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".
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Ani DiFranco Lyrics
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I won't let you make a tool of me, I will keep my mind and body free
Bye Bye minutiae
Of the day to day drama
I am expanding exponentially
I am consciousness without identity
I am many things made of everything
I won't idle in your drive thru, I won't watch your electric sideshow
I got way better places to to go
I will maintain the truth I knew naturally as a child
I won't forfeit my creativity to a world that's all laid our for me
I will look at everything and I will vow to bear in mind
That all of this was just someone's idea, it could just as well be mine
I won't rent you my time, I won't sell you my brain
I won't pray to a male god, cause you know, that would be insane
I can't support the troops, cause every last one of them is being duped
I will not rest a wink, until we women have regrouped
I am many things made of everything
but I will not be your bankroll
I won't go in your drive thru, I won't watch your electric sideshow
I got way better placed to go
In this song, Ani DiFranco is expressing her refusal to conform to societal norms and expectations. She is determined to maintain her independence and individuality, rejecting the idea of being controlled or manipulated by others. The opening lines make it clear that she is not willing to be subjected to any kind of manipulation, particularly by those who seek to exploit and use her for their own gain. She values her freedom, and will not allow anyone to make a "tool" of her.
As the song progresses, Ani takes aim at various societal institutions, including the "day to day drama" that often consumes people's lives, and the corporate world with its fast food drive-thrus and electric sideshows. She refuses to be a part of any of these systems, and instead embraces her own identity, consciously avoiding being influenced by external factors. She recognizes that everything is just someone's idea, and she is determined to chart her own course.
Ani also touches on feminist themes in the song, highlighting the need for women to come together and unite in order to achieve equality. She rejects the idea of blindly supporting the military, recognizing that those who serve are often being "duped" into believing in something that may not align with their values. Ultimately, Ani is a multifaceted individual, made up of many different ideas, beliefs, and experiences. But despite this complexity, she refuses to be anyone's "bankroll" or to compromise her values in order to fit in.
Line by Line Meaning
I will not stand immersed in this ultraviolet curse
I refuse to be trapped and overwhelmed by this harmful and negative energy surrounding me.
I won't let you make a tool of me, I will keep my mind and body free
I will not be manipulated or used by anyone, I will always maintain control of my thoughts and actions.
Bye Bye minutiae
Goodbye to the insignificant details and trivial matters that do not truly matter in the grand scheme of things.
Of the day to day drama
I am no longer interested in the mundane and petty conflicts that occur every day.
I am expanding exponentially
I am growing and evolving at an incredible rate, both intellectually and emotionally.
I am consciousness without identity
I am aware of my existence and surroundings, but I am not defined by my external factors or labels.
I am many things made of everything
I am diverse and multifaceted, consisting of various experiences and influences.
but I will not be your bankroll
I will not allow you to financially support me, as I value my independence and self-sufficiency.
I won't idle in your drive thru, I won't watch your electric sideshow
I refuse to partake in mindless activities and distractions that serve no purpose or benefit to my personal growth.
I got way better places to go
There are many more fulfilling and worthwhile endeavors and destinations for me to pursue.
I will maintain the truth I knew naturally as a child
I will always hold onto the innate knowledge and understanding I possessed as a child, before others influenced my beliefs.
I won't forfeit my creativity to a world that's all laid out for me
I will not allow society's expectations and norms to suppress my creativity and imagination.
I will look at everything and I will vow to bear in mind
I will observe and analyze everything with an open mind, and never forget that everything is subject to interpretation.
That all of this was just someone's idea, it could just as well be mine
Everything in this world was created by someone's perception and belief, and I have the power and potential to create my own ideas and realities.
I won't rent you my time, I won't sell you my brain
I will not sacrifice my valuable time or intellectual capacity for anyone else's benefit or agenda.
I won't pray to a male god, cause you know, that would be insane
I will not conform to traditional or sexist religious beliefs, as it goes against my personal values and beliefs.
I can't support the troops, cause every last one of them is being duped
I cannot support the military and war efforts, as the soldiers are being manipulated and deceived by the government and political agendas.
I will not rest a wink, until we women have regrouped
I will continue to fight for women's rights and equality, and will not stop until we have regained our power and autonomy.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ANI DIFRANCO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind