"promised land" by Ani DiFranco

you're taking up lots of space 
your shit is everywhere 
your breath is all up in my face 
your hands are swarming in the air 
you're the first one out of the car and then 
you're the loudest one in the bar 
tell me is there something wrong girlfriend? 
what's with this new version of who you are? 

she lifts her chin and squints at me 
to assess what i think i know 
she says my heart has some dangerous neighborhoods 
so beware where you try to go 
and they say that the truth will set you free 
but then so will a lie 
it depends if you're trying to get to the promised land 
or you're just trying to get by 

what is a camera but a box of light? 
what is a guitar but a box of sound? 
you think i don't understand 
but i think i might 
what it is to harness the emptiness 
and just ride it around 
and maybe your chest is an empty shell 
with ribs of spiraling coral 
where a perfect pearl of sadness resides 
but if you ever need an ear 
i could just come and press it there 
and listen to the sound of the ocean inside

Ani DiFranco Lyrics brought to you by danah boyd since 1995