Their first release in 1985 was a seven-inch single named "Crazy Game", with the B-side "Everybody's Waiting (for Someone to Come Home)". That same year, the Indigo Girls released a six-track Extended play album named "Indigo Girls", and in 1987 released their first full-length album, Strange Fire, recorded at John Keane Studio in Athens, Georgia, and including "Crazy Game". With this release, they secured the services of Russell Carter, who remains their manager to the present; they had first approached him when the EP album was released, but he told them their songs were "immature" and they were not likely to get a record deal.
They were signed to Epic Records in 1989 and won the Grammy for best contemporary folk album later that year (for their self titled release) Some of their hit songs include "Galileo," "Closer to Fine," and "Shame on You."
Aside from being musicians, Ray and Saliers are activists, constantly supporting causes like gun control, women's rights, Native American rights, environmental protection, the abolition of the death penalty, and as lesbians themselves, LGBT rights. They constantly devote their time and money to such causes, often playing benefit concerts.
Ray and Saliers both have side projects. Ray owns and founded Daemon Records, an independent label based in Decatur. She also has a career as a solo artist, and has released two albums thus far. Saliers is the part owner of Watershed, a restaurant and wine bar in Decatur.
Together, the Indigo Girls are constantly touring. Their new album, Poseidon and the Bitter Bug, was released March 24, 2009.
Become You
Indigo Girls Lyrics
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Sung it loud and all alone
We can't afford the things you save
We can't afford the warranty
Well I see you walking in the glare
Down the county road we share
Our southern blood my heresy
It took a, long time to
Become the thing, I am to you
And you won't, tear it apart
Without a fight, without a heart
I'm sorry for what you've learned
When you feel the tables turn
To run so hard in your race
Now you found who set the pace
The landed aristocracy
Exploiting all your enmity
All your daddies fought in vain
Leave you with the mark of Cain
It took a, long time to
Become the thing, I am to you
And you won't, tear it apart
Without a fight, without a heart
It took a, long time to
Become you, become you
The center holds so they say
(It never held too well for me)
It never held too well for me
(The center holds so they say)
I won't stop short for common ground
(That vilifies the trodden down)
That vilifies the trodden down
(I won't stop)
The center held the bonded slave
For the sake of industry
The center held the bloody hand
Of the executioner man
It took a, long time to
Become the thing, I am to you
And you won't, tear it apart
Without a fight, without a heart
It took a
Long time to
Become you
Become you
It took a
Long time to
Become you
Become you
The lyrics of "Become You" by Indigo Girls highlight the complexities of identity and a struggle for justice against oppression. The song begins with the singer observing someone singing a "rebel song," but notes that they "can't afford the things you save" and "the warranty." The song can be interpreted as a commentary on how people from the same area or community have different lived experiences and struggle with different forms of oppression. As the singer walks down the road they share, she acknowledges that her own identity is seen as heresy by others in the community because of their "southern blood," and denounces the confederacy as a source of oppression.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the struggle to become who one is and the importance of defending that identity from those who would tear it apart. The singer apologizes for what the listener has learned, suggesting that they have been taught to accept their own oppression or the oppression of others. They urge the listener to recognize the forces of oppression that have shaped their lives and seek justice for themselves and others. The lyrics also touch on the exploitative practices of the aristocracy, noting that "all your daddies fought in vain" and leaving the mark of Cain on their descendants.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard you sing a rebel song
I heard you sing a song of rebellion against the norms that put you down.
Sung it loud and all alone
You sang it with passion and conviction, despite the lack of support from those around you.
We can't afford the things you save
We can't afford the privileges you've gained through your battles, because we don't have the same resources and opportunities.
We can't afford the warranty
We can't afford the assurance that you have against oppression, because our existence is still seen as a threat.
Well I see you walking in the glare
I see you walking confidently in the face of scrutiny and hostility.
Down the county road we share
We may come from different backgrounds, but we share the same struggles and aspirations within this community.
Our southern blood my heresy
Our roots in this region are perceived as a deviance from the norm, despite it being an integral part of our identity.
Damn that ol' confederacy
The remnants of a racist past still haunts us and inhibits our progress as a society.
It took a, long time to
It took a lot of effort, struggle, and self-reflection to
Become the thing, I am to you
Become the person that you know me as now, with all the lessons I've learned and battles I've fought.
And you won't, tear it apart
And you won't undermine or invalidate everything I've accomplished.
Without a fight, without a heart
Without me standing up for my values and without you acknowledging the humanity in my perspective.
I'm sorry for what you've learned
I'm sorry that you were conditioned to think that my existence and fight for equality is a threat to your privilege.
When you feel the tables turn
When you start to experience the consequences of the imbalanced power dynamics in our society.
To run so hard in your race
To work so hard to maintain your dominance and protection of your interests within society.
Now you found who set the pace
Now you realize that the structure you've been upholding has been oppressing others and it's time to acknowledge the need for change.
The landed aristocracy
The wealthy and influential class that intentionally upholds a system of oppression and exploitation.
Exploiting all your enmity
Exploiting the resentment and fear of marginalized groups to maintain their own power and privilege.
All your daddies fought in vain
All the battles fought by your predecessors to uphold a flawed system were ultimately in vain, as progress towards equality is inevitable.
Leave you with the mark of Cain
Leaves you with the consequences of your own actions to maintain the imbalanced power dynamics within society.
The center holds so they say
The societal norm of maintaining the status quo is what's considered the foundation of stability in this society.
(It never held too well for me)
(But it never benefited or protected marginalized groups like myself very well, in fact it harmed us.)
I won't stop short for common ground
I won't settle for mere compromise or complacency just for the sake of unity, while systemic oppression still exists.
(That vilifies the trodden down)
(That dismisses the struggles and humanity of marginalized groups instead of acknowledging and addressing their experiences of oppression.)
The center held the bonded slave
The focus on maintaining the status quo allowed for the enslavement and exploitation of marginalized groups to continue for generations.
For the sake of industry
As a means of profit and economic gain for the reigning class.
The center held the bloody hand
The societal norm of maintaining the status quo allowed for the perpetuation of systemic violence and oppressive policies against marginalized groups.
Of the executioner man
Of those who carried out the harmful and oppressive policies of the majority in power.
It took a
It required a significant amount of effort, time, and perseverance to
Long time to
Overcome the deep-rooted societal oppression and prejudice, and to
Become you
Become the individual who stands up for their values and fights for the rights of all marginalized groups like yourself.
Become you
Develop your own identity and strength in the face of adversity, to become the person that you are now.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AMY ELIZABETH RAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind