You gotta have the right tools
For every job
So I invite myself in
Through a hole in the fence
I am tripping through the junkyard
Scanning over the piles
The thin cats raise their skin in defense
I know he's watching me
I can see him through the cracks
His eyes are small and shy on my back
He says his name is Jason
He lives in the last trailer on the right
And he'll be seven
On the fourth of July

Only the people who live here
Know the name of this place
My path through Iowa would be
Hard to trace
All the adults in this town
Try not to frown
When I walk by
But Jason smiled at me
He met my eye

He don't ask me
Where I'm from
Or why I came
Here alone
We all go looking for paradise
Then we go back home
We cut out the small talk
Go right to the way things are
He showed me his squirrel skull
I told him I locked myself out of my car

So there goes the only friend
I have in Iowa
His hand flapping behind him
Waving good-bye
His name is Jason
He lives in the last trailer on the right
And he'll be seven
On the fourth of July


Lyrics submitted by aur0ra

4th of July Lyrics as written by Ani Difranco

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC

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4th of July song meanings
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    General Comment

    I agree with regardemylasheskgm, and I think this song is about the simple-minded-ness of kids, and how they don't judge anyone, either. They judge based on who is nice to them and who takes the time to talk to them, but they don't judge people based on their background or what they wear or anything like that.

    I am always wondering who "Jason" was, and where he is now, that must be so cool to be in an ani song, i wonder if he likes ani or if he is just like different now, or if he kept his non-judgemental ways..hmm. it's interesting to think about. He was seven when the song was written, and it was written from puddledive in 1993 i believe (one of my favoite albumns!), and that must mean that right now (2006, almost 2007), if his birthday is really on the fourth of july, that he is 20 now, i think. Wow., it really shows how much ani has changed her music, how many albumns she put out and such. haha... Anyway, I love this song, and the lyrics are so honest and the rhythms and instrumentals are just so happy. This is another one of her up-beat songs, and i remember the first time i heard it i had a hard time believing it was ani! haha., i wonder if she ever plays this live?

    notaprettygirlRBRon December 10, 2006   Link

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