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.
It Won
Indigo Girls Lyrics
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Some men would be kings
Some men would be owners of land
And other man-made things
False love as the eternal flame
Would move some to think in rings
And gold would be our power
And other foolish things
Must not yourselves be fooled
Before you get to plea for freedom
You've agreed to being ruled
If the body stays a shackle
Then the mind remains a chain
And that will link you to your destiny
Where by other souls are slain
It won't take long
It won't take too long at all
Three men in a desert wandering
One is knowing and two are scared
They say time is in the river
Oh but the river is not there
Dry in spirit
Dry in body
Two will lend themselves to death
And in grief one weeps into his hands
And drinks his bitter tears
'cause it don't take long
It don't take too long at all
No it don't take long
You may say
I don't know what you're talking about
And I say
You mean to tell me that's all
And I stand before you now
I am hopeful in my rage
You know love has finally called for me
I will not wilt upon its stage
But you know still smaller than my nightmare
Now do I print upon the page
And do we have to live inside its walls
To identify the cage
'cause it takes so long
Why does it take so long
And it takes so long
You may say
I don't really care what you're talking about
I'm gonna ask you
You trying to tell me you don't belong
I am my mother's daughter
But I have seen myself in you
It's this blessing that I follow now
And so I must speak true
I dreamed of thousands dying
It was you and you and you
And while the city sleeps so quietly
There is something we must do
And it won't' take long
It won't take too long at all
It won't take long
May say
I don't know if I want to know what you're getting at
It makes me want to say
So long
Grief shall come in measures
Only grief alone will know
And you'll see it on your family
And on your own face it will grow
Then they'll try to keep you hungry
And they'll tell you to eat snow
You know pride can be a moving thing
If we learn the strength of no
And it won't take long
It won't take too long at all
No it won't take long
You may say
I don't think this has anything to do with me
Did you ever think you could be wrong
At noon on one day coming
Human strength will fill the streets
Of every city on our planet
Hear the sound of angry feet
With business freezed up in the harbour
The kings will pull upon their hair
And the banks will shudder to a halt
And the artists will be there
'cause it won't take long
It won't take too long at all
No it won't take long
And you may say
I don't think I can be a part of that
And it makes me want to say
Don't you want to see yourself that strong
Division between the peoples
Will disappear that honoured day
And though oceans lie between us
Lifted candles light the way
Half will join their hands by moonlight
The rest under the rising sun
As underneath the sun and moon
A ritualed wailing has begun
And it won't take long
It won't take too long at all
And it won't take long
And you may say
I don't know how to be a part of what you're talking about
And it makes me want to say
Come on
Come on
Oh beware you sagging diplomats
For you will not hear one gun
And though our homes be torn and ransacked
We will not be undone
For as we let ourselves be bought
We're gonna let ourselves be free
And if you think we stand alone
Take a look around and you will see
We are children in the rafters
We are babies in the park
We are lovers at the movies
We are candles in the dark
We are changes in the weather
We are snowflakes in July
We are women grown together
We are men who easily cry
We are words no quickly spoken
We're the deeper side of try
We are dreamers in the making
We are not afraid of why
The Indigo Girls' "It Won't Take Long" is a politically charged song that speaks to the ideas of revolution and resistance in the face of oppression. The song is divided into several distinct sections, each of which contains a different message but with a core theme tied to fighting for freedom. The first section of the song suggests that there are those who have been born to be rulers and warriors while others are born to be oppressed. They argue that we must not be fooled by the idea of false love and material possessions that are used to control and manipulate us. The lyrics suggest that those who dream of liberty must be aware of the ways in which they are being ruled.
The second section of the song uses the metaphor of three men wandering through the desert. One is knowing, and two are scared. The lyrics suggest that even the strongest of us will eventually succumb to death if we do not take action to change our circumstances. The last section of the song speaks to the idea that there will be a day when people rise up against their oppressors. The lyrics suggest that human strength will fill the streets, and the people will take back their power. The final line of the song is, "We are not afraid of why," which suggests that the people will overcome all obstacles to achieve their freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
They said some men would be warriors
There is a societal expectation of what men should be
Some men would be kings
Leadership and power are associated with royalty
Some men would be owners of land
Ownership of land is a symbol of wealth and status
And other man-made things
Society values material possessions
False love as the eternal flame
Love that is not genuine is idealized and valued
Would move some to think in rings
People are influenced by societal constructs like marriage
And gold would be our power
Wealth is a source of power and influence
And other foolish things
People place value on things that are not meaningful or important
And you who dream of liberty
For those who desire freedom
Must not yourselves be fooled
They should avoid being misled or deceived
Before you get to plea for freedom
Before they can advocate for freedom
You've agreed to being ruled
They have already accepted being controlled by others
If the body stays a shackle
If physical limitations are imposed upon oneself
Then the mind remains a chain
It limits one's ability to think freely and independently
And that will link you to your destiny
It will determine one's future path
Where by other souls are slain
Their fate will be determined by others who may not have their best interests in mind
It won't take long
Change can happen quickly
It won't take too long at all
Positive transformation is achievable
Three men in a desert wandering
Metaphor for adversity and challenge
One is knowing and two are scared
One person has the answers while the others are uncertain
They say time is in the river
Time is fluid and moves constantly
Oh but the river is not there
Time cannot be contained or controlled
Dry in spirit
Emotional and spiritual emptiness
Dry in body
Physical dehydration due to lack of resources
Two will lend themselves to death
Two people will give up and die
And in grief one weeps into his hands
The remaining person mourns their loss
And drinks his bitter tears
They feel despair and sadness
'cause it don't take long
Suffering and loss can occur unexpectedly
No it don't take long
There is no guarantee for how long anything can last
You may say
Some people may express doubt or disbelief
I don't know what you're talking about
They do not understand the message being conveyed
And I say
The artist responds to the disbelief
You mean to tell me that's all
They question the significance or truthfulness of the message
And I stand before you now
The artist is present and engaged in conversation
I am hopeful in my rage
The singer feels passionate and optimistic
You know love has finally called for me
The artist has experienced a positive change or development
I will not wilt upon its stage
The singer will not falter or fail in their pursuits
But you know still smaller than my nightmare
There are still concerns or fears that the singer must face
Now do I print upon the page
The singer is expressing their thoughts and words in a tangible way
And do we have to live inside its walls
Must they conform to societal expectations and norms
To identify the cage
To recognize the limitations and constraints of their existence
'cause it takes so long
Change can be a slow and arduous process
Why does it take so long
The singer expresses frustration at the pace of progress
You trying to tell me you don't belong
The artist questions why someone would deny their own desires or rights
I am my mother's daughter
The artist's identity and lineage
But I have seen myself in you
They see similarities and commonalities despite differences
It's this blessing that I follow now
The singer values the connection they share
And so I must speak true
The artist must communicate honestly
I dreamed of thousands dying
The singer has disturbing visions or thoughts
It was you and you and you
Referring to individuals or groups responsible for death and destruction
And while the city sleeps so quietly
Despite the calm and quiet, there is an urgent need for change
There is something we must do
Action is necessary for progress
May say
Some people may express hesitation or doubt
I don't know if I want to know what you're getting at
They may not want to be associated with controversial or difficult topics
It makes me want to say
The singer has an emotional response to the conversation
So long
They may choose to disengage or walk away
Grief shall come in measures
Sadness and heartache will occur in varying degrees
Only grief alone will know
Grief is a personal experience
And you'll see it on your family
Grief can affect loved ones
And on your own face it will grow
The artist will feel the effects of grief
Then they'll try to keep you hungry
Those in power may try to control and subjugate others
And they'll tell you to eat snow
Implies cruelty and inhumane treatment
You know pride can be a moving thing
Pride can inspire people to take action and create change
If we learn the strength of no
The ability to say no and resist can be a powerful tool
I don't think this has anything to do with me
The artist may feel disconnected from the message
Did you ever think you could be wrong
The singer is challenging the other person's perspective
At noon on one day coming
A specific moment in time
Human strength will fill the streets
People will come together and show their power
Of every city on our planet
Every part of the world will be affected
Hear the sound of angry feet
Protests and demonstrations will be heard and seen
With business freezed up in the harbour
Economic systems will be disrupted
The kings will pull upon their hair
The powerful will feel the impact and chaos
And the banks will shudder to a halt
Financial institutions will be affected
And the artists will be there
Creative individuals will be involved in the movement for change
Division between the peoples
Separation and discord between different groups of people
Will disappear that honoured day
Unity and collaboration will be achieved
And though oceans lie between us
Despite distance and differences
Lifted candles light the way
Symbolizing hope and enlightenment
Half will join their hands by moonlight
Unity and collaboration will be achieved in different ways
The rest under the rising sun
Different groups of people may have different approaches
A ritualed wailing has begun
A traditional form of mourning or lamentation
Oh beware you sagging diplomats
A warning to those in positions of power
For you will not hear one gun
Violence will not be the solution
And though our homes be torn and ransacked
There may be chaos and disruption
We will not be undone
The people will persevere and overcome
For as we let ourselves be bought
When people allow themselves to be controlled or manipulated
We're gonna let ourselves be free
Freedom requires resisting oppression
And if you think we stand alone
The artist is affirming the collective power and strength of the people
Take a look around and you will see
Evidence of the widespread movement for change
We are children in the rafters
People from all walks of life are involved
We are babies in the park
Everyone has a role to play
We are lovers at the movies
A wide range of experiences and identities are represented
We are candles in the dark
Symbolizing hope and upliftment
We are changes in the weather
Change is constant and inevitable
We are snowflakes in July
Diversity and individuality are important
We are women grown together
Women are a powerful force for change
We are men who easily cry
Breaking down gender stereotypes and expectations
We are words no quickly spoken
The power of language to communicate and inspire change
We're the deeper side of try
Persistence and determination are crucial
We are dreamers in the making
Imagining a better future and taking action to achieve it
We are not afraid of why
Questioning and challenging the status quo is necessary for progress
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ferron Foisy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind