Every State Line Lyrics by Ani DiFranco

Every State Line Lyrics

    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
    smile pretty, and watch your back

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