Ani DiFranco - Dilate

lyrics:
life used to be life-like
now it's more like show biz
i wake up in the night
and i don't know where the bathroom is
and i don't know what town i'm in
or what sky i am under
and i wake up in the darkness and i
don't have the will anymore to wonder
everyone has a skeleton
and a closet to keep it in
and you're mine
every song has a you
a you that the singer sings to
and you're it this time
baby, you're it this time

when i need to wipe my face
i use the back of my hand
and i like to take up space
just because i can
and i use my dress
to wipe up my drink
i care less and less
what people think
and you are so lame
you always disappoint me
it's kinda like our running joke
but it's really not funny
i just want you to live up to
the image of you i create
i see you and i'm so unsatisfied
i see you and i dilate

so i'll walk the plank and i'll jump with a smile
if i'm gonna go down
i'm gonna do it with style
and you won't see me surrender
you won't hear me confess
'cuz you've left me with nothing
but i've worked with less
and i learn every room long enough
to make it to the door
and then i hear it click shut behind me
and every key works differently
i forget every time
and the forgetting defines me
that's what defines me

when i say you sucked my brain out
the english translation
is i am in love with you
and it is no fun
but i don't use words like love
'cuz words like that don't matter
but don't look so offended
you know, you should be flattered
i wake up in the night
in some big hotel bed
my hands grope for the light
my hands grope for my head
the world is my oyster
the road is my home
and i know that i'm better
off alone

[emilygov]

I was barely 16 and I couldn't afford tickets to her show. I went down to the venue because being that close to Ani was awesome enough for me. A man saw my best friend and I standing outside and asked what the hell we were doing. "I know Ani is in there" was the best response my dumbass could come up with. He gently lead my friend and I through a commercial kitchen, then through another door and said "Have fun!". It was the floor of her concert. When Ani played Dilate it was the only time my friend ever saw me cry. Huge shout-out to the chef I'll never know but invited me to one of the most transformative moments of my life.

[lexo]

When I first heard this album in my late 20s, I thought I was a straight guy. I know it might sound ridiculous, but Ani DiFranco is one of the artists who opened up my sense of my own sexuality, in that I heard my own experiences in her songs than I did with the songs of most male singer-songwriters. I eventually came out as queer years later, and am so much easier in my skin as a result. I know she's a heroine to many women, but she is to one to at least one guy.

[drliz]

1996-I walk into Borders Books with my friends. Head straight back to the cd's and I see Dilate, never heard of Ani DiFranco prior. I put on the headphones, listen to the first song Untouchable Face and I've never turned back. Masterpiece. The whole album.

[Mideezhanti]

God, I haven't listened to this song in well over a decade. Its so raw and moving.

[dwah]

Every strum of the guitar is pouring with emotion...

[HolisticHealing]

I love this. One of my fav songs. Hello twenty years ago 💜

[jobriathboy]

gorgeous, gorgeous song... the chorus gives me goosebumps... always...

[whoisj]

"forgetting defines me, yeah that's what defines me." I feel seen.

I've lived this album since 1996? I cannot even remember the year, but I remember living in Buffalo and listening to this album over and over at I walked it's streets looking for a deeper meaning to life.

[melissawilliams]

Best break-up album ever. Thank God for this song right now.

[Malini]

I can taste my coming of age when I listen to this as if it was yesterday. RIP Nikki T

[samantham]

Coming back for strength. I feel like such a pos and I remember Ani from when I was 17. Love her. She speaks for so many and somehow articulates my feelings.

[nicolevallone-epperson]

My life’s anthem. Ani you speak my head and heart. You put the feelings in my soul and thoughts in my head that I couldn’t get out into lyrics. Been listening to you since ‘97. Ani is my lyrical genius <3

[ChristiKellyme]

WOW! Leaves me speechless.... Like...almost EVERY TIME! Thank You, Ms. DiFranco ;) #Gratitude

[osborn.illustration]

This song got me through some very hard times in high school in 1998 - 2002. Remains one of my favorite songs.

[annalise]

"You know you should be flattered..." Is such a positive thing for a young girl to hear

[henrycodm]

So good to see I'm not the only one who loves her!!

[silviacosta]

Life used to be life-like
Now it's more like show biz
I wake up in the night
And I don't know where the bathroom is
And I don't know what town I'm in
Or what sky I am under
And I wake up in the darkness
I don't have the will anymore to wonder
And everyone has a skeleton
A closet to keep it in
And you're mine
Every song has a you
A you that the singer sings to
And you're it this time
Baby, you're it this time

When I need to wipe my face
I use the back of my hand
And I like to take up space
Just because I can
And I use my dress
To wipe up my drink
You know, I care less and less
What people think
And you are so lame
You always disappoint me
It's kinda like our running joke
But it's really not funny
I just want you to live up to
The image of you I create
I see you and I'm so unsatisfied
I see you and I dilate

So I'll walk the plank
Yeah, I'll jump with a smile
If I'm gonna go down
I'm gonna do it with style
And you won't see me surrender
You won't hear me confess
'Cause you've left me with nothing
But I've worked with less
And I learn every room long enough
To make it to the door
And then I hear it click shut behind me
And every key works differently
And I forget every time
And the forgetting defines me
Yeah, that's what defines me

And when I say, "you sucked my brain out"
The english translation
Is "I am in love with you"
And it is no fun
But I don't use words like love
'Cause words like that don't matter
But don't look so offended
You know, you should be flattered
And I wake up in the night
In some big hotel bed
My hands grope for the light
My hands grope for my head
The world is my oyster
You know, the road is my home
And I know that I'm better
I'm better, I'm better
Off alone

[inkoinfinity]

One time I was listening to my playlists to fall asleep, this came on and I was getting drowsy, my eyelids were heavy, I had closed my eyes and was almost asleep.Then 1:45 happened and my eyes swung open and scared me deeply o_o but I ended up falling asleep after lol.

[J__C__]

How is there enough tension on the Drop A string to even ring out!? Man, that's way down there. You can here it rattling because it's so slack lol

[mvgxntm]

ok this is probably my favorite song ever