every morning on the evening news   I hear the same ol' story someone singing the blues   disaster striking out and you're not ready   California quakes and the Midwest floods   see the hurricanes and the Malibu mud   ice and snow, you know it drives you crazy      I hear the prophet of the modern day   shouting out from the side of the stage      the kind is rising   will you be ready to stand up and fight      there's feeling all across the land   times are tough--getting way out of hand   crime is on the run and there's no safety   war in the streets, the economy   nothing stays the same and there's nothing for me   everybody's frantic for the sure thing      I see the prophet of the modern day   stepping out from society's cage      the king is rising   will you be ready to stand up and fight   the king is rising   will you be ready to lay down your life      I don't think he'll take any longer, no,   I don't think he'll take any more      (solo)      the king is rising   will you be ready to stand up and fight   the king is rising   will you be ready to lay down your life