Released: May 29, 2007

Songwriter: R. Kelly

Producer: R. Kelly

[Intro]
"The victims are what mean the most to us and that we cared so much about...."
"I just really feel that we are going to be known as the school that overcame"

[Interlude: R. Kelly]
This goes out to all of those that were lost in Virginia
Parents, families, friends, we light a candle
And let you know Virginia will rise again

[Verse 1: R. Kelly]
I know you're feeling pain right now
And you don't wanna talk right now
I know you're going through something
And you don't wanna be bothered right now
Not gonna lie and say I understand
I just wanna be here for you if I can
To hold your hand and be by your side
And together we will get through these times

[Pre-Chorus: R. Kelly]
And we will cry together
And we'll fight this together
And we'll be strong together
Stand together, pray together

[Chorus: R. Kelly]
Rise up, when you feel you can't go on
Rise up, when all of your hope is gone
Rise up, when you're weak and you can't be strong
Rise, rise up
Rise up, and when the tears start to fall
Rise up, and you feel you've given it your all
Rise up, when your back is up against the wall
Rise, rise up

[Verse 2: R. Kelly]
Now I know the burdens that you bear
And you don't think nobody cares
A storm comes out of nowhere
And you're feeling like it just ain't fair
Not here to preach about the brighter side, no
'Cause I understand that now is not the time
See, I just wanna help you make it right
Walk with you, holding up candlelights

[Pre-Chorus: R. Kelly]
And we will cry together
And we'll fight this together (stand up and fight)
And we'll be strong together
Stand together, pray together

[Chorus: R. Kelly]
Rise up, when you feel you can't go on
Rise up, when all of your hope is gone
Rise up, when you're weak and you can't be strong
Rise, rise up
Rise up, and when the tears start to fall
Rise up, and you feel you've given it your all
Rise up, when your back is up against the wall
Rise, rise up

[Bridge: R. Kelly]
You see struggle has no color, no color
In the midst of Christ, you are my sister and I'm your brother
And side by side we'll face this thing
Standing tall, you and me

[Outro: R. Kelly]
Rise up, rise
Rise up, rise
Rise up, rise
(Hey we gon' rise, rise up to the sky)
Rise up, rise (when all hope is gone)
Rise up, rise (we'll stand tall)
Rise up, rise (and we gotta know tomorrow coming)
Rise up, rise (we will have a victory)
Rise up, rise (hey, rise up)
Rise up, rise (hey hey hey hey hey)
Rise up, rise (in the middle, in the middle of the storm)
Rise up, rise (when you think you cannot make it)
Rise up

[Outro: R. Kelly]
God bless you, Virginia
Our hearts go out to you and your families
Peace

R. Kelly

Robert Kelly is a Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer from the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, where he first started performing under the “L” subway tracks as a teenager. This led into his first album, Born Into the 90’s, being released in 1992 as a collaboration between R. Kelly and Public Announcement. R. Kelly wrote and produced the entire album, which contained the #1 R&B hits “Honey Love” and “Slow Dance,” along with the Top 10 R&B hits “She’s Got That Vibe” (#7) and “Dedicated” (#9). The following year, Kelly went on to become a solo act.

In 1993, he released his first solo album, 12 Play, featuring the hits “Bump N' Grind” and “Your Body’s Callin'.” He released a self-titled album in 1995 featuring the hits “Down Low (Nobody Has To Know)” and “You Remind Me of Something,” while his 1998 double album, R., featured a string of hits, including “I Am Your Angel” with Celine Dion, “When a Woman’s Fed Up,” and his Grammy Award-winning song “I Believe I Can Fly” from the Space Jam soundtrack.

The success of these albums led to him becoming an in-demand producer in the ‘90s, writing and producing #1 hits for Aaliyah (“Back & Forth”), Janet Jackson (“Any Time, Any Place (Remix)”), Changing Faces (“G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T”), Maxwell (“Fortunate”), and Michael Jackson (“You Are Not Alone”).