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".
Promised Land
Ani DiFranco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your shit is everywhere
Your breath is all up in my face
Your hands are swarming in the air
You're the first one out of the car and then
You're the loudest one in the bar
Tell me is there something wrong girlfriend?
What's with this new version of who you are?
She lifts her chin and squints at me
To assess what I think I know
She says my heart has some dangerous neighborhoods
So beware where you try to go
And they say that the truth will set you free
But then so will a lie
It depends if you're trying to get to the promised land
Or you're just trying to get by
What is a camera but a box of light?
What is a guitar but a box of sound?
You think I don't understand
But I think I might
What it is to harness the emptiness
And just ride it around
And maybe your chest is an empty shell
With ribs of spiraling coral
Where a perfect pearl of sadness resides
But if you ever need an ear
I could just come and press it there
And listen to the sound of the ocean inside
The song "Promised Land" by Ani DiFranco is a reflection on the complexity of human relationships, the facades that people sometimes put up, and the difficulties of navigating one's own emotions. The opening lines of the song describe someone who seems to be overwhelming, taking up too much space both physically and emotionally. The singer questions why this person is suddenly presenting a new version of themselves, and whether something is wrong. The response is guarded, with the woman saying that she has "dangerous neighborhoods" in her heart. She acknowledges the power of both truth and lies, and reflects on the idea of striving for something better versus just getting by.
The second half of the song is a reflection on the creativity and emotion that can be expressed through music and art. The singer questions why people try to limit their understanding of such things to definitions and categories, when in reality music is just "a box of sound." She suggests that she may understand more than people give her credit for, and imagines the empty space in someone's chest as a beautiful, intricate thing. She offers to be a listening ear for this person, to hear the sound of the ocean inside.
Overall, the song is a meditation on the complexities of human relationships and emotions, and the ways in which people present different versions of themselves to the world. It acknowledges the power of both honesty and deception, and suggests that sometimes the only way to navigate these complexities is to offer empathy and support to those around us.
Line by Line Meaning
You're taking up lots of space
You are imposing yourself and your belongings excessively.
Your shit is everywhere
Your stuff is scattered everywhere.
Your breath is all up in my face
You are breathing too closely to me.
Your hands are swarming in the air
You are moving your hands agitatedly in the air.
You're the first one out of the car and then
You are eagerly the first to leave the car.
You're the loudest one in the bar
You are excessively loud in the bar.
Tell me is there something wrong girlfriend?
Is there something bothering you, my friend?
What's with this new version of who you are?
What is the reason for the new version of your personality?
She lifts her chin and squints at me
She raises her chin and looks at me carefully.
To assess what I think I know
To understand my perspective.
She says my heart has some dangerous neighborhoods
She warns me about the complexity of her emotions.
So beware where you try to go
Be careful with her heart.
And they say that the truth will set you free
It's said that honesty can bring freedom.
But then so will a lie
But a lie can also be liberating.
It depends if you're trying to get to the promised land
It depends on your intentions.
Or you're just trying to get by
Whether you are unconcerned about the situation.
What is a camera but a box of light?
The camera is a tool to capture light.
What is a guitar but a box of sound?
A guitar is an instrument that produces sound.
You think I don't understand
She thinks that I don't comprehend something.
But I think I might
She thinks that she has the capacity to understand.
What it is to harness the emptiness
How to utilize a feeling of emptiness.
And just ride it around
By following that feeling wherever it takes you.
And maybe your chest is an empty shell
Perhaps your heart feels empty, despite your external stability.
With ribs of spiraling coral
Your chest is decorated with intricate patterns of rib.
Where a perfect pearl of sadness resides
Where a deep sense of sadness exists.
But if you ever need an ear
If you need someone to talk to.
I could just come and press it there
She's willing to listen to your sorrow.
And listen to the sound of the ocean inside
And hear the complex emotions that you contain inside.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ANI DIFRANCO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind