Songfacts®:

• Saliva frontman Bobby Amaru told Antiquiet the story behind this tune: "The song was something that came musically in the studio in Jacksonville Florida when we were recording some demos on a break from tour," he said. "I heard this riff in my head that seemed really cool so I grabbed the nearest guitar and started playing it. We wanted to keep the song very simple but heavy also."
• Amaru explained the song's meaning: "The concept lyrically just came to me pretty easy," he said. "The music had a powerful 'statement' type feel so lyrically I wanted to capture that. It's basically about someone struggling day to day through life challenges. Overcoming them and not looking back or regretting anything in this life cause tomorrow it could all be gone!"
• Bobby Amaru replaced Saliva's original lead singer Josey Scott in 2012 after Scott left on good terms to get away from the music business. The band has been active since 1996, so fitting in was no easy task. Saliva guitarist Wayne Swinny explained in our interview that musically, Amaru was bridging the old band with the new on this track, and that lyrically it deals with the band overcoming their struggles. "It can also apply to world events just as easily, or someone's personal struggles, as well," Swinny said. "It's basically about picking yourself up by your bootstraps and making things better. Making things right again. And it's kind of where we are right now and it's kind of anthemic as far as our goals and what we see for the future, too. We're really looking to rise up and stake our claim and take our place back in the midst of the rock world, and the world in general."
• The video was helmed by director Jon Vulpine, who has previously worked with Drowning Pool, Gemini Syndrome and Backstreet Boys. "The video for 'Rise Up' takes a different approach than we typically would have taken," stated Amaru. "Our director, Jon Vulpine, sent a few different concepts over and one of them was a Mad Max-type role and we all were hooked."
  
  "Basically, it's a revenge piece but based around a group of people who get attacked but get the last laugh when it's said and done," he added. "Along with the fire, blood and explosions, we had a lot of fun making the video."