Many fans of Bruce Springsteen will not be surprised that this series of writings on the intersection between Lent and the minstrel from Freehold Borough, N. J., should come to a conclusion with “The Rising” on Easter Sunday.
The song was released in 2002 and was written from the perspective of a firefighter in New York City on 9/11. Serving as the title track of Springsteen’s 12th studio album, “The Rising” was one of the first artistic responses to this tragedy. It was a song of reliance.
Come on up for the Rising
While the song would be powerful if only because of its context, “The Rising” has become a staple for the E Street Band. The lyrics are wide enough to support an understanding of resilience and hope that can be applied to many hardships.
In Jeffrey Symynkywicz’s, The Gospel According to Bruce Springsteen: Rock and Redemption from Asbury Park to Magic, he suggests the song is an Eastertide anthem of resurrection. He even calls for listeners to hear the song’s li, li, li’s as abbreviated Halleluiah’s rising to the heavens — an acclamation of hope. Lent is over and Easter is here.
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
I find the song gives hauntingly beautiful layer to the resurrection story. The song begins, “I can’t see nothing in front me.” We hear the voice of the Resurrected Christ from within the darkness of the tomb. He cannot feel anything “but the chains the bind” him — burial wrappings.
He sits alone in the darkness of the tomb. Does he remember growing up in Nazareth? Does he remember hanging from the cross? He sits and reflects on where he has been and where he is going. Springsteen’s lyrics raise the question as to how we understand the humanity of Christ in this very supra-human event.
Come on up for the Rising
With a Johannine flair, Springsteen brings up the meeting of Jesus and Mary “in the garden.” We see a “dream of life” realized. In the midst of sky of blackness, sorrow, love, tears, glory, sadness, mercy, fear, memory and shadow, there is a dream of life.
Regardless of the hardships that we face in this life, there is a dream — a hope — of life. Neither the darkness of 9/11 nor the darkness of the tomb can overcome that dream.
This is the Easter message. We once thought death had the final word, but no longer. Instead, there remains a dream of life — abundant life. Jesus came so that we may have this life, and that we may know that it cannot and will not be overcome by death. Life rises above death and cannot be dragged down.
Come on up for the Rising
Come on up lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the Rising
Come on up for the Rising tonight.