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.
Shame on You
Indigo Girls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And they shine in the sun
They tell me, "Wake up early in the morning sometime
See what a beautiful job we done"
I say, "Let's put on some tunes
Sing along and Doolittle all day"
Go down to the riverside, take off our shoes
And wash these sins away
The river said
"La la la"
It said, "Shame on you"
The river said
"La la la"
It said, "Shame on you"
I go down to Chicano city park
Because it makes me feel so fine
And when the weeds go down you can see up close
In the dead of the winter time
But when the summer comes everything's in bloom
And you wouldn't know it's there
And white folks like to pretend it's not
But their music's in the air
You can hear them singing
"La la la"
They said, "Shame on you"
You can feel them dancing
"La la la"
They said, "Shame on you"
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"
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
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
Shame on you"
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
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"
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 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"
I said
I said
"La la la shame on you"
I'll be dancing (and they'll be singing)
La la la I said, "Shame on you
Shame on you"
(Road block trippin' in the middle of the night)
(Gainesville town
(Blue lights flashing down the long dirt road)
The song Shame On You by Indigo Girls is a powerful statement against cultural appropriation, racism, and inequality. The song starts with the singer's friends cleaning the windows and telling her to wake up early in the morning to see their beautiful job. However, the singer has a different plan. She suggests putting on some tunes and going down to the riverside to wash their sins away. The river symbolizes a higher power that has the power to wash away the sin of cultural appropriation.
The river says "Shame on you" in response to the cultural appropriation done by white folks. The singer then goes down to Chicano city park, a park full of culture and life that white folks like to pretend is not there. The singer's friend, Tanner, confesses that she and Jesus are of the same heart, but the only thing that keeps them distant is that she keeps messing up. The singer suggests going to Chicano city park to wash her blues away. The ladies walk right by, but the singer is at a loss for words.
The song concludes with the singer going on a road trip with friends, being stopped by police who are searching for illegal immigrants. The singer reminds them that they were on the same boat back in 1694, calling out the hypocrisy of white Americans who claim to have claimed America first while disrespecting the culture and lives of those who inhabited it long before them.
Line by Line Meaning
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
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Amy Elizabeth Ray, Emily Ann Saliers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ladyfly9
My friends they wash the windows and they shine in the sun
They tell me wake up early in the morning sometime
See what a beautiful job we done
I say let's put on some tunes sing along do little all day
Go sown to the riverside take off our shoes wash these sins away
The river said la la la
Shame on you
I go down to Chicano city park because it makes me feel so fine
When the weeds go down you can see up close in the dead of the winter time
But when the summer comes everything's in bloom and you wouldn't know it's there
The white folks like to pretend it's not but their music's in the air
You can hear them singing la la la
Shame on you
You can feel them dancing la la la
Shame on you
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
I said come on down to Chicano city park wash your blues away
The beautiful ladies walk on by
You know I never know what to say
They'll be singing ooh la la
Shame on you
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
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 said ooh la la
Shame on you
Emma Falter
"The beautiful ladies walk right by and I never know what to say"
Most of their songs don't specifically mention girls (as love interests and stuff) but I love how this one does because for some reason it makes me feel so accepted.
Roxy77777777
Emma,
Dont wait for acceptance. Live as if you always have it. Assume the best. The universe will conspire to make it happen for you.
truemeliorist
You're definitely right - I think the whole song is about the beauty of diversity, I think that's what makes it so beautiful and fit so well. It's an ode to our melting pot, and it just adds one more dimension.
hozjo
Just crazy that this song came out in 1997 and is even more relevant today.
ME Pat
And in 2022
Alex Weber
Particularly today. Effing Mitch McConnel, shame on you
Rebecca
โWeโve been looking for illegal immigrants, can we check your car?โ
โYou know itโs funny, I think we were on the same boat back in 1694.โ
mizzbellatrixx
I will never understand why these women aren't more famous.
Laura Meryl Herring
the times. the stupid f-king times.
Laura Meryl Herring
1997 "Boathouse", which isn't there anymore in Norfolk, Virginia, had my first kiss.. ๐น