Songfacts®:

• "Rise" is built on a sample from the Bob Dylan song "Knocking On Heaven's Door." It's one of the few times Dylan has authorized a sample.
• In the book 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, Gabrielle said: "'Rise' is very much a real song and people out there seem to relate to it. At the same time it's an optimistic song."
• The song boasts an interesting origin story. Gabrielle co-wrote it with Ferdy Unger-Hamilton, her longtime supporter, and Ollie Dagois. Inspired by Bob Dylan, Ferdy presented her with the musical foundation for "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." Unaware that the music would be sent to Dylan himself, Gabrielle wrote lyrics over the chords. To their surprise, Dylan gave his blessing for them to use the music!
  
  "I'm eternally grateful and proud that such a legend allowed us to use it because we didn't plagiarize it and I like to think we did him justice," Gabrielle gushed. "I didn't get any threatening letters from people saying, 'What have you done to Bob!'"
• A highly publicized incident sent Gabrielle's world into a tailspin, leading to a period of retreat, but the tenacious singer isn't one to stay down for the count. Her Rise album marked a grand re-entrance into the industry, and the title track is a powerful testament to her resilience.
  
  "The song's about hope and hanging in there through dire situations, sung by someone who lived to tell the tale," Gabrielle shared with The Guardian in 2024. "When I sing it now, it's almost like it isn't about me, because I can't believe I was where I was."
• Gabrielle told Dotmusic: "When they sent the demo to Bob Dylan I got a note back saying he liked it and I could use the sample. It was really wonderful. Bob also agreed to waive half of his royalty rate saying 50% was the music and 50% was the lyrics."
• Rise won the 2000 MOBO Award for Best Album.
• Adele's first public singing performance was in a school presentation where she sang this song.