It Won't Take Long
Indigo Girls Lyrics

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