Coming Up
Ani DiFranco Lyrics

Our father who art in a penthouse
The wealthy and powerful people in charge of society

Sits in his 37th floor suite
The highest levels of power and wealth, far removed from most people

And swivels to gaze down
The powerful take pleasure in looking down on those beneath them

At the city he made me in
Society shapes and influences everyone in it, even those who criticize it

He allows me to stand and
Individual expression is only allowed if it doesn't threaten those in power

Solicit graffiti until
The only form of creative expression allowed is temporary and can easily be erased

He needs the land I stand on
Those in power can take away anything they want, including the physical space where one stands

I'm my darkened threshold
Anxiety and depression can make it hard to leave home and engage with the world

Am pawing through my pockets
Searching for any scrap of hope or inspiration, even in mundane things

The receipts, the bus schedules
Even in the most ordinary things, there are hints of meaning and history

The urgent napkin poems
Creativity and expression can come from unexpected places and moments

The matchbook phone numbers
Connections with other people can be fleeting and transitory

All of which laundering has rendered pulpy
The search for meaning can sometimes turn up nothing but mush

And strange, loose change and a key
Life can be mysterious and full of small details that don't add up

Ask me
Challenging others to question and engage with the world

Go ahead, ask me
Urging others not to be afraid to confront the harsh realities of life

If I care
Asking if it's worth it to keep caring and fighting for a better world

I got the answer here
The answer is within oneself if one is willing to look for it

I wrote it down somewhere
One may not always remember the answer but it's important to keep searching for it

I just gotta find it
The answer is always there, waiting to be discovered

Somebody and their spray paint got too close
Those in power sometimes see any form of dissent or rebellion as a threat

Somebody came on too heavy
Attempts to resist or fight back against the powerful can sometimes be seen as aggression

Now look at me made ugly
Those in power use their influence to discredit or demonize anyone who challenges them

By the drooling letters
Negative messages and propaganda can be insidious and hard to ignore

I was better off alone
Sometimes it's easier to give up and withdraw from the world than keep fighting

Ain't that the way it is
Life can be unjust and cruel, with no easy answers or solutions

They don't know the first thing
Those in power often don't truly understand or care about the people they rule over

But you don't know that, how they take that
Even small acts of resistance or defiance can be seen as threats to those in power

Until they take the first swing
Violence and aggression are often used against those who challenge the status quo

My fingers are red and swollen from the cold
Living in poverty and hardship takes a physical toll on the body

I'm getting bold in my old age
With age comes experience and a greater willingness to speak out and fight back

So go ahead, try the door
Challenging those in power to try and stop her from speaking up

It doesn't matter anymore
Once one has nothing left to lose, there's no reason to hold back

I know the weak hearted are strong willed
Those who have suffered the most are often the most resilient and determined

And we are being kept alive
Despite the hardships of life, there is still a glimmer of hope and determination to keep going

Until we're killed
Sometimes the struggle for justice and equality can come at a great cost, even one's life

He's up there
The powerful are always above, looking down on those below

The ice is clinking in his glass
The wealthy and powerful enjoy their luxury while ignoring the struggles of others

He sends me little pieces of paper
The powerful may throw crumbs to the needy, but it's never enough to make a real difference

I don't ask
The powerless often have to take what they can get and not question it

I just empty my pockets and wait
Hoping for a better tomorrow even if it seems unlikely

It's not fate
The course of one's life is shaped by human decisions and actions, not divine intervention

It's just circumstance
Luck and chance play a role in life, but so do human choices and social structures

I don't fool myself with romance
Reality can be harsh and unforgiving, so one must face it without illusions

I just live
Surviving and making the most of what one has, even in difficult circumstances

Phone number to phone number
Trying to connect with others even in a society where people are isolated and disconnected

Dusting them against my thighs
The details of everyday life can provide comfort and a sense of continuity

In the warmth of my pockets
Finding solace and protection from the world by keeping things close at hand

Which whisper history incessantly
The objects and people we encounter every day are full of stories and memories

Asking me
The world and its inhabitants are constantly challenging us to think and act in new ways

Where were you
Where have you been and what have you done to make a difference in the world?

I lower my eyes
Sometimes it's hard to face the harsh truths of the world

Wishing I could cry more
Feeling overwhelmed and powerless in the face of injustice and suffering

And care less,
Wishing one could detach from the world and not feel so deeply

Yes it's true,
Acknowledging the harsh realities of life

I was trying to love someone again
Hoping for a connection and some sense of meaning in life

I was caught caring
Realizing that caring about others can be painful and frustrating in an indifferent world

Bearing weight
The weight of the world and its problems can be crushing and demoralizing

But I love this city, this state
Despite its flaws and injustices, there is still something worth loving and fighting for in the world

This country is too large
The problems of the world are too big for any one person to solve alone

And whoever's in charge up there
Challenging those in power to take responsibility for the welfare of all people, not just themselves

Had better take the elevator down
Get out of their ivory tower and engage with the real world and its problems

And put more than change in our cup
Real and substantial action is needed to address the injustices and suffering of the world

Or else we
If change doesn't come, then there will be consequences

Are coming
The oppressed and marginalized will not stay silent, but will rise up and fight for their rights

Up
Challenging those in power and demanding a better world