Lyrics

Rise Up! (On Her Shoulders / Ar A Guaillí / Air A Guailnean)
Jenny made her way
To St Giles for the mass at the break of day
But there she couldn't find any
Pious compromise

“The De’il he’ll bring you pain!
How dare you say those words in my name”
Geddies won’t abide
You won’t see her comply!

Toirmisgte bho’n réis
Thug thu buaireadh ‘son bhoireann
Èireannach
Thug dhuinn smaointich gum bhiodh
Sinn murrach airson rud sam bith!
A‘ Mhàiri còir,
Dìonadair an sluagh brùite,
Neach-lagha, ceann-suidhe, àrd-
choimiseanair

Rise Up!
(On her shoulders!)
It’s an invitation
Rise Up!
(Like they showed us!)
Women on a mission
Rise Up!
Find a way
To remember the names
Of all those who came before

Ins míle naoi gcéad a rugadh sí
Bessie Watson is ainm dí
Ag a naoi bhliain d’aois a píopa a sheinm
Ag marseálacha vótála na mban
‘S taobh amuigh príosún Calton
Chun spreagadh na mná istigh
“Bí láidir, fan liom”
‘S fós ag seinm ins a hochtó lae

On the move again
Cindy learns along the way
A mincéir in her blood
A proud traveller misjudged
So she researches and writes up papers
In caravans parked on holding acres
Standing up to fight
For all our human rights

Éirigh Suas!
(Ar a guaillí!)
Is cuireadh é chun
Éirigh Suas!
(Mar a léirigh siad [duinn!])
Mná ar mhisean
Eirigh Suas
Faigh bealach
Chun cuimhneamh ar na hainmneacha
go léir a tháinig
Roimh

Brave way lighters
Freedom fighters
Serving their time in HERstory
Wisdom keepers
Silent teachers
Locked into time in HERstory

Lastóirí bealach cróga
Trodaithe saoirse
A scéal in am seirbheáilte
Coimeádaithe heagna
Múinteoirí ciúine
A scéal taifeadta go deo

A fight for hope and joy in a powerful woman
A bright light deployed in other powerful humans
In a war minus bullets it just adds to the stress
When you’re born with a hunger yet you’re told to have less
In a world, where everything seems to have a price
But it doesn’t see the value in human life
Mould is rife, cold is night, she’s spent in her home just wishing
Talking to God ‘cos he’s the only one who’ll listen
Declared war on class, sums amassed in poverty
Dared to take paths, where others didnae bother tae
It took guts, but internationally Cathy swung her sword
Slashing injustice told the cause of the war
The fight was international
Her life so fantastical
From Easterhouse to Capetown her plight was no fanatical
She’s a light in the dark
The flame from a spark
Her fight is an art
Her name is on my heart

One book at a time
Sapna chooses the titles that fight
And don’t perpetuate
This white supremacist state
Decolonise and educate
Colour the pages
Show them your faces
The shelves are stocked and waiting
Are you assimilating?

Èirich suas!
(Air a ghuailnean!)
‘S e cuireadh a th’ann
Èirich suas!
(Mar a rinn iad!)
Boireannaich coileireach
Èirich suas!
Is lorg doigh
Dhut fheinn
Na seann ainmean
A’ glèidh
Gu do
Chridhe

Rise Up!
(On her shoulders!)
It’s an invitation
Rise Up!
(Like they showed us!)
Women on a mission
Rise Up!
Find a way
To remember the names
Of all those who came before

Rise Up!
Lastóirí bealach cróga
Trodaithe saoirse
Rise Up!
A scéal in am seirbheáilte
Coimeádaithe heagna
Rise Up!
Múinteoirí ciúine
A scéal taifeadta go deo
Locked into time in HERstory!