Lost Woman Song
Freedom Beyond Lines: An Anthem of Choices by Ani DiFranco
Lyrics
I opened a bank account when I was nine years old
I established a bank account at the age of nine.
I closed it when I was eighteen
I closed the bank account at the age of eighteen.
I gave them every penny that I'd saved and they gave my blood and my urine a number
I gave all my savings to the bank, and they assigned a number to my blood and urine for some medical procedure.
And now I'm sitting in this waiting room playing with the toys
Currently waiting in a room, playing with toys, likely at a medical facility.
And I am here to exercise my freedom of choice
Expressing the intention to exercise the right to make choices.
I passed their handheld signs
Successfully passed signs held by others.
I went through their picket lines
Passed through picket lines without being stopped.
They gathered when they saw me coming
People gathered and reacted negatively when I approached.
They shouted when they saw me cross
Received verbal criticism as I crossed their path.
I said, "why don't you go home?
Responding to the negative reactions, suggesting they should leave.
Just leave me alone
Requesting to be left alone, expressing a sense of being lost.
I'm just another woman lost
Acknowledging herself as just another woman feeling lost.
You are like fish in the water who don't know that they are wet
Metaphorically comparing people to fish unaware of their surroundings.
But as far as I can tell the world isn't perfect yet"
Recognizing the imperfections in the world.
And his bored eyes were obscene
Describing a man's gaze as inappropriate or offensive.
On his denim thighs a magazine
Detailing the man's focus on a magazine on his thighs.
I wish he'd never come here with me
Expressing regret about the man's presence.
In fact I wish he'd never come near me
Wishing the man had never approached.
I wish his shoulder wasn't touching mine
Discomfort with physical proximity to the man.
I am growing older waiting in this line
Feeling the passage of time while waiting.
But some of life's best lessons are learned at the worst times
Reflecting on the lessons learned during challenging times.
And under the fierce fluorescent she offered her hand for me to hold
Describing someone offering support and stability in a difficult situation.
She offered stability and calm and I was crushing her palm
Feeling pressure on the hand, possibly from the supportive person.
Through the pinch-pull wincing
Experiencing pain and discomfort, indicated by "pinch-pull wincing."
My smile unconvincing
Forced smile that doesn't appear genuine.
On that sterile battlefield that sees only casualties
Metaphorically describing a challenging and sterile environment with casualties.
Never heroes
Highlighting the lack of heroes in this difficult situation.
My heart hit absolute zero
Emotional numbness, hitting a point of extreme coldness.
And lucille, your voice still sounds in me
Reference to a person named Lucille, and the impact of their voice on the speaker.
Yeah mine was a relatively easy tragedy
Acknowledging a personal tragedy but considering it relatively easy.
The profile of our country looks a little less hard-nosed
Observing a change in the country's perspective or attitude.
But you know that picket line persisted and that clinic's since been closed
Despite challenges, acknowledging persistence and closure of a clinic.
They keep pounding their fists on reality hoping it will break
Describing ongoing efforts to confront reality, even if it's difficult.
But you know I don't think there's one of them that leads a life free of mistakes
Recognizing that everyone makes mistakes in life.
Yes I'm not going to sacrifice my freedom of choice
Asserting the importance of maintaining freedom of choice.
No you can't make me sacrifice my freedom of choice
Reiterating the refusal to sacrifice freedom of choice.
No you can't make us sacrifice our freedom of choice
Emphasizing the collective resistance to compromising freedom of choice.
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