Prayer of the Refugee
Encyclopedia
"Prayer of the Refugee" is the second single from Rise Against
's album The Sufferer and The Witness, and was released worldwide in 2006. The song was originally titled "Diaspora", with advance copies of the album using that title instead of "Prayer of the Refugee".
The song is featured as a re-recorded bonus track in the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
. The song is also featured in Slednecks 9 DVD. It is used in "The Compound" segment of the movie.
The album version of the song is available as DLC for the Rock Band
series along with "Savior
" and "Re-Education (Through Labor)
".
and his son. The refugee talks about the good life he, and his people, once had, but no longer do. The chorus is the refugee calling out, saying not to help him, as carrying himself is all he has left. He says that all those who have tried to "help" in the past have merely let him down again.
The next verse is about how these refugees are quietly trying to change the world in the background, in subtle ways. In the final verse, he tells the son to step out and change the world for the better.
The song is against many practices used as a result of capitalism
in the United States. It depicts workers of all ages and nationalities creating or packaging items in foreign lands, then placing stickers that say "Made in USA" and/or American flag stickers.
, the video moves from scenes of the band playing and walking around in a warehouse to scenes of young children and foreign people making and packaging goods such as shoes, bananas, jeans, and remote controlled cars. It ends with scenes of the foreign people placing 'Made In USA
' and American flag labels on packaged boxes, and the band members toppling various shelves containing such goods, the broken and fallen goods spelling out "Fair trade
", and the video ending in an abrupt change to a black screen.
The video was shot in the "All-American Home Center" store in Downey, California
.
The video was also the last to feature Chris Chasse as the band's lead guitarist.
Swing Life Away
.
Rise Against
Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. The band currently consists of Tim McIlrath , Zach Blair , Joe Principe and Brandon Barnes .Rise Against spent its first five years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which it...
's album The Sufferer and The Witness, and was released worldwide in 2006. The song was originally titled "Diaspora", with advance copies of the album using that title instead of "Prayer of the Refugee".
The song is featured as a re-recorded bonus track in the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is a music video game, the third main installment in the Guitar Hero series, and the fourth title overall...
. The song is also featured in Slednecks 9 DVD. It is used in "The Compound" segment of the movie.
The album version of the song is available as DLC for the Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
series along with "Savior
Savior (Rise Against song)
"Savior" is the eleventh track from Rise Against's 2008 fifth studio album Appeal to Reason. It was released as the album's third single on June 3, 2009...
" and "Re-Education (Through Labor)
Re-Education (Through Labor)
"Re-Education " is the first single from Rise Against's fifth studio album, Appeal to Reason. The single was released digitally to digital stores and radio stations on August 25, 2008. A music video was released on the same day....
".
Song Meaning
The song begins with a conversation between a refugeeRefugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
and his son. The refugee talks about the good life he, and his people, once had, but no longer do. The chorus is the refugee calling out, saying not to help him, as carrying himself is all he has left. He says that all those who have tried to "help" in the past have merely let him down again.
The next verse is about how these refugees are quietly trying to change the world in the background, in subtle ways. In the final verse, he tells the son to step out and change the world for the better.
The song is against many practices used as a result of capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
in the United States. It depicts workers of all ages and nationalities creating or packaging items in foreign lands, then placing stickers that say "Made in USA" and/or American flag stickers.
Music video
Directed by Tony PetrossianTony Petrossian
Tony Petrossian is an acclaimed director of commercials and music videos. Today, he is best known for his work in television advertisements and music videos. He has directed spots for brands including McDonald's, Nike, Subway, Zoo York, Beeline, Sony Ericsson, the Environmental Defense Fund and...
, the video moves from scenes of the band playing and walking around in a warehouse to scenes of young children and foreign people making and packaging goods such as shoes, bananas, jeans, and remote controlled cars. It ends with scenes of the foreign people placing 'Made In USA
Made in USA
The Made in USA mark is a country of origin label indicating the product is "all or virtually all" made in the U.S. The label is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission .-Legal requirements:...
' and American flag labels on packaged boxes, and the band members toppling various shelves containing such goods, the broken and fallen goods spelling out "Fair trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
", and the video ending in an abrupt change to a black screen.
The video was shot in the "All-American Home Center" store in Downey, California
Downey, California
Downey is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city is best known as the birthplace of the Apollo space program, and is the city where folk singer Karen Carpenter lived and died...
.
The video was also the last to feature Chris Chasse as the band's lead guitarist.
Chart overview
The song reached number seven on the Billboard alternative rock chart. This is their first single to reach the top 10 on the chart, beating 2004's2004 in music
See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
Swing Life Away
Swing Life Away
"Swing Life Away" is a song by hardcore punk band Rise Against, from their 2004 album Siren Song of the Counter Culture. Originally written by Tim McIlrath and Neil Hennessy, the song is distinguished from the majority of Rise Against's catalog because it is performed and recorded acoustically...
.
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks | 7 |
| Canadian Hot 100 Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... |
21 |
Certification
| Country | Shipments | Certification Date | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 500,000+ | December 15, 2009 | Gold |
Personnel
- Tim McIlrathTim McIlrathTimothy "Tim" James McIlrath is an American punk rock musician. He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and co-founder for the American punk rock band Rise Against. McIlrath is known to support animal rights and actively promotes PETA with his band...
– lead vocals, rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
(guitar solo) - Joe PrincipeJoe PrincipeJoe Principe is the bass guitarist, backing vocalist and co-founder of the punk rock band Rise Against. He primarily uses Fender basses, Mesa amps and cabinets, and he uses pick-playing exclusively....
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Chris Chasse – lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocals - Brandon BarnesBrandon BarnesBrandon Barnes is an American musician and producer from Denver, Colorado. He is best known as the drummer for the punk rock band, Rise Against. Barnes is the only member of the band who is not straight edge.-Biography:...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion