Ani Difranco Grand Canyon Lyrics

Grand Canyon Lyrics

I love my country

By which I mean, I am indebted joyfully

To all the people throughout its history

Who have fought the government to make right



Where so many cunning sons and daughters

Our foremothers and forefathers

Came singing through slaughter

Came through hell and high water



So that we could stand here

And behold breathlessly the sight

How a raging river of tears

Cut a grand canyon of light



Yes, I've been so many places

Flown through vast empty spaces

With stewardesses whose hands

Look much older than their faces



And I've tossed so many napkins

Into that big hole in the sky

Been at the bottom of the Atlantic

Seething in a two-ply



Looking up through all that water

And the fishes swimming by

And I don't always feel lucky

But I'm smart enough to try



'Cause humility has buoyancy

And above us only sky



So I lean in

Breathe deeper that brutal burning smell

That surrounds the smoldering wreckage

That I've come to love so well



Yes, color me stunned and dazzled

By all the red white and blue flashing lights

In the American intersection

Where black crashed head on with white



Comes a melody, comes a rhythm

A particular resonance

That is us and only us

Comes a screaming ambulance



A hand that you can trust

Laid steady on your chest

Working for the better good

Which is good at its best



And too, bearing witness

Like a woman bears a child

With all her might



Born of the greatest pain

Into a grand canyon of light



And no song has gone unsung here

And this joint is strung crazy tight

And people been raising up their voices

Since it just ain't been right



With all the righteous rage

And all the bitter spite

That will accompany us out

Of this long night



That will grab us by the hand

When we are ready to take flight

Seat back and tray table

In the upright and locked position



Shocked to tears by each new vision

Of all that my ancestors have done

Like say, the women who gave their lives

So that I could have one



People, we are standing at ground zero

Of the feminist revolution

Yeah, it was an inside job, stoic and sly

One we're supposed to forget and downplay and deny



But I think the time is nothing

If not night to let the truth out

Coolest f-word ever deserves a fucking shout



I mean why can't all decent men and women

Call themselves feminists?

Out of respect for those who fought for this

I mean, look around, we have this



Yes, I love my country

By which I mean, I am indebted joyfully

To all the people throughout its history

Who have fought the government to make right



Where so many cunning sons and daughters

Our foremothers and forefathers

Came singing through slaughter

Came through hell and high water



So that we could stand here

And behold breathlessly the sight

How a raging river of tears

Is cutting a grand canyon of light