Every State Line Lyrics - Imperfectly - Ani Difranco

I got pulled over in west Texes 

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 

[Chorus:] 

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 

[Chorus] 

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 

[Chorus] 

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 

[Chorus] 

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