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Ani DiFranco: Verses
“She’s got the gift of lyrical precision—nothing cuts to the core quite like the resolution of DiFranco rhyme.”—Billboard
With eight Grammy nominations, a gold record, and sales of over 4.5 million, Ani DiFranco is one of America’s most fiercely independent and beloved musicians, as well as an outspoken voice of conscience. For the first time, she releases a book of poetry and paintings capturing her essential artistry that has helped define and invigorate a new generation.
Ani DiFranco: Verses rages, eulogizes, menaces, revels, and envisions. With a poet’s precision and a citizen’s stake, DiFranco finds the meeting places of intimacy and politics, of self and country, of resolve and compromise, and of the fickle and magnificent capacities of love and solitude.
In 1990 at the age of eighteen, Ani DiFranco rewrote the rules of the record industry when she created her own label, Righteous Babe Records, as an alternative to beckoning corporate offices. Since then, RBR has released nineteen full-length DiFranco albums to critical acclaim, and is now home to over a dozen cutting-edge new artists. DiFranco was named one of the top twenty-five most influential artists of the past twenty-five years by CMJ New Music (alongside Nirvana and U2) and one of 21 Feminists for the 21st Century by Ms. Magazine. Together with Ani DiFranco: Verses, she released her first retrospective album, Canon, in September 2007, and proceeded on a twenty-city tour in the United States.
With eight Grammy nominations, a gold record, and sales of over 4.5 million, Ani DiFranco is one of America’s most fiercely independent and beloved musicians, as well as an outspoken voice of conscience. For the first time, she releases a book of poetry and paintings capturing her essential artistry that has helped define and invigorate a new generation.
Ani DiFranco: Verses rages, eulogizes, menaces, revels, and envisions. With a poet’s precision and a citizen’s stake, DiFranco finds the meeting places of intimacy and politics, of self and country, of resolve and compromise, and of the fickle and magnificent capacities of love and solitude.
In 1990 at the age of eighteen, Ani DiFranco rewrote the rules of the record industry when she created her own label, Righteous Babe Records, as an alternative to beckoning corporate offices. Since then, RBR has released nineteen full-length DiFranco albums to critical acclaim, and is now home to over a dozen cutting-edge new artists. DiFranco was named one of the top twenty-five most influential artists of the past twenty-five years by CMJ New Music (alongside Nirvana and U2) and one of 21 Feminists for the 21st Century by Ms. Magazine. Together with Ani DiFranco: Verses, she released her first retrospective album, Canon, in September 2007, and proceeded on a twenty-city tour in the United States.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2007
16 people are currently reading
572 people want to read
About the author
Ani DiFranco
24 books207 followersAni DiFranco is a Grammy Award winning singer, guitarist, and songwriter. She is known as a prolific artist (having released nineteen albums) and is widely celebrated as a feminist icon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
July 21, 2008
I bought this book more as a novelty, as an Ani fan and to support her and get her to sign it. But I couldn't put it down. Even though most, if not all, of the poems are her songs, they are a joy to read, and a great way to turn people on to what she has to say, even if they aren't into her music. Here's one I memorized right away and shared with everyone who would listen.
LITERAL
when they said he could walk on water
what it sounds like to me
is he could float like a butterfly
and sting like a bee
literal people are scary, man
literal people scare me
out there trying to rid the world of its poetry
while getting it wrong fundamentally
down at the church of "look!
it says right her, see!"
LITERAL
when they said he could walk on water
what it sounds like to me
is he could float like a butterfly
and sting like a bee
literal people are scary, man
literal people scare me
out there trying to rid the world of its poetry
while getting it wrong fundamentally
down at the church of "look!
it says right her, see!"
November 17, 2009
Reveiwers copy from 7 Stories Press.
One lazy day in 1996, I was meandering up and down the aisles of the local Gallery of Sound music store, having wandered in wanting a new CD, but not having anything particular in mind.
At times like these, I would pull a cd from the rack, check out the recording label, the cover art, and read the song titles. This was how I came across some of my favorite indie/unknowns at the time. Groups like Brad, Sunny Day Real Estate, Lemonheads, Catherine Wheel...
That lazy day found me checking out Ani DiFranco's "Dilate" cd. I had never heard of Righteous Babe Records, the cover was punky grunge, and the titles of the tracks were intriguing, so I brought it up the counter and asked the guy working the register to tell me a bit about her and her music. Rather than explain, he popped the cd into the stereo system and "Untouchable Face" came crawling out of the speakers. Bitter, achey, beautiful... I was in love. I bought the cd and spent the rest of that day and night playing it over and over and over again.
A few days later, I ran back to that store to pick up some of the other albums of Ani's that they carried.
Her lyrics are rough, biting, and painfully sweet. Her voice is soulful, tender, and powerful.
I must have been living under a rock these past two years, because somehow her collection of poetry and paintings slipped right past me. Of course, once I realised I had missed it, I went off in a frantic search to aquire a copy. But alas, my local chain stores were not carrying it.
Out of sheer frustration, I wrote to 7 stories press, and asked them for a copy, expressing my love of her music and my need to own this, and read it. And my request was granted.
If you are familar with Ani Difranco's music, you will know that she has strong political and social views. Views that she is not afraid to express to her audiance. A self proclaimed feminist, hailing from Buffalo NY, she speaks from the heart, and her fans listen.
Cracking open this collection of poems is no different than cranking up the volume on one of her songs. Literally, since quite a few of the poems are actually her song lyrics in written form. But that does not take away from the beauty and urgency that is Ani DiFranco.
Some, like "Pulse" evoke strong emotion - I would offer you my pulse, if I thought it would be useful. I would give you my breath.... And "Parameters" with it's bubbling fear.
Others, like "Subdivision" cry out for us to look around and see our surroundings for the first time - I'm wondering what it will take for my country to rise, first we admit our mistakes and then we open our eyes. And "Self Evident" in which she takes on 911 and other catastrophes, and our reactions to such events.
Taking the recording industry by its neck at the age of 18, and building her own label - Righteous Babe Records - doing things her way the whole way... painting, poetry, and music that stirs the soul.
A true gem for an Ani fan, and for those who are new to her, a perfect place to introduce yourself.
One lazy day in 1996, I was meandering up and down the aisles of the local Gallery of Sound music store, having wandered in wanting a new CD, but not having anything particular in mind.
At times like these, I would pull a cd from the rack, check out the recording label, the cover art, and read the song titles. This was how I came across some of my favorite indie/unknowns at the time. Groups like Brad, Sunny Day Real Estate, Lemonheads, Catherine Wheel...
That lazy day found me checking out Ani DiFranco's "Dilate" cd. I had never heard of Righteous Babe Records, the cover was punky grunge, and the titles of the tracks were intriguing, so I brought it up the counter and asked the guy working the register to tell me a bit about her and her music. Rather than explain, he popped the cd into the stereo system and "Untouchable Face" came crawling out of the speakers. Bitter, achey, beautiful... I was in love. I bought the cd and spent the rest of that day and night playing it over and over and over again.
A few days later, I ran back to that store to pick up some of the other albums of Ani's that they carried.
Her lyrics are rough, biting, and painfully sweet. Her voice is soulful, tender, and powerful.
I must have been living under a rock these past two years, because somehow her collection of poetry and paintings slipped right past me. Of course, once I realised I had missed it, I went off in a frantic search to aquire a copy. But alas, my local chain stores were not carrying it.
Out of sheer frustration, I wrote to 7 stories press, and asked them for a copy, expressing my love of her music and my need to own this, and read it. And my request was granted.
If you are familar with Ani Difranco's music, you will know that she has strong political and social views. Views that she is not afraid to express to her audiance. A self proclaimed feminist, hailing from Buffalo NY, she speaks from the heart, and her fans listen.
Cracking open this collection of poems is no different than cranking up the volume on one of her songs. Literally, since quite a few of the poems are actually her song lyrics in written form. But that does not take away from the beauty and urgency that is Ani DiFranco.
Some, like "Pulse" evoke strong emotion - I would offer you my pulse, if I thought it would be useful. I would give you my breath.... And "Parameters" with it's bubbling fear.
Others, like "Subdivision" cry out for us to look around and see our surroundings for the first time - I'm wondering what it will take for my country to rise, first we admit our mistakes and then we open our eyes. And "Self Evident" in which she takes on 911 and other catastrophes, and our reactions to such events.
Taking the recording industry by its neck at the age of 18, and building her own label - Righteous Babe Records - doing things her way the whole way... painting, poetry, and music that stirs the soul.
A true gem for an Ani fan, and for those who are new to her, a perfect place to introduce yourself.
May 19, 2008
What I love about libraries is, I can check out an entire stack of literature - poetry, fiction, non-fiction, etc. - take them home and delve into them, then return them all and go out and buy the ones that really, truly spoke to ME. I don't have to purchase innumerable stacks of books that LOOK interesting but I have no way of knowing if I'll actually like them. Also, and perhaps even most wonderfully of all, I find myself delving into books I never would have picked up to purchase, only to discover that they, that particular book, turns out to be the very one that should have held a special, personal place on my bookshelf for years. And I never would have even known it! Long 'review,' I know, but this book of Verses by Ani DiFranco changed my world. Many of the poems didn't just "speak to me" like those of Billy Collins in The Art of Drowning, they changed me, and stirred deep parts of my emotional and intellectual being. This book belongs on my shelf; it's beautiful.
October 24, 2015
I actually received this book as a gift a few years ago, but it was lost on my bookshelf until recently, when I found it and wanted to incorporate it into one of the reading challenges I'm doing this year that requires a book of poetry. I've never really listened to Ani DiFranco's music, so I read these purely as poems. I really enjoyed some of them, and admire DiFranco's powerful phrasing and ability to quickly create intimacy with a reader. The poems were brief, impactful, and at times very moving.
February 21, 2015
This came into my hands at a somewhat complex time, compounded by a broken rib, which made me sit still and read (ah bliss!). So, it was the perfect moment to be introduced to this poet. Some of the poems really resonated, some were interesting observations of another's experience. I loved the art. Passed on to a friend deeply involved in our local Poetry Society.
March 18, 2017
I've been listening to a great deal of Ani lately, so thought I'd give Verses a reread. I suppose I can understand that Ani's music "isn't for everyone" in the sense that, ya know, whose music is, but I have to believe that no one with good taste could read her words (or lyrics, as the case may be) and think she doesn't possess brilliance.
March 20, 2025
I was familiar with a couple of her songs, but not much more than that. This was an interesting peak into an iconic person’s verses.
December 9, 2020
A fine collection of poems by our generations Joan Baez--political, personal...full of rage and warmth a fine quick read for national poetry month. There are a lot of great zingers similar to her songs that will likely stay with me for a while...
October 10, 2012
whether ani is writing poetry about relationships, feminism, social conscience, or spirit, her voice is the most powerful of my generation, unique and so fucking important. she was the first artist that made me realize some of the most amazing poetry of my generation was set to music. While most of my favorite ani lyrics are not in this book, it was still an experience and i devoured it...
And everything seems to have gone terribly wrong that can
But one breath at a time is an acceptable plan, she tells herself.
TV is, after all, the modern day roman coliseum
Human devastation as mass entertainment
And now millions sit jeering
Collectively cheering
The bloodthirsty hierarchy of the patriarchal arrangement
All the wrong people have the power of suggestion
And the freedom of the press is meaningless if nobody asks a question
I mean causation by definition is such a complex compilation of factors
That to even try to say why is to oversimplify
And my heart beats an sss o o o sss
Cuz folks just couldn’t care less less less
As long as every day is superbowl Sunday
But as bad as I am
I’m proud of the fact
That I’m worse than I seem
But what can I say
But I’m wired this way
And you’re wired to me
"I learned to distinguish between America and the government of America, and realized that loving one can often mean being willing to take action against the other. When you know your history- not the history of the ruling class but the people’s history- it is cause for great pride and loyalty."
"I get the sense that while you acknowledge the aloneness of being human you also realize that aloneness is variable. Sometimes it’s a solitude that spells isolation and loneliness, other times it is a true space of companionship with one’s self and spirit. This is another way for me to say that the “I” in these poems understands the burden and the sanctity of the individual self and, at the same time, the need for that self to connect to something larger: art, community, etc." Sekou Sundiata about her poetry.
There is only one album in my life that affected me so powerfully that I bawled, I mean full out sobbed and bawled when I first heard it because it was so powerful, so phenomenally real and tremendously alive, than ani difranco’s to the teeth. The lyrics for the song to the teeth are in this book of poems, and I added Birmingham just to round out the experience.
TO THE TEETH:
the sun is settin on the century
and we are armed to the teeth
we are all working together now
to make our lives mercifully brief
schoolkids keep trying to teach us
what guns are all about
confuse liberty with weaponry
and watch your kids act it out
every year now like Christmas
some boy gets the milk-fed sub-urban blues
reaches for the available arsenal
and saunters off to make the news
and women in the middle
are learning what poor women have always known
that the edge is closer than you think
when your men bring the guns home
look at where the profits are
that's how you'll find the source
of the big lie that you and i
both know so well
it the time it takes this cultural
death wish to run its course
they're gonna make a pretty penny
and then they're all going to hell
he said the chickens all come home to roost
yeah, malcom forecasted this flood
are we really gonna sleep through another century
while the rich profir off our blood?
true, it may take some doing
to see this undoing done
but in my humble opinion
here's what i suggest we do:
open fire on hollywood
open fire on MTV
open fire on NBC
and CBS and ABC
open fire on the NRA
and all the lies they told us
along the way
open fire on each weapons manufacturer
while he's giving head
to some republician senator
and if i hear one more time
about fool's rights
to his tools of rage
I'm gonna take all my friends
and I'm gonna move to Canada
and we're gonna die of old age
HELLO BIRMINGHAM:
Hold me down, I am floating away into the overcast skies
Over my home town on election day
What is it about Birmingham?
What is it about Buffalo?
Did the hate filled want to build bunkers
In your beautiful red earth?
They want to build them in our shiny white snow
And now I've drawn closed the curtains in this little booth
Where the truth has no place to stand
And I am feeling, oh, so powerless
In this stupid booth
With this useless little lever in my hand
And outside my city is bracing
For the next killing thing
Standing by the bridge
And praying for the next Doctor Martin Luther King
It was just one shot
Through the kitchen window
Just one or two miles from here
If you fly like a crow
A bullet came to visit a doctor
In his one safe place
A bullet ensuring the right to life
Whizzed past his kid and his wife
And knocked his glasses right off of his face
And the blood poured off the pulpit
Yeah, the blood poured down the picket lines
And the hatred was immediate, yeah
And the vengeance was divine
So they went and stuffed God
Down the barrel of a gun
And after Him
They stuffed his only son
Hello Birmingham; it's Buffalo
I heard you had some trouble down there again
Just calling to let to know
That somebody understands
I was once escorted through the doors
Of a clinic by a man in a bulletproof vest
And no bombs went off that day
So I am still here to say
Birmingham, I'm wishing you all of my best
Oh, Birmingham, I'm wishing you all of my best
Oh, Birmingham, I'm wishing you all of my best
On this election day
And everything seems to have gone terribly wrong that can
But one breath at a time is an acceptable plan, she tells herself.
TV is, after all, the modern day roman coliseum
Human devastation as mass entertainment
And now millions sit jeering
Collectively cheering
The bloodthirsty hierarchy of the patriarchal arrangement
All the wrong people have the power of suggestion
And the freedom of the press is meaningless if nobody asks a question
I mean causation by definition is such a complex compilation of factors
That to even try to say why is to oversimplify
And my heart beats an sss o o o sss
Cuz folks just couldn’t care less less less
As long as every day is superbowl Sunday
But as bad as I am
I’m proud of the fact
That I’m worse than I seem
But what can I say
But I’m wired this way
And you’re wired to me
"I learned to distinguish between America and the government of America, and realized that loving one can often mean being willing to take action against the other. When you know your history- not the history of the ruling class but the people’s history- it is cause for great pride and loyalty."
"I get the sense that while you acknowledge the aloneness of being human you also realize that aloneness is variable. Sometimes it’s a solitude that spells isolation and loneliness, other times it is a true space of companionship with one’s self and spirit. This is another way for me to say that the “I” in these poems understands the burden and the sanctity of the individual self and, at the same time, the need for that self to connect to something larger: art, community, etc." Sekou Sundiata about her poetry.
There is only one album in my life that affected me so powerfully that I bawled, I mean full out sobbed and bawled when I first heard it because it was so powerful, so phenomenally real and tremendously alive, than ani difranco’s to the teeth. The lyrics for the song to the teeth are in this book of poems, and I added Birmingham just to round out the experience.
TO THE TEETH:
the sun is settin on the century
and we are armed to the teeth
we are all working together now
to make our lives mercifully brief
schoolkids keep trying to teach us
what guns are all about
confuse liberty with weaponry
and watch your kids act it out
every year now like Christmas
some boy gets the milk-fed sub-urban blues
reaches for the available arsenal
and saunters off to make the news
and women in the middle
are learning what poor women have always known
that the edge is closer than you think
when your men bring the guns home
look at where the profits are
that's how you'll find the source
of the big lie that you and i
both know so well
it the time it takes this cultural
death wish to run its course
they're gonna make a pretty penny
and then they're all going to hell
he said the chickens all come home to roost
yeah, malcom forecasted this flood
are we really gonna sleep through another century
while the rich profir off our blood?
true, it may take some doing
to see this undoing done
but in my humble opinion
here's what i suggest we do:
open fire on hollywood
open fire on MTV
open fire on NBC
and CBS and ABC
open fire on the NRA
and all the lies they told us
along the way
open fire on each weapons manufacturer
while he's giving head
to some republician senator
and if i hear one more time
about fool's rights
to his tools of rage
I'm gonna take all my friends
and I'm gonna move to Canada
and we're gonna die of old age
HELLO BIRMINGHAM:
Hold me down, I am floating away into the overcast skies
Over my home town on election day
What is it about Birmingham?
What is it about Buffalo?
Did the hate filled want to build bunkers
In your beautiful red earth?
They want to build them in our shiny white snow
And now I've drawn closed the curtains in this little booth
Where the truth has no place to stand
And I am feeling, oh, so powerless
In this stupid booth
With this useless little lever in my hand
And outside my city is bracing
For the next killing thing
Standing by the bridge
And praying for the next Doctor Martin Luther King
It was just one shot
Through the kitchen window
Just one or two miles from here
If you fly like a crow
A bullet came to visit a doctor
In his one safe place
A bullet ensuring the right to life
Whizzed past his kid and his wife
And knocked his glasses right off of his face
And the blood poured off the pulpit
Yeah, the blood poured down the picket lines
And the hatred was immediate, yeah
And the vengeance was divine
So they went and stuffed God
Down the barrel of a gun
And after Him
They stuffed his only son
Hello Birmingham; it's Buffalo
I heard you had some trouble down there again
Just calling to let to know
That somebody understands
I was once escorted through the doors
Of a clinic by a man in a bulletproof vest
And no bombs went off that day
So I am still here to say
Birmingham, I'm wishing you all of my best
Oh, Birmingham, I'm wishing you all of my best
Oh, Birmingham, I'm wishing you all of my best
On this election day
August 22, 2019
Probably only of interest to the big DiFranco fan, which I am -- or have been in the past. Lyrics to her songs and an interview at the end. Also examples of her visual art - though you have to dig around the internet to realize that they are her works.
January 6, 2019
Genius poetry.
May 4, 2019
Damn
August 9, 2019
I was always going to be biased as I live her music but her writing didn't disappoint my expectations.
March 28, 2020
I have always been a fan of Ani Difranco. Her music really helped me from high school through now. Her poetry is so powerful. I love it.
April 9, 2022
a religious experience
October 6, 2022
Could not love this more. It's Ani: poignant, provoking, and passionate.
November 2, 2022
Ani's music and poems have had a huge influence on my life. She's a force to be reckoned with and should be. Her talent is compelling and she presents her experience very poignantly.
Want to read
April 21, 2025Cutting was for Self-Evident
By Ani DiFranco
By Ani DiFranco
July 1, 2008
I thought I'd give this a try as I know and like some of Ani DiFranco's music, but thought it might be just another case of rock star dabbling in a bit of poetry. In fact she is a real and very talented poet with an original, confident and contemporary voice. This book turned out to be a great find and is a very enjoyable collection. Her style is often unconventional and abstract, often free verse, or with irregular/internal rhyme and variable syllabic count, but always with a rhythym that works, always interesting. The subject matter varies, some poems deal with personal relationship experiences (eg. "Pulse" and "Hypnotised") while others take on wider, moral and political issues. DiFranco's standpoint is intelligent and caring, unapologetically leftwing, feminist, passionate, sometimes strident (and better for that too). Very anti-Bush "Self-evident"), anti guns ("To the Teeth"). Rock on with the poetry, Ani...great stuff!!
May 17, 2011
I'm probably not the most "objective" reviewer, as I've been a huge Ani fan since 1995, and Ani fans are probably the most rabid, die-hard fans you can find.
That said, the reason for my all-consuming awe, other than her unparalleled guitar chops, is her brilliant, poetic lyrics, gathered here in a beautiful hardbound edition.
I've been waiting for this for a long time. The verses I'm familiar with from the songs are bright and sweet, a sensory experience like eating ripe citrus fruit. Add some surprising discoveries and you've got a deeply satisfying read.
That said, the reason for my all-consuming awe, other than her unparalleled guitar chops, is her brilliant, poetic lyrics, gathered here in a beautiful hardbound edition.
I've been waiting for this for a long time. The verses I'm familiar with from the songs are bright and sweet, a sensory experience like eating ripe citrus fruit. Add some surprising discoveries and you've got a deeply satisfying read.
Read
February 19, 2015I can't write this because Ani Difranco means too much to me from my own personal history, but I can say this: mainly song lyrics, and I much prefer to hear her perform them as oppose to read them on the page. As spoken word or sung, these are fantastic. I think I would have loved this when I was first introduced to Ani, you know, when I was a sweet little 17-year-old in need of these poems in this way.
September 28, 2007
Most of the text is printed Ani lyrics, so there is little new material for the long-time Ani Difranco listener. With all the artwork inside, this book is more of an art object, a different way of looking at Ani's writing. The book is very well made, and the pages are nice paper; it's pleasing to touch and hold. A must for completists!
March 17, 2008
I like Ani Difranco's poetry better than her music (and I like her music). Perhaps she missed her true calling.
This anthology is edgy, clever, and free verse. The poems are short and easily understandable, without being trite. I loved it. It is aimed at a younger audience (early twenties), and would be a perfect recommendation for the anthology project.
This anthology is edgy, clever, and free verse. The poems are short and easily understandable, without being trite. I loved it. It is aimed at a younger audience (early twenties), and would be a perfect recommendation for the anthology project.
August 1, 2012
It's no wonder most of the poems and musings in this little gem turned out to be fantastic songs. The little voice inside your head will start to 'sing' as you read the words she's jotted down by their sheer musicality.
Ani's a class act. Love this poetry collection.
Treasure it.
And then love it some more.
Ani's a class act. Love this poetry collection.
Treasure it.
And then love it some more.
February 29, 2016
Re-read again, I love this book so much! One of my favorite people, such well articulated insight on our world and her soul (no, less romantic words do not exist for me to describe this lol). Read it and enjoy! :) then google/you-tube her poem about 911 you have to hear her read it, it's beautiful, not too dramatic and not sentimental: perfect.
March 18, 2008
Ani is an amazing poet, with sucn interesting and important things to say. I enjoyed this book a lot espeically the new stuff. It's a beautiful book. I would have liked to see more of the new material though.
September 17, 2008
i love ani, but this book was a tad disappointing as it is primarily composed of her song lyrics and hardly anything new. the only fresh insight into her work comes in the form of the artwork throughout. i was just hoping for something more.
March 24, 2010
One of my favorite things about Ani's music is her lyrics! It was interesting to see her written interpretation of her words...although I found myself singing all the ones I know as songs. I would have liked to see more in the book that wasn't previously sung/produced.
June 28, 2011
Most of these poems became songs, which Ani then recorded, which I already had before I bought this book.
If you were looking for new Ani material, this isn't the book for you. However, if you want the poem forms of her songs, this is where to find it.
If you were looking for new Ani material, this isn't the book for you. However, if you want the poem forms of her songs, this is where to find it.
August 15, 2011
It's great to see the songs before they had the guitar going along with them. A lot of what is in this book is stuff you will know if you're a fan of Ani's music. There's not much new material here.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews