Halsey’s “Alanis’ Interlude” is a rhythmic little piece about not getting what you want romantically. The lyrics “All these beautiful laughs and beautiful thighs they always keep me up at night But I can’t change my appetite,” sets us up to learn about the artist’s desire to be with a woman. This is a desire that can only be realized in private and not publicly as the song goes on to state “he and she is her and her and he are loved And I have never felt the difference”. This leads us to ask why would the artist need to change her appetite? Well it’s because even today it’s more commonplace for a woman to be with a man. Therefore “her and he are loved”, indicating that if the relationship were her and she it would not be acceptable.
Then we have the artist comparing herself to the kind of man that the woman that she wants is currently with. This is unveiled in the lyrics “your pussy is a wonderland and I could be a better man..”. The artist is a woman, but if she were a man, or if she adopted the role in the romantic relationship that the man currently has, she would be better than him. The artist is a secret lover of the girl that she wants to be with openly. This is evidenced in the lines “and my girl, she always wore a skirt in the classroom Eating my dessert in the bathroom Can’t get caught so we stiller than a statue Bad news, think I’ll probably die before I have you”.
The artist laments the labels of he and her being the go-to for couple descriptors. The labels are imposing and confusing to her, thus “a child in all these labels.” Children are known for their innocence and unconditional love. Our artist compares her own feelings for her secret lover to those feelings that children often personify. Our artist hints at the depth of her secrecy in the line “bit my nails down so they wouldn’t scratch”. If she were to leave marks of any kind on the body of her lover during intercourse, then the man would discover their relationship. This is a personal tale about growing up on the outside and loving someone while not being able to show it.
Halsey’s “Alanis’ Interlude” is a rhythmic little piece about not getting what you want romantically. The lyrics “All these beautiful laughs and beautiful thighs they always keep me up at night But I can’t change my appetite,” sets us up to learn about the artist’s desire to be with a woman. This is a desire that can only be realized in private and not publicly as the song goes on to state “he and she is her and her and he are loved And I have never felt the difference”. This leads us to ask why would the artist need to change her appetite? Well it’s because even today it’s more commonplace for a woman to be with a man. Therefore “her and he are loved”, indicating that if the relationship were her and she it would not be acceptable.
Then we have the artist comparing herself to the kind of man that the woman that she wants is currently with. This is unveiled in the lyrics “your pussy is a wonderland and I could be a better man..”. The artist is a woman, but if she were a man, or if she adopted the role in the romantic relationship that the man currently has, she would be better than him. The artist is a secret lover of the girl that she wants to be with openly. This is evidenced in the lines “and my girl, she always wore a skirt in the classroom Eating my dessert in the bathroom Can’t get caught so we stiller than a statue Bad news, think I’ll probably die before I have you”.
The artist laments the labels of he and her being the go-to for couple descriptors. The labels are imposing and confusing to her, thus “a child in all these labels.” Children are known for their innocence and unconditional love. Our artist compares her own feelings for her secret lover to those feelings that children often personify. Our artist hints at the depth of her secrecy in the line “bit my nails down so they wouldn’t scratch”. If she were to leave marks of any kind on the body of her lover during intercourse, then the man would discover their relationship. This is a personal tale about growing up on the outside and loving someone while not being able to show it.