Songwriter: Nickolas Ashford Valerie Simpson
Producer: Nickolas Ashford Valerie Simpson
Roll down the gangway
So they'll see that it's me
I know they'll wonder about my recovery
Yes, I lost a love that promised happiness
What my heart wouldn't accept
Put me to the test
They keep a holding me down
But I rise
Yes it can be done
They keep a holding me down
But I rise
They can't make me run
Keep a holding me down
But I rise
Got my second wind
Keep a holding me down
But I rise
Tell 'em I'm back again
Just say
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
Tell 'em for me
I ain't been licked
Like outa nowhere my whole world fell apart
Till this day no one knows
What I felt in my heart
All those precious things
Inside me tried to still
Hands I thought would help
Pushed me over the hill
Keep a holding me down
But I rise
Yes, it can be done
Keep a holding me down
But I rise
They can't make me run
Keep a holding me down
But I rise
Got my second wind
Keep a holding me down
But I rise
Tell 'em I'm back again
Just say
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
Tell 'em for me
I ain't been licked
Keep a holding me down
But I rise
Just to start again
Rise
Show 'em that I can
Rise
Found a brand new dream
Rise
Just to prove one thing
Just say
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
Tell 'em for me
I ain't been licked
I want the world to see
I ain't been licked
Although my love is gone
I ain't been licked
Somehow I carry one
I ain't been licked
I'll find the strength somehow
I ain't been licked
I think I'm ready now
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
So they'll see that it's me
I know they'll wonder about my recovery
Yes, I lost a love that promised happiness
What my heart wouldn't accept
Put me to the test
They keep a holding me down
But I rise
Yes it can be done
They keep a holding me down
But I rise
They can't make me run
Keep a holding me down
But I rise
Got my second wind
Keep a holding me down
But I rise
Tell 'em I'm back again
Just say
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
Tell 'em for me
I ain't been licked
Like outa nowhere my whole world fell apart
Till this day no one knows
What I felt in my heart
All those precious things
Inside me tried to still
Hands I thought would help
Pushed me over the hill
Keep a holding me down
But I rise
Yes, it can be done
Keep a holding me down
But I rise
They can't make me run
Keep a holding me down
But I rise
Got my second wind
Keep a holding me down
But I rise
Tell 'em I'm back again
Just say
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
Tell 'em for me
I ain't been licked
Keep a holding me down
But I rise
Just to start again
Rise
Show 'em that I can
Rise
Found a brand new dream
Rise
Just to prove one thing
Just say
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
Tell 'em for me
I ain't been licked
I want the world to see
I ain't been licked
Although my love is gone
I ain't been licked
Somehow I carry one
I ain't been licked
I'll find the strength somehow
I ain't been licked
I think I'm ready now
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
more tracks from the album
Diana
- I’m Coming Out
- Upside Down (Unreleased Chic mix)
- I’m Coming Out (Unreleased Chic mix)
- I Ain’t Been Licked (12" mix)
- My Old Piano
- Give Up (Unreleased Chic mix)
- Have Fun (Again) (Unreleased Chic mix)
- What You Gave Me (12" mix)
- Now That You’re Gone
- Your Love Is So Good for Me (12" mix)
- Top of the World
- Lovin’, Livin’ & Givin’
- No One Gets the Prize (12-inch mix)
- You Were the One
- Sweet Summertime Livin’
- Love Hangover
- Fire Don’t Burn
- Have Fun (Again)
- Tenderness
- Friend to Friend
- Upside Down
- Friend to Friend (Unreleased Chic mix)
- Now That You’re Gone (Unreleased Chic mix)
- Give Up
- My Old Piano (Unreleased Chic mix)
- Tenderness (Unreleased Chic mix)
- We Can Never Light That Old Flame Again
From the album
- Diana (1980)
Diana Ross popular songs
- I’m Coming Out
- Upside Down
- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
- Ease on Down the Road #1
- It’s Your Move
- If We Hold On Together
- The Boss
- Missing You
- Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)
- When You Tell Me That You Love Me
- Chain Reaction
- He Lives in You
- Love Hangover
- Touch Me in the Morning
- Do You Know Where Youre Going To
- It’s My House
- I’m Still Waiting
- A Brand New Day
- Always and Forever
- If You’re Not Gonna Love Me Right (Crenshaw Records version)
- Once in the Morning
- That’s How You Start Over
- Love Me (Japanese quadraphonic edition)
- Ain’t Nothin’ But a Maybe