GO GO GO
Indigo Girls Lyrics


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Through the dustbowl, through the debt
Grandma was a suffragette
Blacklisted for her publication
Blacklisted for my generation

Go go go

Raise your hands
Raise your hands high
Don't take a seat, don't stand aside, this time
Don't assume anything

Just go go go

Feed the fire, fan the flame
I know you kids can stand the rain
I know the kids are still upsetters
'Cause rock is cool but the struggle is better

Go go go

Raise your hands
Raise your hands high
Don't take a seat, don't stand aside this time
Don't assume anything
I said this time
I don't assume anything
Just go

Did they tell you it was set in stone
That you'd end up alone
Use your years to psyche you out
You're too old to care, you're too young to count

Did they tell you, you would come undone
When you try to touch the sun
Undermine the underground
You're too old to care, you're too young to count
I said go go go

I said it's time
Don't assume anything
Just go go go!




Go go go!
Go go go!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Indigo Girls’ song “Go Go Go” encourages listeners to stand up and fight for what they believe in. The song references past generations, specifically the singer’s grandmother who was a suffragette and was blacklisted for her publication, and implies that the current generation can continue this fight for justice. The song advises to not take a back seat or assume anything, to feed the fire and fan the flame, and to not be afraid to go for it.


One of the most interesting elements of the song is the use of the phrase “Go go go” as a repeated refrain. It’s a simple phrase, yet it serves as a powerful call to action. The song also references the struggle between rock music and activism, suggesting that while rock is cool, the struggle for justice is even better.


Another interesting fact about the song is that it has become a feminist anthem, with many people connecting with the message of not waiting around for change but instead actively seeking it out. The song has also been used in various protests and rallies over the years, further cementing its status as a call to action.


The song was originally released in 1989 on the album “Indigo Girls,” which was the duo’s second studio album. The album received critical acclaim and helped to establish the band as one of the most prominent folk rock groups of the time. The duo of Emily Saliers and Amy Ray have been working together for over 30 years, releasing more than 15 albums and touring extensively.


In terms of the structure of the song, it features a largely acoustic arrangement with prominent guitar and vocal harmonies. The song starts out relatively slow and builds in intensity as it progresses, culminating in a powerful call to action in the final chorus. Overall, “Go Go Go” is a powerful song with a timeless message that continues to resonate with people to this day.


Chords (Capo 2):


Intro: Am G Am G Am G Am G
Verse: Am G Am G Dm Dm Dm Dm
Chorus: Am G Am G Dm Dm Dm Dm Am G Am G Am G Am G Am G


Line by Line Meaning

Through the dust bowl
In the midst of the Great Depression, a period of severe drought and dust storms, when many were struggling to make ends meet and keep themselves and their families fed and clothed


Through the debt
Despite being in debt, possibly due to loans taken out to survive hard times, and the financial pressures that come with that


Grandma was a suffragette
Her grandmother was an activist who fought for a woman's right to vote


Blacklisted for her publication
Grandma was blacklisted, which means banned, censored, or ostracized, for her work in publishing, likely because it contained controversial or subversive ideas


Blacklisted for my generation
The artist identifies with her grandmother's experience of being marginalized and silenced for her views because she too is part of a generation that is often dismissed or maligned for its beliefs and values


Go go go
A call to action, urging listeners to move forward in pursuit of their own goals and causes, even in the face of adversity, opposition, or uncertainty


Raise your hands
A gesture of unity, solidarity, and commitment to a shared purpose or vision


Raise your hands high
An intensification of the previous line, emphasizing the importance of collective action and visible participation


Don't take a seat
An admonition not to be complacent, apathetic, or passive, but to stay engaged, alert, and ready to react to changing circumstances


Don't stand aside
An exhortation not to remain neutral, indifferent, or uninvolved, but to take a stand and make a difference


This time
A recognition that previous efforts may have fallen short, but that this is an opportunity to try again and do better


Don't assume anything
A warning not to jump to conclusions, take things for granted, or underestimate challenges or opponents, but to be vigilant, analytical, and strategic


Feed the fire
A metaphorical reference to keeping the flame of passion, enthusiasm, and creativity alive, burning, and nourished


And fan the flame
A continuation of the previous metaphor, suggesting that one must also give it air, space, and oxygen to grow and spread


I know you kids can stand the rain
An expression of confidence and encouragement to the next generation, acknowledging their resilience, adaptability, and capacity to weather difficulties and setbacks


I know the kids are still upsetters
An affirmation of the energy, passion, and rebellious spirit of youth, which has historically challenged authority, inequality, and injustice


'cause rock is cool but the struggle is better
A recognition that the cultural and artistic expression of rock music is appealing and powerful, but that the political, social, and moral struggle for a better world is ultimately more meaningful and fulfilling


The truth is I was afraid
A personal confession that the singer herself had doubts, fears, and insecurities about joining a movement or standing up for her beliefs, but that she overcame them


I felt inferior
An admission of a lack of confidence, self-esteem, or sense of worth, possibly due to social conditioning, discrimination, or trauma


I felt I excelled in competing with others and I knew instantly that these people were not competing at all, that they were acting in a strange, powerful trance of movement together
A reflection on how the artist used to define herself and her success in relation to others, but that when she witnessed collective action and solidarity, she realized the limits of individualism and the potential of unity


And I was filled with longing to act with them and with the fear that I could not
An emotional response to the fear of failure, of not measuring up, of being rejected or ridiculed, but also to the desire to join a community, to belong, and to make a difference


Did they tell you it was set in stone
A rhetorical question that challenges the idea that fate, destiny, or tradition dictate one's life, decisions, and actions, rather than free will, agency, and imagination


That you'd end up alone
A reference to the fear of isolation, abandonment, or exclusion, but also to the idea that independence, solitude, and self-reliance can be liberating and empowering


Use your years to psyche you out
A critique of how ageism, age discrimination, and stereotypes can affect one's self-perception, self-esteem, and aspirations, rather than valuing one's experience, wisdom, and resilience


You're too old to care
An ironic commentary on how older people may be dismissed, ignored, or condescended to, simply because of their age, despite their capacity for empathy, compassion, and social responsibility


You're too young to count
An ironic commentary on how younger people may be dismissed, ignored, or condescended to, simply because of their age, despite their capacity for creativity, imagination, and innovation




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AMY ELIZABETH RAY, EMILY ANN SALIERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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