Although much of DiFranco's material is autobiographical, it is often also strongly political. Many of her songs are concerned with contemporary social issues such as racism, sexism, sexual abuse, homophobia, reproductive rights, poverty, and war. DiFranco's guitar playing is often characterized by a signature staccato style, rapid finger picking and many alternate tunings. She delivers many of her lines in a speaking style notable for its rhythmic variation. Her lyrics, which often include alliteration, metaphor, word play and a more-or-less gentle irony, have also received praise for their sophistication. She has released 19 solo albums (not including collaborative albums or live albums), all of which were released on her own independent record label, Righteous Babe Records (which she formed in 1989 at the age of 19).
DiFranco has been a critical success for much of her career, though not a commercial one by major label standards, with a career album average of 72 on Metacritic. Living in Clip, DiFranco's 1998 double live album, is the only one to achieve gold record status to date. DiFranco has been praised by the Buffalo News as the "Buffalo's leading lady of rock music".
Both Hands
Ani DiFranco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I am listening to the low moan
Of the dial tone again
And I am getting
Nowhere with you
And I can't let it go
And I can't get through
On the first floor
She's listening through the air shaft
To see how long our swan song can last
And both hands
Now use both hands
Oh, no don't close your eyes
I am writing
Graffiti on your body
I am drawing the story of
How hard we tried
How hard we tried
And I am watching your chest rise and fall
Like the tides of my life
And the rest of it all
And your bones have been my bedframe
And your flesh has been my pillow
I have been waiting for sleep
To offer up the deed with both hands
Oh oh with both hands
In each other's shadows we grew less and less tall
And eventually our theories couldn't explain it all
And I'm recording our history now on the bedroom wall
And when we leave the landlord will come and paint over it all
And I am walking out in the rain
And I am listening to the low moan of the dial tone again
And I am getting nowhere with you
And I can't let it go
And I can't get through
And both hands
Please use both hands
Oh, no don't close your eyes
I am writing graffiti on your body I am drawing the story of
How hard we tried
Hard we tried
How hard we tried
Ani DiFranco's "Both Hands" is a hauntingly beautiful song that speaks to the conflicting emotions involved in a fading relationship. The song presents the singer walking in the rain, listening to the low hum of the dial-on while coming to terms with their inability to make things work with their companion. The lyrics are a vivid commentary on the often harsh realities of love and break-ups.
Throughout the song, the old woman listening through the air shaft is a lingering presence that serves as a reminder that their relationship has an expiration date. The singer can't let go of their partner, but they're not sure how to make things work anymore. The chorus, "Please use both hands, oh, no don't close your eyes" seems to suggest that the relationship wasn't a one-way street and that both parties contributed to its downfall.
Line by Line Meaning
I am walking out in the rain
I am leaving you in the midst of a difficult situation.
And I am listening to the low moan
Of the dial tone again
I keep calling you, but you're not answering the phone.
And I am getting
Nowhere with you
And I can't let it go
And I can't get through
We're not making any progress in our relationship and I'm finding it hard to move on.
And the old woman behind the pink curtains and the closed door
On the first floor
She's listening through the air shaft
To see how long our swan song can last
Even the nosy old lady next door is curious about our relationship.
And both hands
Now use both hands
Oh, no don't close your eyes
I am writing
Graffiti on your body
I am drawing the story of
How hard we tried
How hard we tried
I want you to pay attention to me and see how much effort I'm putting into our relationship.
And I am watching your chest rise and fall
Like the tides of my life
And the rest of it all
And your bones have been my bedframe
And your flesh has been my pillow
I have been waiting for sleep
To offer up the deed with both hands
Oh oh with both hands
I've been with you through thick and thin, and you've been my comfort and my support. I'm ready to fully commit to you.
In each other's shadows we grew less and less tall
And eventually our theories couldn't explain it all
And I'm recording our history now on the bedroom wall
And when we leave the landlord will come and paint over it all
We've grown apart and our explanations for our problems no longer make sense. I'm leaving a record of our relationship, but it will eventually be erased.
And both hands
Please use both hands
Oh, no don't close your eyes
I am writing graffiti on your body I am drawing the story of
How hard we tried
Hard we tried
How hard we tried
I'm pleading with you to pay attention and see how much we've both struggled in this relationship.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ANI DIFRANCO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lishstringer5116
I am walking out in the rain
And I am listening to the low moan
Of the dial tone again
And I am getting
Nowhere with you
And I can't let it go
And I can't get through
And the old woman behind the pink curtains and the closed door
On the first floor
She's listening through the air shaft
To see how long our swan song can last
And both hands
Now use both hands
Oh, no don't close your eyes
I am writing
Graffiti on your body
I am drawing the story of
How hard we tried
How hard we tried
And I am watching your chest rise and fall
Like the tides of my life
And the rest of it all
And your bones have been my bedframe
And your flesh has been my pillow
I have been waiting for sleep
To offer up the deed with both hands
Oh oh with both hands
In each other's shadows we grew less and less tall
And eventually our theories couldn't explain it all
And I'm recording our history now on the bedroom wall
And when we leave the landlord will come and paint over it all
And I am walking out in the rain
And I am listening to the low moan of the dial tone again
And I am getting nowhere with you
And I can't let it go
And I can't get through
And both hands
Please use both hands
Oh, no don't close your eyes
I am writing graffiti on your body I am drawing the story of
How hard we tried
Hard we tried
How hard we tried
@charlieammatuna3155
I think she's one of the most exquisite, talented, original and brilliant guitar player and songwriter of her generation. She's a rare pearl. It's incredible, to me, how she's able to compose meticulous and refined guitar harmonies while sticking them with articulate lyrics and meaningful words...she really is an artist. <3
@jahmariposa
+1
@jessicaklosek9849
I was visiting my sister across the country when i was 16.. LOTS of 1st that year! 1st time traveling outta New England 1st time on a plane.. BOTH those things being done ALONE was a 1st in it's OWN to celebrate!! Sister was working as a live in employee in a "battered women shelter" I had obvi heard of them but never got up close and personal like that! I learned SSOOOO MUCH!!!! Sister was and still is a big fan of Ani, and the 1st song she played that got my attention was "Untouchable Face" I thought I was SSOO DAMN COOL belting out the lyrics to that song! F you and your untouchable face and f you for existing in the 1st place! Lyrics like THAT at 16 years old.. Yeeaaa I was HOOKED! It wasn't until I got older that I felt the weight of her topics and the way she delivered them.. I'm now 40 YEARS OLD and I STILL love Ani just as much as I did almost 25 years ago! In fact MORE SO now. I've learned that she's pretty damn timeless! As the years go on and I gain new experiences, I hear those same songs I've known FOREVER now, in an entirely new way!
Rock on Ani we'll always love you!
P.s. Another amazing artist I discovered that year and still love in the same manner is Doria Roberts! Just a friendly suggestion for Ani fans!
@deveryshepardson3640
My friend turned me on to Ani with her first record and I was hooked. My friend passed away today and I came here to both cope and say thank you! Pretty raw at the moment but “this too shall pass.”
@aeconiglio
Sending you so much love
@deveryshepardson3640
@@aeconiglio thank you I do appreciate it. Not as raw at the moment and the music permeated the space between us
@aeconiglio
I just saw Ani the other night live for the first time and cried. She was integral to my coming out and being brave...
@deveryshepardson3640
I remember the absolute joy and emotions that flooded me each and every song. Truly inspirational and so glad that you found her voice and it gave you the courage to be who you are!
@petevaldezbc1
I dated a hippie girl back in the day and she introduced me to Ani. Later when I was dating a different girl she wouldn't accept me liking Ani (because she knew the ex who introduced me to her) and resented when I'd try to get her to listen to her. Years later, after we had broken up but remained friends, she told me she eventually gave in and listened openly to Ani. She thanked me. Word of mouth is so great
@bloodhound9638
i dated a girl who likes Ani, now with current girlfriends we pish ourselves laughing at how shite she is