Which Side Are You On?

they stole a few elections
still we the people won
we voted out corruption
and big corporations
we voted for an end to war
and new direction
and we ain’t gonna stop now
until the job is done

come on all good workers!
this here is our time
now there’s folks in washington
that care what’s on our minds
come one come all voters!
let’s all vote next time
show em which side are you on now
which side are you on?

which side are you on now
which side are you on?

thirty years of digging
got us in this hole
the curse of reaganomics
has finally taken its toll
lord knows the free market
is anything but free
it costs dearly to the planet
and the likes of you and me

i don’t need no money lenders
suckin on my tit!
a little socialism
don’t scare me one bit!
we could do a whole lot worse
than europe or canada
come on mr. president
come on congress make the law!

which side are you on now
which side are you on?

they say in orleans parish
there are no neutrals there
there’s just too much misery
there’s too much despair
america who are we
now our innocence is gone?
forgive us mother africa
history’s done you wrong

too many stories
written out in black and white
come on people of privilege
it’s time to join the fight
are we living in the shadow of slavery
or are we moving on?
tell me which side are you on now
which side are you on?

which side are you on now
which side are you on?

my mother was a feminist
she taught me to see
the road to ruin is paved
with patriarchy
so let the way of women
guide democracy
and from plunder and pollution
let mother earth be free

feminism ain’t about women
that’s not who it is for
it’s about a shift in consciousness
that will bring an end to war
so listen up you fathers
listen up you sons
and tell me which side are you on now
which side are you on?

which side are you on now
which side are you on?

so are we just consumers
or are we citizens
are we going to make more garbage
or are we going to make amends?
are you part of the solution
or are you part of the con?
tell me
which side are you on now
which side are you on?

(Ani DiFranco)

Not a Pretty Girl

i am not a pretty girl
that is not what i do
i ain't no damsel in distress
and i don't need to be rescued
so put me down punk
maybe you'd prefer a maiden fair
isn't there a kitten stuck up a tree somewhere

i am not an angry girl
but it seems like i've got everyone fooled
every time i say something they find hard to hear
they chalk it up to my anger
and never to their own fear
and imagine you're a girl
just trying to finally come clean
knowing full well they'd prefer you
were dirty and smiling

and i am sorry
i am not a maiden fair
and i am not a kitten stuck up a tree somewhere

and generally my generation
wouldn't be caught dead working for the man
and generally i agree with them
trouble is you gotta have yourself an alternate plan
and i have earned my disillusionment
i have been working all of my life
and i am a patriot
i have been fighting the good fight
and what if there are no damsels in distress
what if i knew that and i called your bluff?
don't you think every kitten figures out how to get down
whether or not you ever show up

i am not a pretty girl
i don't want to be a pretty girl
no i want to be more than a pretty girl

(Ani DiFranco)