Help Is On The Way

Rise Against's song 'Help Is On The Way' is a poignant commentary on the failures of disaster response and the feeling of abandonment experienced by those affected. The lyrics draw heavily from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, two catastrophic events that left lasting scars on the American landscape and psyche. The opening lines, 'I have my mother's dreams / I have my father's eyes,' suggest a deep connection to heritage and identity, which are threatened by the unfolding disasters.

The imagery of 'The crescent city sleeps / While giants in the sky' evokes the eerie calm before the storm in New Orleans, known as the Crescent City, while 'giants in the sky' likely refer to the looming threat of hurricanes. The repeated refrain, 'Help is on the way,' is a bitter reminder of the empty promises made by authorities. The song's narrative shifts to the oil spill with 'Five thousand feet below / As black smoke engulfs the sky,' capturing the environmental and emotional devastation.

The chorus, 'One by land two by sea / Right there in front of me,' references the famous signal from Paul Revere's ride, symbolizing a call to action that never materializes. The haunting lines, 'We keep axes in the attics / To see cameras in the sky,' reflect the desperate measures people took to survive and the invasive media coverage that followed. The song ends on a note of disillusionment, 'But it never came / It never came,' underscoring the betrayal felt by those who were promised help but left to fend for themselves. Through powerful metaphors and vivid storytelling, Rise Against captures the anguish and resilience of communities in crisis.