Doth I Protest Too Much

I always thought she was being sarcastic in this song. Like everything she says she knows is toatally not true. I mean, from most of her songs it's pretty clear she's has a few..issues:? I think maybe the "doth I protest to much" has more of the older meaning. (Like in Hamlet when Gertrude is watching the actor queen making all these over-the-top public declarations about her love for the actor king, and hamlet says the actor is just like gertrude, and then gertrude says the actor "doth protest to much," as if she(gertrude) would know better than to make "to much" over-the-top declarations as it only makes it seem unrealistic) I think it's kind of like Alanis is loudly declaring "I'm not this! Or this! Or this! Or this!" and then saying, "And I don't make lots of unrealistic declarations at all, do I?" And that she's trying so hard to prove that "oh no, I couldn't possibly be like that!" when in so many of her other songs she is pissed(Right Through You), jealous(You Oughta Know), out of touch(MaryJane), depressed(Who), insecure(So Unsexy), irrational(8 easy steps) going insane(Joining You) (and that "It's hard to get a rise out of me" thing covers to many to name...) so she knows no one will really believe her. Gosh I ramble! Anyhoo, thats my take on it..

sounds like the guy in the song is a player and a jerk "I'm not threatened, by every pair of legs you watch go by I don't cringe when you stare at women, it's just a thing called guy I don't notice your sideway glances or where your loyalty lies I'm secure and out of me, it's hard to get a rise"

"I'm not tortured by how often you're busy, 'cause I've got things to do I'm not disappointed about how you don't miss me, cause I don't need you to"

so the girl is trying hard to think rationally that she shud know better than to still have feelings or cry over the jerk she used to go out with but then she always comes to the conclusion that the jerk still holds a place in her heart

"And doth I protest too much?"

I agree with you suha. She is definately trying to convince herself that she is well on her own. But shes not! I believe this is a device alanis uses very often. it's ironic, I think, because as a listener we get it pretty easily - she is just such a great song writer!

This is a pretty awesome song. I didn't like it the first time I heard it, but my friend who is also a huge Alanis fan told me to really listen to it a couple of times.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Simple. Doth she prostest to much? She basically saying she doesnt ask for much and she never really over dramatizes a relationship. Or simply put guys will be guys I don't cringe when you stare at women, it's just a thing called guy +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dude, i love this song, it hold so much meaning to me. I think this is one of the best songs on her new album, and she should definaty put it out as a single...THis songs rocks...

In this song she is describing not neccessarrly a realtionship, but more like a date with a guy. It begins with the intial date, where the guy isnt really paying her any attention, she descides it doesnt really bother her. Then after their date, she decides it dosent really bother her that he hasent called her back. Then seeing him with a "new" lover she decides that she is not mad, but rather she has moved one. But if you listen to this song more closley, it sounds more like a girl thats trying to convince her self that she is over this man, and she doesnt need him, but in reality she really does like him, and wants his attention.

it should also be noted that this song is a referance to a line from hamlet.

"I think the lady doth protest too much."

I think this is her representing the absolute denial she is in - trying to make herself believe that things aren't bothering her when they so clearly are. Maybe trying to convince herself she should be moving on from someone because that's what everyone seems to be able to do, even if the truth is a very different case.

Denying herself the right to grieve, that's what I meant!