Swan Dive

Album: Little Plastic Castle (1998)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about taking a chance and trying to succeed in life. It starts with someone depressed who wants to go out and do more, but it's hard. One in a million succeed, and she'll be labeled brilliant if she becomes a success. She goes on about how little she has in her life and climbs the railing in order to do her swan dive. She sees sharks (competitors) in the waters below but doesn't care, since she has nothing to lose. She has a vision of better things and she wants to go for it. She says she's going to prepare (vaccinations) for this journey and she's going to go boldly because a little bird (America?) told her it's easy. Next she paints a visual of diving into the sidewalk instead of a pool of water, which could signify how unlikely it is to achieve success.
  • DiFranco crates a rather shocking visual with the line, "I'm gonna take out my tampon and start splashing around," meaning she's going to call on the sharks with her blood from the tampon and the noise. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    daniel - new orleans, LA, for above 2

Comments: 1

  • Elizabeth from Akron, OhInteresting theory that by "tak[ing] out [her] tampon and start splashing around" means her menstral blood is going to attract sharks. Because when a woman goes into water of any kind, her period stops automatically. Kind of like a natural defense. I'll admitt, even though I'm a fan of Ani DiFranco, I've never actually heard this song but I just read the lyrics. It doesn't mean she's going to 'call on the sharks with her blood from the tampon and the noise' - it means she's brave. It means she can trust her own body and her own instincts. She's not worried about survival, she wants to experience life fully and to do so, she's willing to take risks. This artist is a bisexual feminist icon, the only shocking visual that was created by that line was that she's not afraid. PLUS...sharks are attracted to low-frequency pulsed sounds, similar to those wounded or ill prey would emit. Most attractive sounds are in the frequency range of 25 to 100 Hz. Some sharks are attracted to sound sources from distances as great as 250 m (820 ft.). To quote Jesse Pinkman, "Yeah, science, bitch!"
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Mike Scott of The Waterboys

Mike Scott of The WaterboysSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Whole Of The Moon" and "Red Army Blues," and why rock music has "outlived its era of innovation."

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien Songs

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien SongsSong Writing

The trail runs from flying saucer songs in the '50s, through Bowie, blink-182 and Katy Perry.

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Zac Hanson

Zac HansonSongwriter Interviews

Zac tells the story of Hanson's massive hit "MMMbop," and talks about how brotherly bonds effect their music.

Evolution Of The Prince Symbol

Evolution Of The Prince SymbolSong Writing

The evolution of the symbol that was Prince's name from 1993-2000.