Flinch

Actually, listening to it again it seems to me that this does not have to correspond to a love relationship -- or even an actual relationship at all, though it certainly could.

Sometimes those that affect us, influence us 'totally' and leave us tortured and haunted by the memory aren't those we've given our hearts, but who perhaps have captured our minds or fascination -- be it even grotesque fascination.

I've been deeply affected by the relationships I've experienced, and can't really think of a past boyfriend I would be 'paralysed' to meet again so that I would keep running to prevent it, having no idea what I'd say. There's only one I can imagine who would make me feel this way -- and he's not an ex-boyfriend.

So, anyhow. That's how this seems to me these days. Just my thoughts.

I like her songs but they are so difficult to understand. This, to me anyway, is about a girl who has been hurt but she has put it behind her. A beautiful song to listen to.

I think it is about getting over someone that you were with for an extended period of time, someone that you've grown attached to that has abandoned you. Every time you hear there name it brings back memories you've had, either good or bad, which just brings more pain.

My personal opinion on this song is that basically she never really got over him. And even though she moved on...through the years random people would mention him or even just his name in conversation, she'd still flinch & think of him because her heart is still not healed. She's asking him & herself in the song how long she is going to have to be tortured by him before she finally gets over it.

when I'm feeling sad and stuff I listen to this song over and over...sometimes it makes me more sad but sometimes it cheers me up a bit to know that someone else has felt the pain that I do...I dunno I just think that she turned the heart broken situation into a song perfectly.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ From my knowledge Alanis said that this song is about a guy she was in a deep relathiship with but he broke up with her. Her twin brother (wade) called her and told her that he was in town. She happend to see him at a bank or something, froze and just turned right around and walked away. This had some type of major effect on her thus producing "flinch" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Jaydee

she's talking about a guy that's affected her like no other. she never got over him, and doesn't feel she ever will. no matter how long it was stuff happened between them, it still only feels like yesterday to her. she doesn't want to see him again, because of how she will feel...

I had a similar crush on one guy who lives close to me. We had this connection, but it never turned in something bigger. Singing this song she admits that she can still feel shiver and chill around him. She still care but on the other hand she is aware of being ignored and small in his presence. And she is hoping to grow up this kind of relationship and feelings that are not mutual.

Its about that feeling we get whenever someone even mentions a great love/relationship that we have had. The guy had such a profound effect on her that the relationship they had still feels like it was yesterday. So for her even being in the same space (room, city) with him is too much.

"Soon I'll grow up And I won't even flinch at your name" my favorite line

"What are you my dad, you affect me like you are my dad."

I think she is saying "dead" instead of "dad." Her dead, deeply mourning as if this were the loss/death of her "own blood," her kin. This seems to be reinforced by the verse just before that, "what are you my blood, you affect me like you are my blood." She loves him like her own family, and so loosing him is something she will never get over. Still, she feels childish for feeling that way even after all this time.