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".
Fire Door
Ani DiFranco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
None of which were mine kissing
Tightened my belt around my hips
Where your hands were missing
And stepped out into the cold
Collar high under the slate gray sky
The air was smoking and the streets were dry
And I wasn't joking when I said good bye
And there were magazine quality men talking on the corner
French, no less much less of them then us
So why do I feel like something's been rearranged?
You know, taken out of context I must seem so strange
Killed a cockroach so big
It left a puddle of pus on the wall
You know when you and I are lying in bed
You don't seem so tall
And I'm singing now because my tear ducts are too tired
And my mind is disconnected but my heart is wired
And I make such a good statistic
Someone should study me now
Somebody's got to be interested in how I feel
Just 'cause I'm here
And I'm real
And oh, how I miss
Substituting the conclusion to confrontation with a kiss
And oh, how I miss
Walking up to the edge and jumping in
Like I could feel the future on your skin
I opened the fire door to four lips
None of which were mine kissing
I opened the fire door to four lips
None of which were mine
I opened the fire door
I opened the fire door
I opened the fire door
I opened the fire door
I opened the fire door
Oh, I opened the fire door
Oh, I opened the fire door
Ani DiFranco's song "Fire Door" is a reflection on missed connections and lost love. The singer opens a fire door to find four people, none of whom are their lover, kissing. They tighten their belt and step outside into the cold, gray world, where they encounter fashionable men speaking French. Despite the external distractions, the singer feels a sense of internal isolation, as if something has been rearranged within them. In the absence of their lover, the singer takes solace in killing a large cockroach and belting out a song. They long for the intimacy they once had but cannot find it in their current situation. Ultimately, the singer's heart remains "wired," and they hold out hope that someone will study their feelings and care about their real, human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I opened the fire door
I took a step to leave behind my past and venture out into the unknown.
To four lips
None of which were mine
Kissing
I witnessed people I know indulging in love and affection, but I was not a part of that intimate moment.
Tightened my belt around my hips
Where your hands were missing
I felt a sense of emptiness and yearning for you, but I adjusted myself to move on from your absence.
And stepped out into the cold
Collar high
Under the slate gray sky
The air was smoking and the streets were dry
I stepped out into the harsh reality of my life, where the environment matched my somber mood.
And I wasn't joking when I said
Good bye
I honestly meant it when I decided to leave behind the people and situations that no longer served me well.
There were magazine quality men talking on the corner
French, no less much less of them then us
I felt like an odd one out when I saw handsome French men conversing nearby, making me feel inadequate and out of place among them.
So why do I feel like something's been rearranged?
You know, taken out of context I must seem so strange
Even though nothing much has changed, I feel like things have been shifted, and if someone knew my inner thoughts, they would consider me peculiar.
Killed a cockroach so big
It left a puddle of pus on the wall
I dealt with a nasty situation that made me feel disgusted and repulsed, clearing and cleansing my surroundings.
When you and I are lying in bed
You don't seem so tall
When we are intimate and vulnerable with each other, your physical characteristics and assumed strength no longer matter.
I'm singing now because my tear ducts are too tired
And my mind is disconnected but my heart is wired
I use music and art as my outlet to express my emotions, as I feel overwhelmed and conflicted with my thoughts and feelings.
I make such a good statistic
Someone should study me now
Somebody's got to be interested in how I feel
Just 'cause I'm here
And I'm real
I am an ordinary person with my struggles and experiences, but I believe my story should be heard and acknowledged because it contributes to our collective knowledge and understanding of human emotions and behavior.
Oh, how I miss
Substituting the conclusion to confrontation with a kiss
And oh, how I miss
Walking up to the edge and jumping in
Like I could feel the future on your skin
I reminisce the times when I would avoid disagreements and arguments by replacing them with passionate intimacy, and the moments when I took a leap of faith in life and love, feeling the thrill and excitement of the unknown possibilities.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ANI DIFRANCO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ryanjones4150
I was watching Portlandia, the sketch where Eddie Vedder has an Ani DiFranco tatt on his arm, and I wasn't familiar with her, so I looked up her discography and Youtubed her first album. This is amazingly good. I love music and have a very diverse record collection and this is going into it. I have already shared it with an old friend. This is why I love Youtube, any music that I want to hear is available at the click of a button.
@leahaugustine4285
I love this song. Everything about her writing is everything I want to say sometimes but don't
@tenenieldjoandthenightsist5109
Ani Difranco is so amazing to see live. I saw her play this at the universal amp. In Los Angeles in the early 2000s. The place was packed and when she played this song it got so quiet you could hear a pin drop! I have had the biggest crush on her since I was in high school. She is gorgeous and so talented
@LeezPgh
One of my favorite songs ever
@madamshadow4153
I love her music so much She is the women I aim to be
@stillunspoken1343
thank you for upping this <3
@crashuhoh
why does it say only 7 views when I've listened to this like 12 times tonight? I don't understand
@Iggins420
@DarrensDealer"Some would say poetry"? I think anyone would say poetry :)
@kevinmester7986
Ola ! These falcons are following me around now... Oh and how ...
@kevinmester7986
Migwech Nibi ... Remember ?