Grand Canyon Lyrics - Educated Guess - Ani Difranco

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 fore mothers 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 bin so many places 

Flown through vast empty spaces 

With stewardesses whose hands 

Look much older than their faces 

I've tossed so many napkins 

Into that big hole in the sky 

Bin 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 

I mean, no song has gone unsung here 

And this joint is strung crazy tight 

And people bin raising up their voices 

Since it just ain't bin 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 nigh 

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 fore mothers 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