Ani Difranco - Joyful Girl Lyrics

One of my favorites! Who else likes to be joyful, no matter what?

This is her best song.

This song is so pretty.

I do it for the joy it brings ...

"I wonder if everything i do i do instead of something i want to do more" -very greatful for these uplifting lines

I consider this my theme song...as much now as when I first heard it at the age of 16.

i do it for the joy it brings
because i'm a joyful girl
because the world owes me nothing 
and we owe each other the world
i do it because it's the least i can do
i do it because i learned it from you
and i do it just because i want to 
because i want to

everything i do is judged
and they mostly get it wrong
but oh well
'cuz the bathroom mirror has not budged
and the woman who lives there can tell
the truth from the stuff that they say
and she looks me in the eye
and says would you prefer the easy way
no, well o.k. then
don't cry

i wonder if everything i do
i do instead 
of something i want to do more
the question fills my head
i know there's no grand plan here
this is just the way it goes
when everything else seems unclear
i guess at least i know

i do it for the joy it brings
because i'm a joyful girl
because the world owes me nothing
and we owe each other the world
i do it because it's the least i can do
i do it because i learned it from you
and i do it just because i want to
because i want to

this creepshow song for which ani isn't above plagerizing!!! hell yes i said it, was one of my 1st clues that my landline phone was bugged. these are words i said! in the so-called "privacy" of my home in prairie village kansas . i not only was wanted for intelligence, i come from a family of spies. i DEEPLY resent having my! civil rights violated (this was BEFORE) the passage of the patriot act, when our gov. was given carte blanche to spy on it's citizens for "security". do you feel safer now? i don't. profiteers and those willing to exploit others for a buck and credit will continue to profit. mk-ultra again. where i like some ani songs, don't ever think i'm a fan. because i'm not.

I'm sorry you feel that way. I'm not sure many can relate. Best wishes for you.

One of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.

Love her boldness to say what most wont. Been a fan for about 20 yrs.

I was 18. I had just gotten out of shower. Head wrapped up in a towel. I listened to this song, truly understanding it in the deepest part of my soul. It was speaking for me. The me that couldn't speak. I stared at my face in the mirror as tears streamed down my face. And as it repeated, so did my thoughts. I remember thinking that by the time I'm as old as I am now, everything will have changed. I'll no longer be unhappy and plagued by the ghosts that haunt me. I remember staring at my face telling myself to remember every feature just as it was so I could remember this moment years later.

It's been 15 years. I remember that moment as if it just happened. I remember every feature of my face and how it has changed. So much has happened, but nothing, no nothing has truly changed. I am older but I am still the girl in the mirror. The joyful girl...

Laura Bennet ...thank you...I had a similar moment but while looking at myself in my car rear view mirror while listening to the special CD version of this which had about 4 or 5 different versions of this song.

This whole album was it for me. I'm worse off for some. But I'm a joyful girl.

I LOVE YOU

This is MY SONGGG

Sudden faint sounds from this song fill my head

Can this song really be 20 years old? Wow

Shortsin Portugal Yep. I saw her in 91 before she really made it. That was 27 years ago!!

It's not about her being joyful, listen harder.

thank you

I don't understand this I listened it a lot times but nothing

Awesome!

exquisite

LOst to this one.

My little panda can't be this sad

its so deep and reminds me of the way i think of my joyful girl

rip sadpanda

@PVST I know too.