Every State Line by Ani Difranco

I'm not going to go too deep into my reasoning for picking the lyrics of this particular song to post purely for the fact that I really don't like to talk about politics (as well as my opinions on current politics) in a public forum. Anyways, last night I happened to watch Spike Lee's When The Levees Broke which opened up several emotions and feelings that had subsided since Katrina. I didn't finish the entire film because I had to go to bed but I had been thinking about that movie most of the day. This morning, I stumbled across this Ani Difranco song that has stuck around in my head and emotions for most of the day. I know the song doesn't have a whole lot to do with Katrina but it does have something to do with a lot I think is wrong with our country...


Every State Line
by Ani Difranco


I got pulled over in west Texas
So they could look inside my car
He said are you an American citizen
I said
Yes sir
So far
They made sure I wasn't smuggling
Someone in from Mexico
Someone willing to settle for America
'Cause there's nowhere else to go

And every state line
There's a new set of laws
And every police man
Comes equipped with extended claws
There's a thousand shades of white
And a thousand shades of black
But the same rule always applies
Smile pretty, and watch your back

I broke down in Louisiana
And I had to thumb a ride
Got in the first car that pulled over
You can't be picky in the middle of the night
He said
Baby, do you like to fool around
Baby, do you like to be touched
I said
Maybe some other time
Fuck you very much

And every state line
There's a new set of laws
And every police man
Comes equipped with extended claws
There's a thousand shades of white
And a thousand shades of black
But the same rule always applies
Smile pretty, and watch your back

I'm in the middle of Alabama
They stare at me where ever I go
I don't think they like my haircut
I don't think they like my clothes
I can't wait to get back to New York City
Where at least when I walk down the street
Nobody ever hesitates to tell me exactly what they think of me

And every state line
There's a new set of laws
And every police man
Comes equipped with extended claws
There's a thousand shades of white
And a thousand shades of black
But the same rule always applies
Smile pretty, and watch your back

A little town in Pennsylvania
There was snow on the ground
A parked in an empty lot
Where there was no one else around
But I guess I was taking up too much space
As I was trying to get some sleep
'Cause an officer came by anyway
And told me I had to leave

And every state line
There's a new set of laws
And every police man
Comes equipped with extended claws
There's a thousand shades of white
And a thousand shades of black
But the same rule always applies