Offer

What a great song. Singer-songwriter-masterpiece!

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.

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.

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. =)

I hear Alanis suffered from Eating Disorders, so I can see that a lot in this song

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.