2025 Competition Entry:

Rise Up (butterfly) by Jacqueline Rolston

Genre

Pop

Website

Co-writer(s)

no

Performer(s)

Jacqueline Rolston
Main vocals

Jacqueline Rolston
Luciana Santaguida
Backing vocals

Shaan Thiara
Production

Description

This is a song I wrote to highlight the issue of and celebrate survivors of human trafficking, particularly people of all ages who are survivors of sex trafficking. I was asked to write a song for a photography exhibition project dealing with this subject, in New York and this is what I wrote.

Bio

Lyrics

RISE UP

What makes this world go round
We need to ask ourselves
Please send your answers in right away
We can’t waste another day
Where did it come from
This dark desire
To leave so many in the mire
Our invisible sisters

It’s time the darkness turned to light
It’s time for the light to shine
Will you let yours shine
Be the first in line


(Chorus)

Rise Up
Inhale, Exhale
Rise Up Butterfly
Rise Up
Inhale, Exhale
To the skies little Butterfly


Living in silent bleakness
Who have no voice to say
Their faith and their dignity
Ripped and torn away
Will you turn a blind eye
Or listen to their cries
There’s no time left for questioning
Their lives can’t be denied

It’s time the darkness turned to light
It’s time for the light to shine
Will you let yours shine
Be the first in line


Chorus

Rise Up
Inhale, Exhale
Rise Up Butterfly
Rise Up
Inhale, Exhale
To the skies little butterfly


Not livin by limits
Not livin in fear
Can she break free from the binding chains
To live a brighter day
Take her away from the debt
She could never pay yet
Rewrite herstory
Help her see a better way today


Chorus

Rise Up
Inhale, Exhale
Rise Up Butterfly
Rise Up
Inhale, Exhale
To the skies little Butterfly

Rise Up
Inhale, Exhale
Rise Up Butterfly
Rise Up
Inhale, Exhale
To the skies little butterfly

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