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".
When I'm Gone
Ani DiFranco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I won't know the right from the wrong when I'm gone
And you won't find me singin' on this song when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here
And I won't feel the flowing of the time when I'm gone
All the pleasures of love will not be mine when I'm gone
My pen won't pour out a lyric line when I'm gone
And I won't breathe the bracing air when I'm gone
And I can't even worry 'bout my cares when I'm gone
Won't be asked to do my share when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here
And I won't be running from the rain when I'm gone
And I can't even suffer from the pain when I'm gone
Can't say who's to praise and who's to blame when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here
Won't see the golden of the sun when I'm gone
And the evenings and the mornings will be one when I'm gone
Can't be singing louder than the guns when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here
All my days won't be dances of delight when I'm gone
And the sands will be shifting from my sight when I'm gone
Can't add my name into the fight while I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here
And I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone
And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone
Can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here
The song "When I'm Gone" by Ani DiFranco deals with the idea of death and how life should be lived to the fullest before it is too late. As the title suggests, the song is written from the perspective of someone who is no longer living, and reflects on things that they will miss or no longer have access to. The opening lines, "There's no place in this world where I'll belong when I'm gone / And I won't know the right from the wrong when I'm gone," emphasize the fact that death is a complete separation from life, and that there is a sense of uncertainty about what comes next.
The lyrics go on to describe other things that the singer will miss when they are no longer alive, including the passing of time, the pleasures of love, and the ability to create music or art. This sense of loss is juxtaposed with a feeling of urgency to live life to the fullest while still able to do so. The repeated line, "So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here," emphasizes that there is no time to waste in pursuing what is important, and that every moment should be cherished.
Overall, the lyrics of "When I'm Gone" serve as a wake-up call to the listener to appreciate their life while they still have it, and to seize opportunities while they are available.
Line by Line Meaning
There's no place in this world where I'll belong when I'm gone
I don't feel like I belong anywhere in the world and that won't change even after I'm gone.
And I won't know the right from the wrong when I'm gone
When I'm gone, I won't have any sense of morality or ethics left with me.
And you won't find me singin' on this song when I'm gone
After I'm gone, I won't be able to contribute my voice or thoughts to anything anymore.
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here
Therefore, for these reasons, I must make the most of my time while I'm still here.
And I won't feel the flowing of the time when I'm gone
When I'm gone, I won't have the ability to experience the passage of time anymore.
All the pleasures of love will not be mine when I'm gone
When I'm gone, I won't have the opportunity to experience the joys of love anymore.
My pen won't pour out a lyric line when I'm gone
After I'm gone, I won't be able to express my thoughts or emotions through the art of writing anymore.
And I won't breathe the bracing air when I'm gone
When I'm gone, I won't be able to take in the refreshing and invigorating air around me anymore.
And I can't even worry 'bout my cares when I'm gone
Once I'm gone, I won't be able to bother about anything that once used to worry me.
Won't be asked to do my share when I'm gone
After I pass away, there won't be any responsibilities or work that I would be expected to complete anymore.
And I won't be running from the rain when I'm gone
After I'm gone, I won't be able to enjoy or even suffer from physical experiences such as running in the rain.
And I can't even suffer from the pain when I'm gone
When I'm gone, I won't be able to experience any forms of physical or emotional pain anymore.
Can't say who's to praise and who's to blame when I'm gone
Once I'm gone, I won't be able to express or determine who deserves praise and who deserves blame for certain events or actions.
Won't see the golden of the sun when I'm gone
After I'm gone, I won't be able to witness the beauty of the sun shining like gold in the sky anymore.
And the evenings and the mornings will be one when I'm gone
After I'm gone, the boundaries between evenings and mornings will become blurred as I won't be able to experience those times anymore.
Can't be singing louder than the guns when I'm gone
Once I'm gone, I won't be able to raise my voice against any form of oppression or violence in this world anymore.
All my days won't be dances of delight when I'm gone
When I'm gone, I won't be able to enjoy every day to the fullest anymore.
And the sands will be shifting from my sight when I'm gone
After I'm gone, I won't be able to witness or experience the ever-changing nature of the world around me anymore.
Can't add my name into the fight while I'm gone
Once I'm gone, I won't be able to contribute my name or actions to any ongoing battles or causes anymore.
And I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone
After I'm gone, I won't be able to call out or find humor in any falsehoods or deceitful acts anymore.
And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone
After I'm gone, I won't be able to question or seek answers to the mysteries of life anymore.
Can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone
When I'm gone, I won't have the opportunity to die with pride or honor anymore.
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here
Therefore, for these reasons, I must make the most of my time while I'm still here.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PHIL OCHS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind