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".
Do Re Mi
Ani DiFranco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm leaving home everyday
Beating the hot old dusty way out
To the California Line
Across the desert sands they role
Trying to get out of that old dust hole
They think they're going to sugar bowl,
This is what they find
Your number fourteen thousand for today
And if you ain't the do re mi boy
If you ain't got the do re mi
You better go back to beautiful Texas,
Oklahoma, Kansas, Georgia, Tennessee
Maybe you want a house or a farm
Not do no body no harm
Just take your vacations by the mountains or the sea
Well don't sell that old cow for a car,
You might just want to stay right where you are
Take a little advice from me
Cuz I read the warnings everyday
And the headlines in the papers always say
If you ain't got the do re mi boy
If you ain't got the do re mi
You better go back to beautiful Texas, Oklahoma,
Kansas, Georgia, Tennessee
California is a garden of evil
A paradise to live in or to see
But believe or not, you won't find it so hot
If you aint got the do re mi
Ani DiFranco's "Do Re Mi" is a modernized version of Woody Guthrie's folk classic, which is a scathing critique of the hardships of the Dust Bowl, and how the American Dream has been disintegrated by the myth of California. The song's opening lines are particularly evocative: "Folks back east they say, I'm leaving home every day, beating the hot old dusty way out to the California line." This opening sets the tone for a musical commentary on the American Dream in a world that, even in prosperous times, often disenfranchises its citizens.
Those that follow their dreams to California are met with the harsh reality of police and port entries telling them that they are "number fourteen thousand for today." California is presented as the "garden of Eden," a land of opportunity, yet the truth of it is that if you "ain't got the do re mi," you are better off staying put. The song advocates for people to be content with what they have, and to not sell livestock or land for the hot promise of California.
This song speaks to the notion of how the American Dream has become a myth to many, and that the reality often does not match the promised prosperity. Ani DiFranco’s interpretation of the song is a testament to the timeless nature of Woody Guthrie’s lyrics, and how they continue to provoke thought and contemplation on the societal ills of our time.
Line by Line Meaning
Folks back east they say, I'm leaving home everyday
People from the eastern part of the United States believe that I am leaving my hometown every day.
Beating the hot old dusty way out, To the California Line
I am traveling on a difficult and dusty road to reach the California state border.
Across the desert sands they role, Trying to get out of that old dust hole, They think they're going to sugar bowl, This is what they find
Many people travel across the desert to escape a difficult living situation, hoping to find a better life in California. However, they eventually realize that California isn't any easier than where they came from.
Police at the port of entry say, Your number fourteen thousand for today, And if you ain't the do re mi boy
Upon arriving at the California border, the police inform me that I am one of many people who have come seeking a new life. However, if I do not have money (the 'do re mi'), I will not be allowed to enter the state.
If you ain't got the do re mi, You better go back to beautiful Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Georgia, Tennessee
If I do not have any money, I should return to my previous state of residence rather than attempting to start a new life in California.
Maybe you want a house or a farm, Not do no body no harm, Just take your vacations by the mountains or the sea
Perhaps I simply wish to own a home and live a peaceful life. I can still enjoy my free time by taking trips to the mountains or the ocean.
Well don't sell that old cow for a car, You might just want to stay right where you are, Take a little advice from me
It is unwise to sell one's belongings in pursuit of a new life without careful consideration of the consequences. It may be better to find contentment in one's current situation instead of seeking happiness elsewhere.
Cuz I read the warnings everyday, And the headlines in the papers always say, If you ain't got the do re mi boy
I am aware of the struggles that people face when trying to start a new life in California. The news often reports that without money, it is nearly impossible to succeed in the state.
California is a garden of evil, A paradise to live in or to see, But believe or not, you won't find it so hot, If you aint got the do re mi
California is both a beautiful and difficult place to live. Without money, it is impossible to truly enjoy the state's offerings.
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Aelia's Manga and Book Reviews
I love her great performance as always :)
Chris Mcinnis
Ani you saved my wife's life.... many years ago b4 I met her she was in a dark place and your music and voice brought her back into the light.... 14yrs later we keep trying to get to see you but it never works out closest we came was stan rogers festival..... but I just wanted to say thank you for all you do.
Edita Ševčíková
Great cover.