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".
Tamburitza Lingua
Ani DiFranco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
in an old new york hotel
a stranger to a city
that she used to know so well
bathing in a bathroom
that is bathed in the first blue light
of the beginning of a century
at the end of an endless night
then she is wet behind the ears and wafting down the avenue
pre-rush hour
post-rain shower
stillness seeping upwards like steam
from another molten sewer
summer in new york
they've been spraying us with chemicals in our sleep
us / they
something about the mosquitoes having some kind of disease
them / me
CIA foul play
if you ask the guy selling hair dryers out of a gym bag
chemical warfare
"i'm telling you, lab rat to lab rat," he says, "that's where the truth
is at"
that's where the truth is at
that's where the truth is at
and everything seems to have gone terribly wrong that can
but one breath at a time is an acceptable plan
she tells herself
and the air is still there
and this morning it's even breathable
and for a second the relief is unbelievable
and she's a heavy sack of flour sifted
her burden lifted
she's full of clean wind for one lean moment
and then she's trapped again
reverted
caged and contorted
with no way to get free
and she's getting plenty of little kisses
but nobody's slippin' her the key
her whole life is a long list of what ifs
and she doesn't even know where to begin
and the pageantry of suffering therein
rivals television
tv is, after all, the modern day roman coliseum
human devastation as mass entertainment
and now millions sit jeering
collectively cheering
the bloodthirsty hierarchy of the patriarchal arrangement
she is hailing a cab
she is sailing down the avenue
she's 19 going on 30
or maybe she's really 30 now ...
it's hard to say
it's hard to keep up with time once it's on its way
and, you know, she never had much of a chance
born into a family built like an avalanche
and somewhere in the 80s between the oat bran and the ozone
she started to figure out things like why
one eye pointed upwards looking for the holes in the sky
one eye on the little flashing red light
a picasso face twisted and listing down the canvas
of the end of an endless night
10 9 8 seven six 5 4 three 2 one
and kerplooey
you're done.
you're done for.
you're done for good.
so tell me
did you?
did you do?
did you do all you could?
The song "Tamburitza Lingua" by Ani DiFranco is a reflection on the inner turmoil that a person goes through in a big city like New York. The lyrics portray a woman who feels out of place and disconnected from the city she once knew so well. She finds herself in a porcelain and lonely bathroom in an old hotel room, where she realizes that she is completely alone. The beginning of the twentieth century and the end of an endless night is a time when the woman is trying to reconcile with her feelings of detachment and isolation.
Throughout the song, references to the harmful effects of chemicals and pollution on the human body is mentioned repeatedly. The constant spraying of the chemicals, the mosquitoes having some kind of disease, and the CIA's use of chemical warfare, all of which point to a state of unrest and fear. The lyrics suggest that the woman is struggling with the weight of her burdens, but she's slowly coming to terms with the fact that the only way to make sense of it all is to take things one step at a time. The woman tells herself that one breath at a time is an acceptable plan, and for a moment, she breathes in relief, but then she's trapped again, feeling caged and contorted with no way to get free.
Overall, the song portrays the struggle of a woman who's trying to make sense of the confusing and challenging world around her. It's a powerful portrayal of the isolation and disconnection that can come from living in a big city like New York, and the struggle to find a sense of belonging and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
a cold and porcelain lonely
Feeling isolated and vulnerable in a sterile and impersonal environment
in an old new york hotel
Staying in a place with a lot of history and memories, but with a sense of detachment
a stranger to a city
Feeling unfamiliar and disoriented in a place that used to feel like home
that she used to know so well
Remembering a time when everything was familiar and predictable
bathing in a bathroom
Taking a moment of self-care amidst a chaotic environment
that is bathed in the first blue light
Experiencing the calm and quiet of the early morning, before the hustle and bustle of the day begins
of the beginning of a century
Reflecting on a period of significant change and transition
at the end of an endless night
Feeling exhausted and worn out after a long period of hardship and uncertainty
then she is wet behind the ears and wafting down the avenue
Exploring and experiencing the city with a sense of innocence and curiosity
pre-rush hour
Before the busy time of day, when things are calmer and more peaceful
post-rain shower
After the cleansing and refreshing experience of a rainstorm
stillness seeping upwards like steam
Experiencing a sense of calm and serenity that permeates throughout the city
from another molten sewer
Coming from a source that is normally associated with unpleasantness and ugliness
summer in new york
Experiencing the highs and lows of the city during the summer season
they've been spraying us with chemicals in our sleep
Feeling paranoid and suspicious of the government and their actions against the people
us / they
Feeling a sense of division and conflict between the people and those in power
something about the mosquitoes having some kind of disease
Being fed misinformation and lies from those in power
them / me
Feeling like a victim of the government's actions
CIA foul play
Believing that the CIA is responsible for the government's actions against the people
if you ask the guy selling hair dryers out of a gym bag
Turning to unconventional sources for information and insight
chemical warfare
Believing that the government is using chemical warfare against the people
"i'm telling you, lab rat to lab rat," he says, "that's where the truth is at"
Believing that only those who have experienced the government's actions first-hand can truly understand the situation
and everything seems to have gone terribly wrong that can
Feeling overwhelmed and helpless in the face of a seemingly insurmountable problem
but one breath at a time is an acceptable plan
Taking things one step at a time, and focusing on small victories and moments of relief
she tells herself
Using positive self-talk to cope with difficult situations
and the air is still there
Finding comfort in the fact that basic necessities like air are still available
and this morning it's even breathable
Feeling a sense of relief that the air quality has improved
and for a second the relief is unbelievable
Experiencing a rare moment of pure joy and relief
and she's a heavy sack of flour sifted
Feeling lighter and more free after experiencing a moment of relief
her burden lifted
Having some of the weight of her struggles lifted for a brief period of time
she's full of clean wind for one lean moment
Feeling a sense of purity and clarity in this moment of relief
and then she's trapped again
Having the weight of her struggles return after the moment of relief has passed
reverted
Returning to a previous state of hardship and struggle
caged and contorted
Feeling trapped and powerless in the face of her struggles
with no way to get free
Feeling like there is no escape from her problems
and she's getting plenty of little kisses
Receiving small moments of joy and tenderness amidst her struggles
but nobody's slippin' her the key
Feeling like there is no one who can truly help her escape her problems
her whole life is a long list of what ifs
Feeling haunted by the choices and possibilities that she did not pursue in her life
and she doesn't even know where to begin
Feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of possibilities and choices that she has
and the pageantry of suffering therein
Recognizing the performative and theatrical nature of suffering, and the way it is often fetishized and celebrated in society
rivals television
Suggesting that the spectacle of human suffering is just as entertaining and captivating as TV shows and movies
tv is, after all, the modern day roman coliseum
Comparing the way that people consume TV shows and movies to the way that ancient Romans watched gladiatorial contests
human devastation as mass entertainment
Describing the way that people enjoy watching human suffering and tragedy
and now millions sit jeering
Acknowledging the way that people enjoy watching human suffering, regardless of the consequences
collectively cheering
Feeling a sense of joy and excitement at the sight of human suffering
the bloodthirsty hierarchy of the patriarchal arrangement
Exploring the way that society is structured around violence and male dominance, and how this leads to the fetishization of human suffering
she is hailing a cab
Trying to go somewhere, but feeling a sense of powerlessness and uncertainty about where to go
she is sailing down the avenue
Moving through the city with a sense of momentum and purpose
she's 19 going on 30
Feeling like she is growing up and maturing quickly, but still unsure of who she really is
or maybe she's really 30 now ...
Feeling like time is passing by quickly, and being unsure of her own age
it's hard to say
Feeling unsure and uncertain about many things in life
it's hard to keep up with time once it's on its way
Feeling like time is moving too quickly, and that it is hard to keep pace with its changes and developments
and, you know, she never had much of a chance
Feeling like her life has been shaped by factors outside of her control, and that she has not had many opportunities to grow and develop
born into a family built like an avalanche
Coming from a family with a lot of internal conflicts and turmoil
and somewhere in the 80s between the oat bran and the ozone
Reflecting on a specific time and place in her life, and how it has shaped her experiences
she started to figure out things like why
Reflecting on her life and experiences, and trying to understand the factors that have shaped her
one eye pointed upwards looking for the holes in the sky
Searching for something beyond herself, and trying to find meaning and purpose in life
one eye on the little flashing red light
Feeling distracted and pulled in many different directions by the demands of daily life
a picasso face twisted and listing down the canvas
Feeling like her life is a chaotic and confusing work of art, full of twists and turns
of the end of an endless night
Feeling like her life is a long and harrowing journey, with no clear end in sight
10 9 8 seven six 5 4 three 2 one
Counting down to a moment of reckoning or transition
and kerplooey
Experiencing a sudden and dramatic change or event
you're done.
Feeling like something important or meaningful has come to an end
you're done for.
Feeling like something significant or meaningful has come to an end, and there is no way to go back
you're done for good.
Feeling like something important or meaningful has come to an end, and there is no possibility of resurrection or recovery
so tell me
Asking a question or seeking answers
did you?
Asking if someone has taken action or made progress on something
did you do?
Asking if someone has completed a task or achieved a goal
did you do all you could?
Asking if someone has given their best effort, and done everything possible to achieve their goals
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ANI DIFRANCO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind