and i guess that push has come to this
so i guess this must be shove
but before you throw those stones at me
tell me, what is your house made of?
and if you think you know
what i’m doing wrong
you’re going to have to get in line
yeah but for purposes of this song
let’s just say i’m doing fine
i guess i’m doing fine
((glass house))
I can hardly believe this artist hasn’t been touched upon yet.
Ani DiFranco is one of the most prolific musicians in our generation. Not only is she every independent musician’s hero, having started and run her own successful record label that has propelled her into fame without the help of any major companies, but she writes songs that many musicians only dream about.
so many sheep i quit counting
sleepless and embarrassed about the way that i feel
trying to make mole hills out of mountains
building base camp at the bottom of a really big deal
and did i tell you how i stopped eating?
when you stopped calling me
and i was cramped up shitting rivers for weeks
and pretending that i was finally free
and you can’t leave me here
now that you’re back
you’d better stay this time
cause you say the coast is clear
but you say that all the time
((independence day))
Her lyrics seem to find that secret page in your diary that exposes your every fragile fear, the emotions you’ve never been able to fully articulate until you hear them accompanied with her dancing acoustic. I think everyone that is a fan of Ani’s music has had a moment where you scream, “That’s me! How did she know what I’ve been feeling?” There’s almost an eerie sense of companionship you feel with Ani, like someone finally understands the inner workings of your soul.
i could make you happy, you know
if you weren’t already
i could do a lot of things
and i do
tell you the truth i prefer the worst of you
too bad you had to have a better half
she’s not really my type
but i think you two are forever
and i hate to say it but you’re perfect together
so fuck you
and your untouchable face
fuck you
for existing in the first place
and who am i
that i should be vying for your touch
who am i
bet you can’t even tell me that much
((untouchable face))
There’s only a few of her songs that I don’t cry along to, whether the tears are of sorrow, anger, or passion it hardly seems to matter. Something about the power behind Ani’s voice draws the poison out of your veins and you find yourself singing unabashedly at the top of your lungs, tears pouring down your face as you direct every bit of your emotion to the lover who did you wrong, the friend who neglected you, the stranger who pushed you on the street.
and before it gets so cold
that the rain turns to snow
there’s just a couple things
i’d like to know
like how could you do nothing
and say, i’m doing my best
how could you take almost everything
and then come back for the rest
how could you beg me to stay
reach out your hands and plead
and then pack up your eyes and run away
as soon as i agreed
((done wrong))
There’s so much emotion in her lyrics and her words that you can’t help but feel drained after listening to an album or two. You might be equally drained trying to keep up with her whirlwind record production- Ani has almost 20 albums, each one containing jewels of a unique color, all to be equally coveted.
i am not a pretty girl
that is not what i do
i ain’t no damsel in distress
and i don’t need to be rescued
so put me down punk
maybe you’d prefer a maiden fair
isn’t there a kitten stuck up a tree somewhere
i am not an angry girl
but it seems like i’ve got everyone fooled
every time i say something they find hard to hear
they chalk it up to my anger
and never to their own fear((not a pretty girl))
Ani is an artist that will permanently reside inside you, lyrics popping up at the most opportune moments in your life. You might forget about her albums for months, even years at a time, but somehow you always know that when you need her, there’s always one person that can relate to you, no matter what the situation.
except all the radios agree with all the tvs
and all the magazines agree with all the radios
and i keep hearing that same damn song everywhere i go
maybe i should put a bucket over my head
and a marshmallow in each ear
and stumble around for
another dumb-numb week
for another hum drum hit song to appear
people used to make records
as in a record of an event
the event of people playing music in a room
now everything is cross-marketing
its about sunglasses and shoes
or guns and drugs
you choose
((fuel))
