Grand Canyon

Song Grand Canyon
Artist Ani DiFranco
Album Educated Guess

Lyrics

[00:00.41] I love my country
[00:03.10] By which I mean
[00:04.13] I am indebted joyfully
[00:05.66] To all the people throughout its history
[00:07.68] Who have fought the government to make right
[00:11.07] Where so many cunning sons and daughters
[00:13.65] Our foremothers and forefathers
[00:15.56] Came singing through slaughter
[00:17.56] Came through hell and high water
[00:19.06] So that we could stand here
[00:21.75] And behold breathlessly the sight
[00:24.05] How a raging river of tears
[00:26.03] Cut a grand canyon of light
[00:31.64] Yes, I've bin so many places
[00:33.78] Flown through vast empty spaces
[00:36.30] With stewardesses whose hands
[00:38.26] Look much older than their faces
[00:40.24] I've tossed so many napkins
[00:42.28] Into that big hole in the sky
[00:44.31] Bin at the bottom of the Atlantic
[00:45.69] Seething in a two-ply
[00:47.40] Looking up through all that water
[00:48.84] And the fishes swimming by
[00:50.57] And I don't always feel lucky
[00:53.49] But I'm smart enough to try
[00:56.05] Cuz humility has buoyancy
[00:58.32] And above us only sky
[01:00.60] So I lean in
[01:01.97] Breathe deeper that brutal burning smell
[01:04.58] That surrounds the smoldering wreckage
[01:07.02] That I've come to love so well
[01:09.95] Yes, color me stunned and dazzled
[01:12.02] By all the red white and blue flashing lights
[01:15.10] In the American intersection
[01:16.72] Where black crashed head on with white
[01:19.88] Comes a melody
[01:21.14] Comes a rhythm
[01:22.21] A particular resonance
[01:23.86] That is us and only us
[01:25.52] Comes a screaming ambulance
[01:27.07] A hand that you can trust
[01:28.40] Laid steady on your chest
[01:30.18] Working for the better good
[01:31.81] (Which is good at its best)
[01:33.69] And too, bearing witness
[01:35.90] Like a woman bears a child:
[01:37.56] With all her might
[01:39.53] Born of the greatest pain
[01:42.31] Into a grand canyon of light
[01:49.82] no song has gone unsung here
[01:52.95] And this joint is strung crazy tight
[01:56.04] And people bin raising up their voices
[01:58.17] Since it just ain't bin right
[02:00.08] With all the righteous rage
[02:01.97] And all the bitter spite
[02:03.41] That will accompany us out
[02:05.22] Of this long night
[02:06.18] That will grab us by the hand
[02:07.75] When we are ready to take flight
[02:09.57] Seatback and traytable
[02:10.82] In the upright and locked position
[02:12.50] Shocked to tears by each new vision
[02:15.22] Of all that my ancestors have done
[02:19.34] Like, say, the women who gave their lives
[02:22.53] So that I could have one
[02:27.22] People, we are standing at ground zero
[02:29.26] Of the feminist revolution
[02:32.51] Yeah, it was an inside job
[02:34.32] Stoic and sly
[02:35.97] One we're supposed to forget
[02:37.18] And downplay and deny
[02:38.64] But I think the time is nothing
[02:40.41] If not nigh
[02:41.36] To let the truth out
[02:43.09] Coolest f-word ever deserves a ****ing shout!
[02:46.59] I mean
[02:46.98] Why can't all decent men and women
[02:48.84] Call themselves feminists?
[02:52.76] Out of respect
[02:54.68] For those who fought for this
[02:57.12] I mean, look around
[03:00.26] We have this
[03:02.76] Yes
[03:03.77] I love my country
[03:05.39] By which I mean
[03:06.60] I am indebted joyfully
[03:08.40] To all the people throughout its history
[03:10.60] Who have fought the government to make right
[03:13.30] Where so many cunning sons and daughters
[03:15.83] Our foremothers and forefathers
[03:18.06] Came singing through slaughter
[03:20.12] Came through hell and high water
[03:21.55] So that we could stand here
[03:23.81] And behold breathlessly the sight
[03:26.22] How a raging river of tears
[03:28.65] Is cutting a grand canyon of light