The 5 Deepest Secrets Hidden In Rihanna's 'Lift Me Up' Lyrics: A Tribute That Rocked Hollywood

Rihanna’s monumental return to music with "Lift Me Up" remains one of the most significant moments in recent pop culture history, not just for the artist's six-year hiatus, but for the sheer emotional weight carried within its lyrics. As of December 12, 2025, the song continues to resonate as a powerful, universal anthem of grief, remembrance, and finding peace, cementing its legacy far beyond the *Black Panther: Wakanda Forever* soundtrack.

This isn't just a song; it's a profound eulogy set to music, co-written by a dream team including Nigerian sensation Tems, director Ryan Coogler, and composer Ludwig Göransson. The ballad's success, which earned Rihanna her first Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe nod, is a testament to the raw, healing power embedded in every verse.

The Creative Architects and Context: A Star-Studded Eulogy

The story behind "Lift Me Up" is as compelling as the song itself, tying together global music icons and Hollywood's elite to create a tribute to the late, beloved actor Chadwick Boseman, who portrayed King T'Challa/Black Panther.

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• Artist: Rihanna (Robyn Rihanna Fenty)
• Song: Lift Me Up
• Release Date: October 28, 2022
• Album/Context: *Black Panther: Wakanda Forever* Official Soundtrack
• Genre: R&B Ballad, Soul
• Co-Writers: Rihanna, Tems (Temilade Openiyi), Ryan Coogler, and Ludwig Göransson
• Producer: Ludwig Göransson
• Key Nominations: Best Original Song at the 95th Academy Awards and the 80th Golden Globe Awards.
• Cultural Significance: Rihanna's first solo music release since her 2016 album *Anti*.

The song was intentionally crafted to capture the feeling of letting go while simultaneously holding onto the warmth of a departed loved one. Director Ryan Coogler specifically sought an artist whose music could speak to the film’s themes of loss and succession, a role Rihanna embraced with profound sensitivity.

1. The Universal Cry for Support in the Chorus

The most immediate and powerful section of the song is its chorus. The simple, almost prayer-like repetition of key phrases taps into a primal human need for comfort during despair. This section is a masterclass in emotional economy, delivering maximum impact with minimal words.

The Core Lyrics:

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Lift me up
Hold me down
Keep me close
Safe and sound

The duality in the opening lines—"Lift me up / Hold me down"—is a deliberate poetic device. It speaks to the contradictory nature of grief: the need to be elevated out of sorrow ("Lift me up") while also being grounded and prevented from falling apart ("Hold me down").

The subsequent request, "Keep me close / Safe and sound," transforms the departed into a guardian angel, a spiritual presence that offers protection. This is a direct reference to the film's narrative, where the memory of T'Challa protects and guides the people of Wakanda. The emotional resonance of the chorus is what secured its Academy Award nomination, showcasing its ability to transcend the film's context and become a global anthem for loss.

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2. Tems’ African Soul and the ‘Hopeless Dream’ Verse

One of the true secrets to the song's unique sound and emotional depth lies in the contribution of Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems. Tems, known for her distinctive Afrobeat and soulful R&B style, was instrumental in crafting the melody and much of the lyrical framework.

The verse that encapsulates the struggle of moving forward after a loss is particularly poignant:

Burning in a hopeless dream
Hold me when you go to sleep
Keep me in the warmth of your love
When you depart, keep me safe

The phrase "Burning in a hopeless dream" perfectly captures the agony of grieving—the feeling of being trapped in a beautiful, yet impossible, memory. It’s a powerful LSI keyword for the song's deeper meaning. Tems' influence brought an organic, spiritual depth to the track, ensuring the tribute felt authentic and rooted in a shared, profound human experience rather than just a Hollywood production. Her involvement ensured the song had a global, timeless feel, echoing the universal nature of the Black Panther story.

3. The 'River' Imagery and Finding Peace

The song utilizes nature-based imagery, particularly the metaphor of a river, to symbolize the journey of life, death, and the flow of memory. This is a subtle nod to the spiritual elements often present in traditional African storytelling and the mystical aspects of Wakanda.

Tears don't dry, I'm on my own
But I'm not lonely, I have your love
The river runs, it runs to you
The river runs, it runs to me

The river running "to you" and "to me" is a beautiful, evocative representation of an unbreakable spiritual connection. It suggests that while the physical presence is gone, the love and memory are a perpetual, flowing force that links the living and the departed. This theme of enduring spiritual connection is what made the song such a cathartic release for fans grieving Chadwick Boseman.

4. Rihanna’s Emotional Comeback and Vocal Delivery

Rihanna’s decision to end her six-year musical hiatus for "Lift Me Up" was not taken lightly. Her return was less about a pop spectacle and more about a deeply personal, emotional performance. The song is an R&B ballad that showcases the maturity and control of her voice, a notable shift from the more aggressive, pop-driven tracks of her *Anti* era.

The simplicity of the arrangement, featuring Ludwig Göransson’s regal piano chords, forces the listener to focus entirely on Rihanna's vocal delivery and the lyrics. Her voice, often soaring and vulnerable, conveys the rawest form of grief and hope. The song’s success, and subsequent Super Bowl Halftime Show performance, highlighted that her "comeback" was rooted in meaningful, soul-stirring music, not just chart performance.

5. A Timeless Tribute: More Than Just a Movie Song

The final secret of "Lift Me Up" is its successful transformation from a film soundtrack single into a timeless, deeply personal tribute. While it was written specifically for the film as a eulogy for T'Challa/Chadwick Boseman, the lyrics are intentionally ambiguous enough to apply to any personal loss. This universality is the key to its lasting popularity and why it is still discussed and streamed in 2025.

The co-writers managed to weave the specific pain of the *Black Panther* cast and crew with a universal message of healing. It’s a poignant reminder that even in a "hopeless dream," the love of those we've lost continues to "lift us up" and keep us "safe and sound." The accolades, including the prestigious Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations, validate its place as one of the most significant and emotionally resonant film songs of the decade.