Who
Who am I to be blue
Look at my family and fortune
Look at my friends and my house

Who
Who am I to feel deadened
Who am I to feel spent
Look at my health and my money

And where
Where do I go to feel good
Why do I still look outside me
Clearly I've seen it won't work

Is it my calling to keep on when I'm unable
Is it my job to be selfless extraordinaire
And my generosity has been disabled
By this, my sense of duty to offer

And why
Why do I feel so ungrateful
Me who is far beyond survival
Me who sees life as an oyster

Is it my calling to keep on when I'm unable
Is it my job to be selfless extraordinaire
And my generosity has been disabled
By this, my sense of duty to offer

And how
How dare I rest on my laurels
How dare I ignore an outstretched hand
How dare I ignore a third world country

Is it my calling to keep on when I'm unable
Is it my job to be selfless extraordinaire
And my generosity has been disabled
By this, my sense of duty to offer

Who
Who am I to be blue


Lyrics submitted by merchantpierce

Offer Lyrics as written by Alanis Morissette

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Offer song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment
    What a great song. Singer-songwriter-masterpiece!
    AgathaKavkaon September 17, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I identify with the chorus so much - I think it could be applicable to anyone who has to put other people before themselves constantly - an exhausted parent, teacher, lover, carer - they're sick of feeling as if their own feelings have to sit on the back bench. Maybe it's how a counsellor would feel after a while or someone who fulfilled the "agony aunt" role in their group - they listen to people all day, and okay, so their life isn't necessarily that bad or anything, but they need reassurance and to worry about even the little everyday things just like everyone else. Sometimes they need to relax and be selfish, but feel like they're being made to feel guilty about this.
    CakeAndSodomy69on August 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I identify with the chorus so much - I think it could be applicable to anyone who has to put other people before themselves constantly - an exhausted parent, teacher, lover, carer - they're sick of feeling as if their own feelings have to sit on the back bench. Maybe it's how a counsellor would feel after a while or someone who fulfilled the "agony aunt" role in their group - they listen to people all day, and okay, so their life isn't necessarily that bad or anything, but they need reassurance and to worry about even the little everyday things just like everyone else. Sometimes they need to relax and be selfish, but feel like they're being made to feel guilty about this.
    CakeAndSodomy69on August 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I'm really able to relate so well to these lyrics! The song is basically about someone that's continually depressed, yet they know they shouldn't be because they're so fortunate. She keeps looking outside herself for happiness, like depressed people tend to do. She understands that it won't work and she needs to look inside herself for the happiness she craves. CakeAndSodomy69 has the chorus right too. =)
    Ash-holeon December 20, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I hear Alanis suffered from Eating Disorders, so I can see that a lot in this song
    anarulesmenowon August 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    When I listen to this song, I think back to events like Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, the tsunami of 2004, the earthquake in China and so many other natural travesties, not to mention all the day to day charity work that needs to be done- donating blood, providing food and clothing for the homeless, saving the rain forests and polar ice caps, donating money to cancer research etc, or just a normal everyday good deed like helping out a friend when they need someone to talk to or helping a disabled person get from point A to point B etc. Sometimes I just feel like I'm on overload- I KNOW I should do more. I know I'm CAPABLE and ABLE to do more. Then I feel tremendous guilt because I'm not, like I should already be expected to be active in helping all these causes. And then I get into if it's really genuine of me to do something even though I am practically feeling forced to do it. There really is only so much one person can do (unless you're Bono or Angelina Jolie or one of those celebrities that has the money, influence and the world at their fingertips) and I really just need to keep telling myself that. That and listening to this song, because really, if Alanis- a huge giver herself and someone to really be admired for their passion on giving back- feels this way sometimes, I know it's ok that I do too.
    emlem25on December 28, 2008   Link

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