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".
Shameless
Ani DiFranco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I cannot explain this
And I really don't want to
Just call me shameless
I can't even slow this down
Let alone stop this
And I keep looking around
But I cannot top this
If I had any sense
I guess I'd fear this
I guess I'd keep it down
So no one would hear this
I guess I'd shut my mouth
And rethink a minute
But I can't shut it now
'Cause there's something in it
We're in a room without a door
And I am sure without a doubt
They're gonna want to know
How we got in here
And they're gonna want to know
How we plan to get out
We better have a good explanation
For all the fun we had
'Cause they are coming for us, baby
And they are going to be mad
Yeah, they're going to be mad at us
This is my skeleton
This is the skin it's in
That is according to light
And gravity
I'll take off my disguise
The mask you met me in
'Cause I got something for
For you to see
Just gimme your skeleton
Give me the skin it's in
Yeah, baby, this is you
According to me
And I never avert my eyes
I never compromise
So never never mind
The poetry
We're in a room without a door
And I am sure without a doubt
They're gonna want to know
How we got in here
And they're gonna want to know
How we plan to get out
We better have a good explanation
For all the fun we had
'Cause they are coming for us, baby
And they are going to be mad
Yeah, they're going to be mad at us
I gotta cover my butt 'cause I covet
Another man's wife
I gotta divide my emotions
Into wrong and right
Then I get to see how close I can get to it
Without giving in
Then I get to rub up against it
'Til I break the skin
Yeah, I get to rub up against it
'Til I break the skin
They're gonna be mad at us
They're gonna be mad at me and you
They're gonna be mad at us
And all the things
We want to do
They're gonna be mad at us
They're gonna be mad at me and you
They're gonna be mad at us
And all the things
We want to do
Just please don't name this
Please don't explain this
Just blame it all on me
Just say I was shameless
Say I couldn't slow it down
Let alone stop it
And say you just hung around
'Cause you couldn't top it
The lyrics of Ani DiFranco's song Shameless are about feeling unapologetically free and uninhibited, regardless of the potential consequences. She sings about not being able to explain or name the feeling she has, but acknowledges that it's something she doesn't want to resist or hide. There's a sense of danger and excitement to the situation she describes, like being stuck in a room without a clear escape plan, indulging in forbidden desires, and anticipating the inevitable judgment and backlash from others. Yet, instead of feeling afraid or guilty, Ani's character revels in the moment and challenges anyone who judges her. She speaks about taking off masks and disguises, being true to oneself, and not compromising for the sake of conformity. While she recognizes that her actions may upset others, she also implies that their disapproval won't stop her from being who she is and doing what she wants.
The song can be interpreted as a celebration of authenticity, pleasure, and liberation amidst societal norms and expectations. Ani seems to suggest that people should embrace their own skeletons and skins, rather than trying to conform to someone else's standards. The final lines of the song, where Ani urges her partner to blame it all on her and say she was shameless, can be seen as a way of protecting that freedom and refusing to be shamed into submission. Overall, Shameless is a powerful statement of individualism, self-determination, and enjoying life on one's own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
I cannot name this
I have an inexplicable feeling that cannot be put into words
I cannot explain this
I am unable to describe or make sense of this feeling
And I really don't want to
I have no desire to try and explain it
Just call me shameless
I am willing to take ownership of whatever actions arise from this feeling
I can't even slow this down
I have no control over this feeling or its consequences
Let alone stop this
I am powerless to put an end to this feeling
And I keep looking around
I am searching for a solution or a way out
But I cannot top this
I am unable to find a better outcome than the one caused by this feeling
If I had any sense
If I were rational or reasonable in my thinking
I guess I'd fear this
I would be scared of the consequences of this feeling
I guess I'd keep it down
I would suppress or hide this feeling
So no one would hear this
To avoid attention or judgement from others
I guess I'd shut my mouth
I would keep quiet about this feeling
And rethink a minute
I would reconsider my actions or thoughts
But I can't shut it now
I am not able to repress or ignore this feeling anymore
'Cause there's something in it
This feeling has a deeper meaning or purpose that I cannot ignore
We're in a room without a door
We are in a situation with limited options or escape routes
And I am sure without a doubt
I am certain that we are going to face consequences
They're gonna want to know
People will ask for an explanation
How we got in here
How we ended up in this situation
And they're gonna want to know
They will inquire about
How we plan to get out
What our strategy is for escaping the situation
We better have a good explanation
We need to come up with a convincing reason for our actions
For all the fun we had
The enjoyment and pleasure we experienced
'Cause they are coming for us, baby
We are going to face repercussions
And they are going to be mad
People will react with anger and disapproval
I gotta cover my butt 'cause I covet
I need to protect myself because I desire something that is not mine
Another man's wife
I am attracted to someone who is already in a committed relationship
I gotta divide my emotions
I must separate and categorize my feelings into right and wrong
Into wrong and right
I must differentiate between immoral and moral emotions
Then I get to see how close I can get to it
I want to explore my desire and temptation until the line is almost crossed
Without giving in
But I do not want to actually commit the immoral act
Then I get to rub up against it
I can satisfy my attraction symbolically
'Til I break the skin
Until the damage is done or consequences become inevitable
They're gonna be mad at me and you
We are both responsible for our actions and will face punishment together
And all the things we want to do
Our desires and actions will be the cause of disapproval and anger
Just please don't name this
I request that you do not label or define this feeling or situation
Please don't explain this
Please do not try to understand or analyze this feeling
Just blame it all on me
I am willing to take full responsibility for the situation
Just say I was shameless
Attribute the situation to my lack of morality
Say I couldn't slow it down
My actions and decisions could not be restrained
Let alone stop it
The inevitable consequences of my actions could not be prevented
And say you just hung around
You were merely a witness or bystander to the situation
'Cause you couldn't top it
Because you could not find a better outcome than the one caused by this feeling
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ANI DIFRANCO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@salenamarie507
The 90s had the most powerful and incredible female singers!!! #Ani #Alanis #poe💚💚💚💜💜💜💜🧡🧡🧡🧡
@buckemptier
Goddamn right, a lot of bad assed chick singers in the 1990s (to name a few) :
Linda Perry (4 Non Blondes, song writer of something like 30 or40 released singles for Agulera, Pink, and others) Anni Lennox (Eurythmics), Tori Amos, Bjork, Liz Phair, PJ Harvey, Lauren Hill, Erykah Baidu, Gwen Stephani , Fiona Apple, Sarah McLachlan, J-Lo, MJ Blige, Sherl Crow, Belly (Tanya Donnelley) The Breeders (Donnelly and Kim Deal), Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) Mazzy Star, L7, Babes in Toyland, Veruca Salt, Hole, Sinead O Connor, Portishead. I know there are many more that I'm missing..,
@satyrosphilbrucato9140
Thank you, Clear Channel (he said sarcastically) for making sure that all that amazing talent was hustled off US airwaves by 2000, replaced by the Spice Girls, Britney Spears, and Mickey Mouse Club pop singers in place of the loud-n-proud female voices that so rocked the passing decade. Assholes...
@demogorgon4244
tori amos > all.
@sapnupua5
such an iconic song
@buckemptier
I had forgotten how great this song is. I could never really rock it out at the time it came out, a guy in his early 20s can't really be an Ani Defranco fan without getting fucked with and/or presumed gay, least where I grew up, anyway. But I'm glad at 40 years old I don't have to worry about that kind of shit anymore and I can listen to what I want. Getting old isn't all bad, I guess.
@TheEnigmaticOpaque
Other than... ya know... the dying part.
@buckemptier
@@TheEnigmaticOpaque well, sure, there's actually plenty of bad things about getting old, dying isn't even neccessarily the worst part. I just meant that maybe it's not all bad, like maybe there are one or two good things , and really, there certainly are good things about it. You take the good but for the bad, because you really have no choice, and just try to focus on the good, like listening to Ani Defranco without getting fucked with.
@buckemptier
@Edita Ševčíková indeed. And if I knew what I know know I wouldn't have been concerned with that shit back then anyway
@txkittykat1486
@@TheEnigmaticOpaque you're either getting older or deader ;)