Survive

This song is a call to action, encouraging listeners to take control of their lives while acknowledging that life can be less than kind. All those challenges can make us stronger and build our character: "How we survive is what makes us who we are."

Rise Against was raised on punk rock and carried that torch when they formed in 1999. Their first two albums were on the Fat Wreck Chords label, where Rancid, Anti-Flag, and many other punk acts recorded at some point. They moved on to the major label Geffen Records in 2003, but kept the attitude. They felt that the listener should be engaged in the music and responsible for shaping their surroundings, which could mean advocating for a cause or working toward self-improvement. In "Survive," this is very clear. They want their fans to get fired up in the face of injustice or misfortune, not sink into despair.