My opinion... this song is a ‘nod’ to anyone that doesn’t follow ‘norms’ of social behavior. In the song she’s describing with a great degree of skill and wisdom (and... ‘no pressure’ over cappuccino) that with her it’s OK to be you. She has profound compassion and understanding, which is revealed…
1st verse:
"And you're like a 90's Jesus"...
(In this case the use of a modern day Jesus is a person who has profoundly different experiences of reality or who holds unusual views or opinions. These type of people have traditionally held a very complex role in society, with some being ostracized and viewed as deviants, while others are lauded as prophets or visionaries.)
"And you revel in your psychosis"…
(Psychosis is a controversial term introduced into the medical world in the 1845. Only in the 1960’s and 70’s did the term receive criticism. Until then it was a used as a definition of any ‘unorthodox’ person, some say so they could be controlled by society.)
"How dare you?"…
(What society asks when a person holds different ideas or opinions.)
“And you sample concepts like hors d'oeuvres”…
(Society complains if an individual tries to ‘sample’ anything outside the accepted norm. Like those fancy foreign little hors d'oeuvres that are sooo tasty.)
“And you eat their questions for dessert”…
(Don’t be afraid of the questions, it’s good to question, everything.)
“Is it just me or is it hot in here?”…
(She understands how difficult it is to do your own thing, ‘here’.)
2nd verse:
“And you're like a 90's Kennedy”…
(The Kennedy family is iconic and well known. They marked a turning point, in the faith of the American people, regarding the U.S. political establishment. They brought huge change in gender rights for women and African Americans. Two of Joseph P. Kennedy Senior’s sons were assassinated for those efforts.)
“And you're really a million years old”…
(In the 1970’s estimates by “modern” science was that the human race was 1 million years old, today the estimate is approximately 37,000. As a race we keep learning, that some long-held beliefs were wrong. As we evolve, maybe we will learn that some our other ‘current thinking’ is incorrect?)
“You can't fool me”…
(No way… if are a million years in existence, how come we still fear those with different beliefs and opinions?)
“They'll throw opinions like rocks in riots”…
(‘Rocks-in-riots’ refers to angry mob, right or wrong, fights against anything they don’t agree with.)
“And they'll stumble around like hypocrites”…
(‘THEY’, the people who criticize someone for being outside the norm, are hypocritical. Quite a few examples exist; the divorce rate in America, accepting pre-prescribed religious beliefs without understanding, accepting pre-prescribed sexual identity, etc., etc., etc. It doesn’t matter if they don’t know what they are doing, you are supposed to do what everyone else does.)
“Is it just me, or is it dark in here?”…
(The lyrics pose a question. Am I the only one in the world who see’s how difficult it is to live your life how you choose?)
“Well, you may never be or have a husband”…
(Societal criticism either gender receives, if deciding not to marry.)
“You may never have or hold a child”…
(Societal criticism either gender receives, if deciding not to have children.)
“You will learn to loose everything”…
(Societal criticism either gender receives, if deciding not to do what our predecessors view as ‘everything’. The ultimate scare tactic.)
“We are temporary arrangement”…
(Live your life how you want, we are only here temporarily.)
3rd verse:
“And you're like a 90's Noah”…
(Just go for it, build your own arch.)
“And they laughed at you as you packed all of your things”…
(They will laugh… but don’t you dare let that stop you.)
“And they wonder why you're frustrated”…
(Of course you’re frustrated. You don’t want to do what everyone else does.)
“And they wonder why you're so angry”…
(Of course you’re angry. You don’t want to follow every else.)
“And is it just me, or are you fed up?”…
(Again the lyrics pose a question. Am I the only one in the world who see’s how difficult it is to live your life how you choose?)
Concluding verse:
“And may god bless you in your travels”…
(God bless you, don’t be afraid to be yourself.)
“In your conquests and queries”…
(In your successes, and exploration of yourself, have fun!)
joes, I think that you are dead on with this one. The only thing I have to add, is that this song was written about her gay brother, but a lot of the things you wrote about the lines can be applied to someone who is gay. But if you look at the lines about never holding a child or getting married, I think the meaning behind that is strictly about homosexual people in today's society. Brilliant song, brilliant lyrics, and you did a wonderful job interpreting it. Favorite alanis song by far.
joes, I think that you are dead on with this one. The only thing I have to add, is that this song was written about her gay brother, but a lot of the things you wrote about the lines can be applied to someone who is gay. But if you look at the lines about never holding a child or getting married, I think the meaning behind that is strictly about homosexual people in today's society. Brilliant song, brilliant lyrics, and you did a wonderful job interpreting it. Favorite alanis song by far.
My opinion... this song is a ‘nod’ to anyone that doesn’t follow ‘norms’ of social behavior. In the song she’s describing with a great degree of skill and wisdom (and... ‘no pressure’ over cappuccino) that with her it’s OK to be you. She has profound compassion and understanding, which is revealed…
1st verse: "And you're like a 90's Jesus"... (In this case the use of a modern day Jesus is a person who has profoundly different experiences of reality or who holds unusual views or opinions. These type of people have traditionally held a very complex role in society, with some being ostracized and viewed as deviants, while others are lauded as prophets or visionaries.)
"And you revel in your psychosis"… (Psychosis is a controversial term introduced into the medical world in the 1845. Only in the 1960’s and 70’s did the term receive criticism. Until then it was a used as a definition of any ‘unorthodox’ person, some say so they could be controlled by society.)
"How dare you?"… (What society asks when a person holds different ideas or opinions.)
“And you sample concepts like hors d'oeuvres”… (Society complains if an individual tries to ‘sample’ anything outside the accepted norm. Like those fancy foreign little hors d'oeuvres that are sooo tasty.)
“And you eat their questions for dessert”… (Don’t be afraid of the questions, it’s good to question, everything.)
“Is it just me or is it hot in here?”… (She understands how difficult it is to do your own thing, ‘here’.)
2nd verse: “And you're like a 90's Kennedy”… (The Kennedy family is iconic and well known. They marked a turning point, in the faith of the American people, regarding the U.S. political establishment. They brought huge change in gender rights for women and African Americans. Two of Joseph P. Kennedy Senior’s sons were assassinated for those efforts.)
“And you're really a million years old”… (In the 1970’s estimates by “modern” science was that the human race was 1 million years old, today the estimate is approximately 37,000. As a race we keep learning, that some long-held beliefs were wrong. As we evolve, maybe we will learn that some our other ‘current thinking’ is incorrect?)
“You can't fool me”… (No way… if are a million years in existence, how come we still fear those with different beliefs and opinions?)
“They'll throw opinions like rocks in riots”… (‘Rocks-in-riots’ refers to angry mob, right or wrong, fights against anything they don’t agree with.)
“And they'll stumble around like hypocrites”… (‘THEY’, the people who criticize someone for being outside the norm, are hypocritical. Quite a few examples exist; the divorce rate in America, accepting pre-prescribed religious beliefs without understanding, accepting pre-prescribed sexual identity, etc., etc., etc. It doesn’t matter if they don’t know what they are doing, you are supposed to do what everyone else does.)
“Is it just me, or is it dark in here?”… (The lyrics pose a question. Am I the only one in the world who see’s how difficult it is to live your life how you choose?)
“Well, you may never be or have a husband”… (Societal criticism either gender receives, if deciding not to marry.)
“You may never have or hold a child”… (Societal criticism either gender receives, if deciding not to have children.)
“You will learn to loose everything”… (Societal criticism either gender receives, if deciding not to do what our predecessors view as ‘everything’. The ultimate scare tactic.)
“We are temporary arrangement”… (Live your life how you want, we are only here temporarily.)
3rd verse: “And you're like a 90's Noah”… (Just go for it, build your own arch.)
“And they laughed at you as you packed all of your things”… (They will laugh… but don’t you dare let that stop you.)
“And they wonder why you're frustrated”… (Of course you’re frustrated. You don’t want to do what everyone else does.)
“And they wonder why you're so angry”… (Of course you’re angry. You don’t want to follow every else.)
“And is it just me, or are you fed up?”… (Again the lyrics pose a question. Am I the only one in the world who see’s how difficult it is to live your life how you choose?)
Concluding verse: “And may god bless you in your travels”… (God bless you, don’t be afraid to be yourself.)
“In your conquests and queries”… (In your successes, and exploration of yourself, have fun!)
Happy listening!
Joes, this is simply an amazing and very accurate description.
Joes, this is simply an amazing and very accurate description.
I agree with most of your statements about the song. Thanks for sharing.
I agree with most of your statements about the song. Thanks for sharing.
God bless you in your travels, in your conquests and queries.
God bless you in your travels, in your conquests and queries.
joes, I think that you are dead on with this one. The only thing I have to add, is that this song was written about her gay brother, but a lot of the things you wrote about the lines can be applied to someone who is gay. But if you look at the lines about never holding a child or getting married, I think the meaning behind that is strictly about homosexual people in today's society. Brilliant song, brilliant lyrics, and you did a wonderful job interpreting it. Favorite alanis song by far.
joes, I think that you are dead on with this one. The only thing I have to add, is that this song was written about her gay brother, but a lot of the things you wrote about the lines can be applied to someone who is gay. But if you look at the lines about never holding a child or getting married, I think the meaning behind that is strictly about homosexual people in today's society. Brilliant song, brilliant lyrics, and you did a wonderful job interpreting it. Favorite alanis song by far.