Laramie
Amy Ray Lyrics


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We hit snow on the road to Laramie
We all heard about that mess,
But that town ain't nothing different
Than the rest

Poor man do the bidding for the rich man
Those rednecks are just doing
What the classy fuckers' thinking
And tolerance it ain't acceptance;
I know you wanted it to be,
When you're out in Laramie

Hey all you jokers hunting seasons over
Hey coalition lay down your mission

What we need is a little addition,
An ounce of prevention,
And the weight of the law
'Cause without something you could put your finger on,
Somewhere somebody's gonna call,
Call out Laramie





Hey all you jokers hunting seasons over
Hey coalition lay down your mission

Overall Meaning

The song Laramie by Amy Ray is a commentary on the events surrounding the murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man who was beaten and left for dead on a fence in Laramie, Wyoming in 1998. She opens with the line "We hit snow on the road to Laramie, We all heard about that mess," referring to the aftermath of the brutal murder which gained national attention. Ray argues that Laramie is not an exception, but rather a representation of broader social issues that exist throughout the country; "That town ain't nothing different than the rest." She highlights the ways in which society continues to marginalize and ostracize the LGBTQ+ community, particularly in conservative rural areas.


Ray also comments on the class struggle embedded in America's politics, "Poor man do the bidding for the rich man, those rednecks are just doing what the classy fuckers' thinking." The exploitation of working-class people by wealthy, conservative politicians is ubiquitous, and Ray suggests that the hatred and bigotry that fueled Shepard's murder are a product of these ideologies. She asserts that tolerance does not equate to acceptance "And tolerance it ain't acceptance; I know you wanted it to be, when you're out in Laramie," highlighting the ongoing struggle for genuine acceptance and basic human rights for the LGBTQ+ populations.


In the chorus, Ray addresses those who seek justice for Shepard's murder, asking them to lay down their mission as the hunting season is over. She calls for prevention, justice, and accountability for hate crimes, "What we need is a little addition, An ounce of prevention, And the weight of the law." The song concludes with a repetition of the chorus, urging the coalition for justice to continue until the underlying prejudices that led to Shepard's murder are addressed and eliminated.


Line by Line Meaning

We hit snow on the road to Laramie
While making our way to Laramie, we encountered snow on the road.


We all heard about that mess
We had knowledge of the situation in Laramie beforehand.


But that town ain't nothing different than the rest
Laramie is not unique compared to other towns.


Poor man do the bidding for the rich man
The financially disadvantaged do what the wealthy tell them to do.


Those rednecks are just doing
Uneducated, working-class people are simply completing tasks.


What the classy fuckers' thinking
The sophisticated individuals are the ones making the decisions.


And tolerance it ain't acceptance;
Merely tolerating a person or idea is different than accepting it.


I know you wanted it to be,
It's possible that someone had hoped tolerance would equal acceptance, but it doesn't.


When you're out in Laramie
This is a common experience in Laramie.


Hey all you jokers hunting seasons over
The time for hunting is finished.


Hey coalition lay down your mission
Groups should pause their current objectives.


What we need is a little addition,
We require a new element in the situation.


An ounce of prevention,
Preventative measures are ideal.


And the weight of the law
Legal consequences carry significant weight.


'Cause without something you could put your finger on,
If there is no concrete reasoning or identifying issue,


Somewhere somebody's gonna call,
A problematic situation will emerge, and someone will demand action.


Call out Laramie
Laramie may become the area of interest that needs attention.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AMY ELIZABETH RAY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@TimTheHermit

Such a beautiful song, by an oft under-rated living legend, Amy Ray. Peace, love, and empathy!

@KeithHampton1977

her best solo song, ever.

@lanatuck4585

Wow! To those there and i never knew she wrote that song! R.I.P Matthew Shepard

@slovesk766

im not usually into this type of music but this is such a beautiful song. it always makes me sad though, knowing what its about.

@weirdowaldo

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this song!

@bisyy

wow... can't wait for the DVD to come out!!

@bituminous

Amazing!!

@alanreeff

RIP Matthew Shepard

@ulysees1117

Just fantastic!

@BPF57

Yes I agree, I like Pennies on the Track, Driver Education,and Covered for You too.

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