewpoint of the believer looking up at the cross. Holm flipped the script. He wrote it from the perspective of Christ speaking directly to the listener. It’s intimate. It’s a bit startling if you really listen to it.
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The Story Behind the Rise Again With Lyrics
Holm was traveling with his band, Praise, back in 1977. They were the big names of the era, frequently touring with the likes of David Wilkerson. If you look at the landscape of Christian music back then, it was transitioning. It was moving away from traditional hymns and toward something more personal, more folk-driven, and honestly, more relatable.
The story goes that Holm wrote the song in about ten or fifteen minutes. That sounds like a cliché, right? Every songwriter claims their best work was a "download from heaven." But with Holm, you can almost believe it because the structure is so deceptively simple. He was sitting at a piano, and the lines just started flowing. "Go ahead and drive the nails in My hands." It’s a gut-punch of an opening.
When you look for Rise Again with lyrics today, you see them plastered all over YouTube lyric videos and church bulletins. But the power isn't in the complexity of the poetry. It’s in the raw, first-person narrative. It forces the singer to inhabit a space that feels both ancient and immediate.
Breaking Down the Narrative Impact
The song operates in three distinct movements. First, there’s the confrontation with the crucifixion. It doesn’t shy away from the violence, but it frames it as a choice. "I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again / My life is Mine to give for your sin."
Then, it shifts.
It moves toward the inevitability of the resurrection. The chorus is where the "Rise Again" hook settles in. It’s repetitive, but purposefully so. It mimics a heartbeat. Rise again. Rise again. It’s a promise. By the time you get to the third verse, the song has transitioned from the historical event to a future promise. It’s about the second coming. It’s about the finality of victory over death.
People often get the lyrics slightly wrong in the second verse, swapping "tomb" for "grave" or missing the subtle shift in the melody during the bridge. But the core remains. It’s a song about resilience that transcends the religious context for many. It’s a "phoenix from the ashes" story that resonates even if you aren't sitting in a pew on Sunday morning.
Why This Track Defined an Era of CCM
The late 70s were a wild time for spiritual music. You had the Jesus People movement winding down and the "CCM industry" just starting to find its legs. Dallas Holm and Praise won several Dove Awards for this track, including Song of the Year.
Why?
Because it bridged the gap. It was catchy enough for the radio but reverent enough for the traditionalists. It didn't have the psychedelic rock vibes of some Jesus music, nor the stuffiness of the old hymnals. It was just Dallas, his piano, and a message that felt like it was whispered in your ear.
If you search for Rise Again with lyrics now, you'll find covers by everyone from the Gaither Vocal Band to local church soloists. It has become a standard. In the world of musicology, becoming a "standard" is the ultimate goal. It means the song no longer belongs to the writer; it belongs to the culture.
Common Misconceptions About the Lyrics
A lot of people think the song is a hymn from the 1800s. Honestly, it sounds like it could be. The phrasing is timeless. But no, it’s a 1977 original.
Another thing folks miss is the "Go ahead" phrasing. Some critics at the time thought it was too bold—almost like Christ was taunting the executioners. But Holm has explained in various interviews that it was about the sovereignty of the moment. It wasn't a taunt; it was a submission to a larger plan.
- Key Lyric: "Go ahead and mock My name"
- The Context: Acknowledging the temporary nature of human scorn.
- The Payoff: The shift to "In just three days, I’m coming back again."
The rhythmic pacing of these lines is actually quite complex despite the simple melody. Holm uses a lot of rubato—speeding up and slowing down for emotional emphasis. When you're looking up the lyrics to sing this yourself, pay attention to the breath. If you rush the chorus, you lose the weight of the "rise."
Technical Brilliance in Simplicity
Let’s talk about the music for a second. It’s usually played in the key of C or D, which are the most "approachable" keys for piano players. This contributed to its viral nature before "viral" was a word. Anyone with a basic understanding of chords could lead their congregation in this song.
The melody stays within a relatively narrow range until the climax. This is a classic songwriting trick. You keep the listener in a comfortable zone, then you hit that high note on "Again" during the final chorus, and it feels like a breakthrough.
Why We Still Search for These Lyrics in 2026
We live in an era of disposable digital content. Songs come and go in a week. Yet, the search volume for Rise Again with lyrics remains remarkably stable.
I think it’s because the song deals with the only two things that never go out of style: suffering and hope. We all feel like we’re being "buried" by something at some point—debt, grief, a bad breakup, or just the general weight of the world. The idea that being buried is just a prerequisite for rising is a powerful psychological hook.
It’s also a favorite for funerals and Easter services. In those high-stakes emotional moments, people want words that are tested. They don't want the latest chart-topper; they want the "old reliable."
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Actionable Steps for Musicians and Fans
If you’re planning to perform this song or just want to appreciate it more, there are a few things you should do to get the most out of it.
First, listen to the original 1977 recording from the album Dallas Holm & Praise Live. There is an energy in the live performance—a certain crackle in Holm's voice—that the studio versions sometimes lack. You can hear the audience's reaction, which tells you everything you need to know about how this song landed when it was fresh.
Second, if you're a singer, focus on the "I." Since the song is written in the first person of Christ, it requires a different kind of vocal delivery. It’s not a "look at me" song. It’s a "listen to this message" song. Keep the vibrato in check. Let the words do the heavy lifting.
Third, look at the transition between the second and third verses. A lot of lyric sheets online cut the third verse short or combine it with the bridge. Make sure you have the full text if you're using it for a service. The third verse is crucial because it moves the timeline from the past (the cross) to the future (the return). Without it, the song is just a history lesson.
Practical Checklist for Using Rise Again:
- Check the Key: If you're a tenor, C is great. If you have a deeper voice, try G or A.
- Watch the Tempo: Don't let it become a dirge. It’s a victory song, not a funeral march.
- Internalize the Narrative: Read the lyrics as a poem first. See how the perspective shifts from the physical ("nails in My hands") to the spiritual ("I'll give you life").
The legacy of Dallas Holm isn't just in the awards or the records sold. It’s in the fact that forty-plus years later, someone is sitting at a computer, typing "rise again with lyrics" into a search bar because they need to hear a reminder that the story isn't over when the grave is closed.
Whether you’re a worship leader looking for a Sunday special or just someone who needs a bit of a lift, the song holds up. It’s sturdy. It’s honest. And frankly, in a world full of noise, that’s more than enough.
Go find a recording, grab a lyric sheet, and really sit with that final verse. Notice how it doesn't just promise a rise for the speaker, but implies a rise for the listener too. That’s the real secret of its longevity.
Next Steps for Deepening Your Appreciation:
- Compare Versions: Listen to the 1977 live version and then the 1988 orchestral remake to see how the song's "bigness" evolved over a decade.
- Sheet Music Search: If you play, look for the original piano arrangement. The specific way Holm plays those suspended chords is what gives the song its "floating" feeling.
- Contextual Reading: Read the Gospel of John, Chapter 20, alongside the lyrics. You'll see exactly where Holm pulled his imagery from, particularly the interaction with Mary at the tomb.