The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Dear Matthew, I like you a lot
I realize you're in a relationship
With someone right now and I respect
That I would like you to know that if you're ever single
In the future and you want to come visit me in California
I would be open to spending time with you and finding
Out how old you were when you wrote your first song
Dear Jonathan, I liked you too much
I used to be attracted to boys
Who would lie to me
And think solely about themselves and you
Were plenty self-destructive for my taste
At the time I used to say
The more tragic, the better
The truth is whenever I think of the early '90s
Your face comes up with a vengeance
Like it was yesterday
Dear Terrance, I love you muchly
You've been nothing but open-hearted
And emotionally available and supportive
And nurturing and consummately there
For me, I kept drawing you in
And pushing you away
I remember how beautiful it was to fall asleep
On your couch and cry
In front of you for the first time
You were the best platform
From which to jump beyond myself
What was wrong with me
Dear Marcus, you rocked my world
You had a charismatic way
About you with the women and you got me
Seriously thinking about spirituality
And you wouldn't let me get away
With kicking my own ass
But I could never really feel relaxed and looked out
For around you though
And that stopped us from going any further
Than we did and it's kinda too bad
'Cause we could've had much more fun
Dear Lou, we learned so much
I realize we won't be able to talk for some time
And I understand that as I do you
The long distance thing was the hardest
And we did as well as we could
We were together during a very tumultuous time
In our lives
I will always have your back
And be curious about you
About your career, your whereabouts
I realize you're in a relationship
With someone right now and I respect
That I would like you to know that if you're ever single
In the future and you want to come visit me in California
I would be open to spending time with you and finding
Out how old you were when you wrote your first song
Dear Jonathan, I liked you too much
I used to be attracted to boys
Who would lie to me
And think solely about themselves and you
Were plenty self-destructive for my taste
At the time I used to say
The more tragic, the better
The truth is whenever I think of the early '90s
Your face comes up with a vengeance
Like it was yesterday
Dear Terrance, I love you muchly
You've been nothing but open-hearted
And emotionally available and supportive
And nurturing and consummately there
For me, I kept drawing you in
And pushing you away
I remember how beautiful it was to fall asleep
On your couch and cry
In front of you for the first time
You were the best platform
From which to jump beyond myself
What was wrong with me
Dear Marcus, you rocked my world
You had a charismatic way
About you with the women and you got me
Seriously thinking about spirituality
And you wouldn't let me get away
With kicking my own ass
But I could never really feel relaxed and looked out
For around you though
And that stopped us from going any further
Than we did and it's kinda too bad
'Cause we could've had much more fun
Dear Lou, we learned so much
I realize we won't be able to talk for some time
And I understand that as I do you
The long distance thing was the hardest
And we did as well as we could
We were together during a very tumultuous time
In our lives
I will always have your back
And be curious about you
About your career, your whereabouts
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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This is my favorite Alanis song - as others have mentioned, the raw emotion is both sad and moving. I'm glad someone mentioned one of the guys in the song -- if the "Matthew" line was written to Dave Matthews, that would be really cool. It certainly fits.
I know she wrote "Jagged Little Pill" mostly about her relationship with Dave Cloutier (yes, the Full House guy). I wonder if one of the stanzas in Unsent is about him. Could the last one, "Lou," be a shortening of cLOUtier? It would sort of fit, contextually. And if she's using her exes' last names to be anonymous (ie. Matthew = Dave Matthews), that would make some sense. Of course, she's no longer bad-mouthing him like in JLP, but she does admit that it was a tumultuous time... Also, she was living in Canada, while he was filming Full House in California, right? So the Long Distance thing works, too. Hm. I wonder... anyone else have any light to she on this, or any of the other, guys?