Photo Credit: Ray Di Pietro

An all-star assemblage of artists has joined forces to support Gloria Johnson and her campaign for the U.S. Senate by teaming up at the famed Sound Emporium Studio in Nashville, Tenn. “Tennessee Rise,” from the Tennessee Freedom Singers, functions as a new soulful political anthem with a clear and concise message to citizens of the Southern state: Register, vote, rise. 

The new number serves as a telling expression infused with momentum for change, stemming from social justice and equality movements, a catalyst in Johnson’s bid for Senate. Born out of resistance, “Tennessee Rise” boosts the state’s need for change by catapulting Nashville’s finest to the forefront to promote the message.

The track takes inspiration from The Tennessee Three and the past year’s increase in activism. Tennessee Rise was ultimately foraged by Allison Russell and born out of her deep love for the state. In her fight for democracy, Russell tapped a talented lineup of artists to channel their need for change into a musical message supporting a political candidate who shared their views. 

The Tennessee Freedom Singers are Allison Russell, Brittany Howard, Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, Emmylou Harris, Brittney Spencer, Amanda Shires, Fancy Hagood and Devon Gilfillian. Notably, the studio recording extends to feature other artists, showing strength in numbers as the most significant catalyst for social advancement. 

Scroll down to watch the official video. View the complete list of artists who contributed to “Tennessee Rise,” and read the song lyrics below.

Studio contributors: Allison Russell, Amanda Shires, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard, Brittney Spencer, Brooke Eden, Denitia, Devon Gilfillian, Elizabeth Cook, Emmylou Harris, Erin Rae, Fancy Hagood, Jaimee Harris, Julie Williams, Kam Franklin, Katie Pruitt, Kyshona Armstrong, Langhorne Slim, Lilly Winwood, Lucie Silvas, Maren Morris, Mary Gauthier, Meghan Linsey, Meghan McCormick, Mya Byrne, MORGXN, Paul McDonald, Phillip-Michael Scales, Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth, Sara Van Buskirk, Shelly Colvin, Tre Burt and Wade Sapp.

Lyrics to “Tennessee Rise:”

Hello California Morning, Hello Mississippi Dawn.

Tennessee Rise, the sleep out of your eyes

You thought tomorrow’d never come

How you wanna ride this wave mmmmm

Depends what frequency you’re on

Go and make yourself known 

I got joy in my heart this morning 

I got trouble on my mind 

Yes my people know how to feel two ways

About something at the very same time

Yeah the joy’s for the new day coming

Yeah the trouble’s for that too

Cause we’ve come so far / sooo far

But there’s so much left to do.

Hello California Morning, Hello Mississippi Dawn.

Tennessee Rise, the sleep out of your eyes

You thought tomorrow’d never come

How you wanna ride this wave mmmmm

Depends what frequency you’re on

Go and make yourself known

Tomorrow knows their own

Oh the Freedom Riders calling

Told us all to carry on

To be the ones, to be the ones

We shall not be overcome

Oh that long long Arc of Justice

That long long Arc of Peace

We Trouble these waters to be released

Come together now Tennessee

Oh The Trail of Tears is still rolling

Ole Tennessee waltzing in blood

My daughter can’t sleep for the nightmares

Every night she’s gunned down at school

Everyday she sings her wild anthems

She beats her fears out on her drums

Now she’s a wolf cub yeah she’s Harriet Tubman

Can we be brave as our children?

Hello California Morning, Hello Mississippi Dawn. 

Tennessee rise, the sleep out of our eyes

You thought tomorrow’d never come

How you wanna ride this wave mmmmm

Depends what frequency you’re on

(Go and make yourself known

Tomorrow knows their own ) x 2