Shame On You
Indigo Girls Lyrics

My friends they wash the windows
My friends try to hide their flaws behind superficial actions

And they shine in the sun
They may seem bright and happy, but their actions are not always pure

They tell me, "Wake up early in the morning sometime See what a beautiful job we done"
They boast about their work to make themselves look good in front of others

I say, "Let's put on some tunes Sing along and Doolittle all day"
I prefer to distract myself from reality with music and fun

Go down to the riverside, take off our shoes And wash these sins away
Let's try to escape our problems and cleanse ourselves of our guilt

The river said "La la la" It said, "Shame on you"
Nature reminds us of our wrongdoing and calls us out on our shameful behavior

I go down to Chicano city park Because it makes me feel so fine
I go to places that make me feel good to avoid dealing with reality

But when the summer comes everything's in bloom And you wouldn't know it's there
During happy times, people fail to acknowledge the struggles of marginalized communities

And white folks like to pretend it's not But their music's in the air
White people benefit from the culture and music of marginalized communities, but choose to ignore their plight

You can hear them singing "La la la" They said, "Shame on you"
Marginalized communities call out oppressors on their shameful behavior

You can feel them dancing "La la la" They said, "Shame on you"
Despite their struggles, marginalized communities still celebrate and resist oppression

My friend Tanner she says, "You know Me and Jesus we're of the same heart The only thing that keeps us distant Is that I keep fuckin' up"
My friend believes in redemption, but recognizes her own flaws and mistakes

I said, "Come on down to Chicano city park And wash your blues away" The beautiful ladies walk right by You know I never know what to say
I try to distract my friend from her problems with superficial pleasures, but I struggle to understand and connect with others

And they'll be singing "Ooh la la la la la la la la, shame on you" And they'll be dancing Ooh la la la, they said, "Shame on you
Oppressed communities continue to resist and shame their oppressors

Let's go road block trippin' in the middle of the night Up in Gainesville town There'll be blue lights flashing down the long dirt road When they ask me to step out
Let's challenge authority and push boundaries, even if it means risking trouble

They say, "We be looking for illegal immigrants Can we check your car" I say, "You know it's funny I think we were on the same boat back in 1694"
I call out the hypocrisy of those in power who are descended from immigrants themselves, yet perpetuate the oppression of others

And I said "Ooh la la la la la la la la, shame on you" They'll be dancing La la la I said, "Shame on you"
I continue to resist and shame those who perpetuate oppression and injustice

I said "Ooh la la la la la la la la, shame on you Shame on you, la la La la la la shame on you"
The shame and guilt of those who perpetuate oppression is palpable and present everywhere

I'll be dancing (and they'll be singing) La la la I said, "Shame on you" Shame on you"
Despite the pain and suffering, there is still joy and resistance in oppressed communities