Released: May 23, 1979

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

Diana Ross

Diana Ross is an American singer, songwriter, actress and record producer.

She rose to fame as the lead singer of The Supremes, which, during the 1960s, became Motown’s most successful act and is to this day America’s most successful vocal group as well as one of the world’s best-selling girl groups of all time. Departing from the Supremes in 1970, Ross released her debut solo album, Diana Ross, which contained the hits “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” and the #1 hit “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”.

She released the album Touch Me in the Morning in 1973. Its title track reached #1, becoming her second solo hit.