This is about Alanis' relationship with her former manager, Leslie Howe. Alanis was 14 and he was 29. He manipulating her into thinking that if she slept with him, she would become famous. It lasted until she was 19. The verses are told from Leslie's perspective while the chorus is from Alanis' perspective.
I find it odd that people are calling this an "affair." At her age, she would've never been able to consent to this relationship. The word affair should never be used to describe a relationship between a young teen girl and a 30 year old man.... Call it what it is, abuse.
Wait a minute…I thought this song was about a love affair between an older woman and a younger man. I thought it was about how people ridicule women who date younger men while it’s totally fine when an older man dates a woman 20 years younger than him. You know bc it’s a woman who’s singing it. I guess my mind didn’t go straight to the gutter.
I discovered Alanis through an ex-boyfriend. At the time, I was 16, he was 28.. He loved Alanis and played her songs all the time, when I heard this one my attention was drawn. The lyrics are.. were.. just us. Now, the only thing I have left to thank him for is showing me such a beautifully talented woman.
I feel like a lot of people don’t understand this was written in two different points of view. The chorus is her speaking. The manipulative, abusive lyrics in the verses are the point of view of the 30 year old man who was taking advantage of her when she was 14. It was so well written, and I can’t imagine how painful writing this song must have been for her
It’s cool that the younger generation can appreciate the talent older artists have but please don’t stop exploring in the 90’s. There’s some cold heartbreak songs since the beginning of recorded music in all genres. People have always put their hearts out there for others to relate to and you can say it many ways in different beats but it’s still about the same thing. Taylor Swift writes an album about her ex and it goes triple platinum and the video gets a billion views. Back in the 70’s Stevie Knicks wrote an album about her ex and made him play guitar on the songs! There wasn’t no internet or downloads it was just records and tapes but she still went triple platinum! It was a different time but people were the same. Go listen to Motown hits of the 60’s. They were talking about not needing money and fancy stuff, just needing to feel good and being with someone they cared about. The Vietnam War was going on and everyone was writing protest songs. Sly Stone was the Prince of the 70’s. He wrote, produced, played the instruments, mixed the tracks. Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder wrote most of the songs for the early Motown bands, and if Stevie was writing he was playing on the songs. Keep chasing this rabbit down this rabbit hole because there’s such a wealth of knowledge that deserves respect for the people who built what the artists today have opportunities for. When a song is sampled it can be cool but when someone creates music from their mind and plays an actual instrument and put in the work to get the studio time just to sample that and call yourself an artist ain’t fair.
i am a victim of childhood sexual exploitation and abuse, and today one of my best friends told me about this song and said they'd thought of me when hearing it. it... helped something in me, hearing this song. i resonate with it a lot.
Alanis said in an interview that this song was about her being in a relationship with her manager (who was much older than she was) when she was a teenager. Most of the lyrics are told from his perspective except for the chorus and towards the end where she changes the lyrics from "you don't seem to mind" to "I don't seem to mind". Hope that sums it up.
From the comments, apparently a lot of people don't know that Morrissette was in a "relationship" with predator in his 30s when she was 14 or 15. She was underage, hence "overlook this supposed crime." This is commonly known...the meaning of the song is not a big mystery. She is confronting him, in this song, with the ways he manipulated her and used his power against her.
One thing about alanis, is her lyrics are very poetic and they always have a meaning. Even if your not sure what it is. Her music is just that damn good.
Maybe it`s time we talk about this song. This maybe was one of the first "ME Too"s. And we just looked at it like a massive hit pop song. It`s so much more than that. I hope she`ll talk about it one day.
This song always reminds me of a friend of my wife. She has a daughter who was dating her 27 year old gymnastics coach when she was 15. The heartbreak that girl went through when he dumped her was awful to witness. I can't even imagine how hard this was for Alanis to write and perform having gone through that.
Finally found this song after 15 years!!!! I was 8 years old and it was my favorite song from a cd with best radio songs or something ! I literally cried when I found it !
This, in my humble opinion, is the BEST SONG EVER. I challenge all to tell me differently! I've got the lyrics to this song memorized by heart, and it always heals me to listen to it now and then. Although I'm no fan of the whole relationships topic in life, this song somehow touches me deeply. That alone suggests how awesome a singer Alanis Morissette is. Thank you for uploading these lyrics. That way in case I forget them, I can always refer to this piece, LOL.
I always liked this song and now that I know what the lycirs are about I feel sad for her because of living that hell. But I like that she confronted him in a way!
This woman gives me the chills. Unbelievable talent. I miss these days of REAL MUSIC WRITTEN BY THE PERSON POURING THEIR HEARTS OUT INTO THE MICROPHONE
No this is a song about someone that took advantage of Alanis. She was 14, he was 29. It's a conversation, he is telling her those things, and she is the hook and chorus to him. "And you've washed your hands clean of this". Keeping that in mind it is pretty obvious who is saying what.
For dummies she is not talking about dating a younger guy. She switches perspectives when she says "your essentially an employee... " The older man is saying that thats why people assume it was her record producer I loveeeee this song she's very truthful and brave!!!!!
I had no idea that this song was about her being taken advantage of. I've always loved this song and have always listened to but while looking through the comments I saw a few and didn't understand..... until I read the lyrics. Such a powerful artist and woman. I have so much more love for this song and her. Truly amazing. Can't say it enough
"age is only a number" is like saying a 5 year old and a 20 year old are perfectly fine having a relationship with one another..because as long as they like each other its ok right? after all ..age is only a number
Five and Twenty? Extrapolation to extreme examples is irrelevant at best, usually goading, always ignorant. Put more simply, to compare what she's talking about to a five-year-old and a twenty-year-old, it's annoying and dumb. Regardless of the age of the comment.
So I heard this song some years ago and I thought it was glorifying and romanticizing statutory rape so i stopped listening to it but thanks to a comment i just read I got the interpretation completely wrong. I didn't realize how painful and tragic the story of the song was.
hace 11 años escuche esta cancion, y me recontra enamore y hasta hoy cuando escucho esta cancion, me da nostalgia, pena, amor, mucho amor cierro los ojos y me recuerdo de ti donde estes. si la vida aun es buena ojala nos depare algo bueno para ambos
Actually, the narrative voice of the song alternates; in the verses and bridge, an older man talks to a younger lover, whereas the chorus has the woman reminiscing about that past relationship.
I've lived this. He was my boss and 25 yrs older than me. After seven years and a very ugly break-up, we went out and got drunk and I sang this to him karoake. It felt amazing.
This song is such a split for me...I like Alanis know what it is like to be with an older man.....but also I dedicate part of this song to a lover I had who was a bit younger than me by 2 yrs
Love is a crazy thing. It doesn't obey logic or law, causes the most happiness and the most sadness in the world, and is the only emotion that rises above our need for self-preservation.
I can see from the comments this can relate to so many people in so many ways... I just watched "a dangerous method" in the open air summer cinema in vienna, seeing the full moon rising above the screen amidst a multitude of glow-worms (and mosquitoes) So even if I was a so-called late bloomer myself, it made me understand the power-play underlying these lyrics of a song of an album I've always loved...
She has only experimented with women, she likes guys. This song is not about her hitting on anyone (male or female), it is about how someone took advantage of her.
I heard this song was about her producer or former boss that wanted to be her "boyfriend" when she was like 13 or 14 and he was a lot older. Just listen to the lyrics. I think it is neat that the lyrics can represent different things to everyone. I think Alanis probably appreciates that.
when she says oh you're such a little pretty thing when you're done up properly I might want to marry you someday if you watch your weight if you keep that firm body😪
She used him , idiot! She’s the older one. It was illegal and she’s secretly proud of herself. It’s self -reflective. She wasn’t abused. It’s straight forward, moron. When have you ever heard a man describe a girl as keeping her firm body?! He would say watch your weight. You people are beyond stupid.
the original comment was about a 16 year old and a 28 year old...that seems just as extreme to me...at 16 your body isnt fully developed and neither is your brain....its the same thing...for a 28 year old man to be interested in a 16 year old child is just plain fucked up...at my age of 25 now..even 18 seems just a bit to young ...sure its legal....i couldnt even imagine being even older and interested in teenagers
That's because you are psychologically healthy and not suffering from a characterological disorder known as a Cluster B personality disorder (Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder). Narcissists LIVE for the huge "age gap" relationships, and especially male narcissists (i.e. Donald Trump and his cronies).
@@le_th_ I think it depends on the kind of age gap you're talking about. I dated a 48 year old woman at 23. I remember feeling a lot of stigma around it, but I didn't feel I was being taken advantage of since I was consenting over the age of 21. I wouldn't feel right though if the situation was reversed and I was the older one.
@@CaseyB3476 the age gap would have been the same ages switched. It's just a dumb taboo. (I'm talking about your case both legal age, not the one in the song)
I always heard it was Danny Tanner.I don't know his name,but he was the big blondish goof off the show full House! but I heard it 100 times.she's from Canada and so am I,so the whole country was trying to find out who this pig was.that's the same name I've been hearing.and no other names. BUT ,take it with a grain of salt. hope I helped my friend
This is about Alanis' relationship with her former manager, Leslie Howe. Alanis was 14 and he was 29. He manipulating her into thinking that if she slept with him, she would become famous. It lasted until she was 19.
The verses are told from Leslie's perspective while the chorus is from Alanis' perspective.
I find it odd that people are calling this an "affair." At her age, she would've never been able to consent to this relationship. The word affair should never be used to describe a relationship between a young teen girl and a 30 year old man.... Call it what it is, abuse.
Absolutely!!
I know this comment is from a year ago buy absolutely yes, I seriously have to question the people who downplay what a pedophile did.
Wait a minute…I thought this song was about a love affair between an older woman and a younger man. I thought it was about how people ridicule women who date younger men while it’s totally fine when an older man dates a woman 20 years younger than him. You know bc it’s a woman who’s singing it. I guess my mind didn’t go straight to the gutter.
Yes.
@@rosalbaroger3841 girrrllll
I discovered Alanis through an ex-boyfriend. At the time, I was 16, he was 28.. He loved Alanis and played her songs all the time, when I heard this one my attention was drawn. The lyrics are.. were.. just us. Now, the only thing I have left to thank him for is showing me such a beautifully talented woman.
She was a victim of grooming. Such a heartbreaking and powerful song
Stop trying to hurt me
This disgusts me, grooming I mean.
As a child victim of sexual abuse, I understand this song SO WELL. It made me cry a lot when this song came out
Hope you're ok xx
Holy shit fuck that person hope he rots in hell
I'm sorry you went through that
Well, I am too but I feel like it’s my fault because I was bad and it was my punishment
@@DonnaChamberson Absolutely not your fault. You were a victim of someone who knew better. I pray you are healing.
I feel like a lot of people don’t understand this was written in two different points of view. The chorus is her speaking. The manipulative, abusive lyrics in the verses are the point of view of the 30 year old man who was taking advantage of her when she was 14. It was so well written, and I can’t imagine how painful writing this song must have been for her
Spot on!
thank you for your explanations
😇
ISNT THAT IRONIC
I'm sure he helped.
This is some DOPE lyricism. Morissette is a LEGIT ARTIST. No wonder I've loved this song nearly 20
I was just thinking that same thing... Somehow over 20 years later and I STILL get the chills hearing her songs...
Haha I totally agree, I never realized it growing up. Very talented
It’s cool that the younger generation can appreciate the talent older artists have but please don’t stop exploring in the 90’s. There’s some cold heartbreak songs since the beginning of recorded music in all genres. People have always put their hearts out there for others to relate to and you can say it many ways in different beats but it’s still about the same thing. Taylor Swift writes an album about her ex and it goes triple platinum and the video gets a billion views. Back in the 70’s Stevie Knicks wrote an album about her ex and made him play guitar on the songs! There wasn’t no internet or downloads it was just records and tapes but she still went triple platinum! It was a different time but people were the same. Go listen to Motown hits of the 60’s. They were talking about not needing money and fancy stuff, just needing to feel good and being with someone they cared about. The Vietnam War was going on and everyone was writing protest songs. Sly Stone was the Prince of the 70’s. He wrote, produced, played the instruments, mixed the tracks. Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder wrote most of the songs for the early Motown bands, and if Stevie was writing he was playing on the songs. Keep chasing this rabbit down this rabbit hole because there’s such a wealth of knowledge that deserves respect for the people who built what the artists today have opportunities for. When a song is sampled it can be cool but when someone creates music from their mind and plays an actual instrument and put in the work to get the studio time just to sample that and call yourself an artist ain’t fair.
@@Hmclaren-vc8vf ⁰pp
i am a victim of childhood sexual exploitation and abuse, and today one of my best friends told me about this song and said they'd thought of me when hearing it. it... helped something in me, hearing this song. i resonate with it a lot.
❤️❤️
Alanis said in an interview that this song was about her being in a relationship with her manager (who was much older than she was) when she was a teenager. Most of the lyrics are told from his perspective except for the chorus and towards the end where she changes the lyrics from "you don't seem to mind" to "I don't seem to mind".
Hope that sums it up.
From the comments, apparently a lot of people don't know that Morrissette was in a "relationship" with predator in his 30s when she was 14 or 15. She was underage, hence "overlook this supposed crime." This is commonly known...the meaning of the song is not a big mystery. She is confronting him, in this song, with the ways he manipulated her and used his power against her.
Over her he stood, but they were both underage. Fuck every shade between a and z
He was in his 30s Nicholas, he was not underage.
We're talking about a different story dude
Was isn't anymore
Himaryous You don't know what you're talking about.
One thing about alanis, is her lyrics are very poetic and they always have a meaning. Even if your not sure what it is. Her music is just that damn good.
Maybe it`s time we talk about this song. This maybe was one of the first "ME Too"s. And we just looked at it like a massive hit pop song. It`s so much more than that.
I hope she`ll talk about it one day.
Tiza123m mabey the song itself was here way to talk about it.
What do you mean me toos
@@ians3801 Google for #metoo and you'll find out.
This song is literally about her relationship with the blonde guy from full house. She was 13/14 and he was a grown man
Rumy 73 13/14 year olds cannot be willing participants. 30 year old men know better
This song was such a hit when i was in my early teens!never knew what the lyrics meant back then
I think you're missing the point if you think this is portraying the relationship positively.
She was a lyric genius
Alanis is a fucking goddess 90s rock queen
I don't know why but I'm addicted to this song.
the lyrics aside, the melody is out of this world!
This song always reminds me of a friend of my wife. She has a daughter who was dating her 27 year old gymnastics coach when she was 15. The heartbreak that girl went through when he dumped her was awful to witness. I can't even imagine how hard this was for Alanis to write and perform having gone through that.
I don’t care just leave me the fuck alone! I never invited one of you into this
Manage your own fucking existence
i always loved her music... and i swear her lyrics are the most grammatically correct of any musician i've ever heard lol
That’s just so Grt and so funny
Finally found this song after 15 years!!!! I was 8 years old and it was my favorite song from a cd with best radio songs or something ! I literally cried when I found it !
I admire the chorus of this song; It induces goose flesh because it is so powerful.
This, in my humble opinion, is the BEST SONG EVER. I challenge all to tell me differently!
I've got the lyrics to this song memorized by heart, and it always heals me to listen to it now and then. Although I'm no fan of the whole relationships topic in life, this song somehow touches me deeply. That alone suggests how awesome a singer Alanis Morissette is.
Thank you for uploading these lyrics. That way in case I forget them, I can always refer to this piece, LOL.
I always liked this song and now that I know what the lycirs are about I feel sad for her because of living that hell. But I like that she confronted him in a way!
I feel so gross for loving this song, but the melody is incredible.
Aldo Estrada why gross???
Zachery Hobbs not a nice story.... read about it on internet
I love the vocal melody. Very different. And yes, she got some lyrics. Heard this song on the radio two weeks ago for the first time.
@@staywildmoonchild1950 about a 30 year old man taking advantage of a 14 year old
syoma fukasaku it’s amazing what the power of perception can do. #woke
She really does, she's one of my favorites. Her songs can be so easy to relate to.
Awesome! its so refreshing to hear such an enlightened Being! spread a word of wisdom!! Thank you India Indeed THANK YOU ALANIS
this is one of her best songs! sorry, one of the best songs of the age. I love it!
I love this song, takes me back to 2002, amazing year, one of the best in my life
This woman gives me the chills. Unbelievable talent. I miss these days of REAL MUSIC WRITTEN BY THE PERSON POURING THEIR HEARTS OUT INTO THE MICROPHONE
No this is a song about someone that took advantage of Alanis. She was 14, he was 29. It's a conversation, he is telling her those things, and she is the hook and chorus to him. "And you've washed your hands clean of this". Keeping that in mind it is pretty obvious who is saying what.
For dummies she is not talking about dating a younger guy. She switches perspectives when she says "your essentially an employee... " The older man is saying that thats why people assume it was her record producer I loveeeee this song she's very truthful and brave!!!!!
I had no idea that this song was about her being taken advantage of. I've always loved this song and have always listened to but while looking through the comments I saw a few and didn't understand..... until I read the lyrics. Such a powerful artist and woman. I have so much more love for this song and her. Truly amazing. Can't say it enough
My favorite song by her. Beautifully done Alanis
this happening in the entertainment industry, powerful people taking advantage of their artist and exploiting them.
I was 14 and he was 28 when he dedicated this song to me. #MeToo
"age is only a number" is like saying a 5 year old and a 20 year old are perfectly fine having a relationship with one another..because as long as they like each other its ok right? after all ..age is only a number
Five and Twenty?
Extrapolation to extreme examples is irrelevant at best, usually goading, always ignorant.
Put more simply, to compare what she's talking about to a five-year-old and a twenty-year-old, it's annoying and dumb. Regardless of the age of the comment.
@@QueLastima The point is she was a minor and very much still a child.
"Age is just a number the government keeps track of!"
So I heard this song some years ago and I thought it was glorifying and romanticizing statutory rape so i stopped listening to it but thanks to a comment i just read I got the interpretation completely wrong.
I didn't realize how painful and tragic the story of the song was.
Love it so much! From Ecuador 😍😘😘
They do go pretty fast. I've been listening to the song on the radio for years, and I still had to look some up.
January 2020 still on repeat
How's your 2020 working out?
@@1daughter1son I'm still alive and still listening to this timeless.. Stay positive stay safe.
hace 11 años escuche esta cancion, y me recontra enamore y hasta hoy cuando escucho esta cancion, me da nostalgia, pena, amor, mucho amor cierro los ojos y me recuerdo de ti donde estes.
si la vida aun es buena ojala nos depare algo bueno para ambos
Actually, the narrative voice of the song alternates; in the verses and bridge, an older man talks to a younger lover, whereas the chorus has the woman reminiscing about that past relationship.
such a great song.. means so much in so many ways
i love this song. its deep and so poetic.
she has a beautiful voice i love her so much
loved the lyrics, AM is a great Artist; singer, composer, performer!!
I've always loved this song so much,It just makes me happy
i love this song like crazy. so mysterious...
It is all coming out, now.
this song brings tears to my eyes
sempre escutava essa musica antes de ir pra escola.#2002 bons tempos! adoroooo!
Love You Alanis ♥
Great song
im 42 and still so infactuated with this woman just wanted u to know
the middle man Was she BIG? She must have not watched her weight and kept that hard body lol
I've lived this. He was my boss and 25 yrs older than me. After seven years and a very ugly break-up, we went out and got drunk and I sang this to him karoake. It felt amazing.
i love this track. ♥
Best song ever
If you suffer from sexual abuse as I have then listen to this. It's such a healing song.
This song make me relax ...
Such an amazing beautiful song
The frailties of a woman. The powerful woman it may be. Love the song
wonderful alanis
This song is so perfect.
YES, this is my therapy.... :( and I´m not proud with it
Beautiful. Eye ain’t tryin to hurt anybody
Really a good song!!!
LOBE THIS SONG SO MUCH
I love Alanis Morrissettes music
its really dificulta singing with Alanis, she is unique
Fuck you
I love this
I Love this Song
This song is such a split for me...I like Alanis know what it is like to be with an older man.....but also I dedicate part of this song to a lover I had who was a bit younger than me by 2 yrs
memorable song of 2002 :)....her classic
this song is epic!
Oh GOD BEAUTIFUL
Not sure when this song was released but it reminds me of spring 2002 when I first heard it!
Love is a crazy thing. It doesn't obey logic or law, causes the most happiness and the most sadness in the world, and is the only emotion that rises above our need for self-preservation.
nanophreak so nicely put❤️
So those are his excuses..alas it makes sense..love all of her music
2019 y aun la escucho
thank you
Wunderful song :D
thanks :)
I can see from the comments this can relate to so many people in so many ways...
I just watched "a dangerous method" in the open air summer cinema in vienna, seeing the full moon rising above the screen amidst a multitude of glow-worms (and mosquitoes)
So even if I was a so-called late bloomer myself, it made me understand the power-play underlying these lyrics of a song of an album I've always loved...
Fantastic
A specific Ereri fic led me to this song and the last chapter (where they get married) This song really went well with it!
yup me too~
Michelle Elizabeth What's the title? I found it when I read "Hands Clean"
Same~ about the levi as a nurse and eren as a student
The school fic with Levi as the nurse? Lol...me too.
I came here from that fic too! Gosh this song is disturbing though;;
She has only experimented with women, she likes guys.
This song is not about her hitting on anyone (male or female), it is about how someone took advantage of her.
I Love this Song ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I heard this song was about her producer or former boss that wanted to be her "boyfriend" when she was like 13 or 14 and he was a lot older. Just listen to the lyrics. I think it is neat that the lyrics can represent different things to everyone. I think Alanis probably appreciates that.
when she says oh you're such a little pretty thing when you're done up properly I might want to marry you someday if you watch your weight if you keep that firm body😪
Yeah as if his body wont shrivel away with age. That guy is a dick.
She used him , idiot! She’s the older one. It was illegal and she’s secretly proud of herself. It’s self -reflective. She wasn’t abused. It’s straight forward, moron. When have you ever heard a man describe a girl as keeping her firm body?! He would say watch your weight. You people are beyond stupid.
@UCS5tL3iyVPy58zxD5LX6mPA What the actual fuck are you talking about, you moron
Its crazy every time I hear that song i cry like a baby for everyone who've been through her/his private kinda hell this words say so much 😭
I like to sing a long to these lyrics but it is hard--I'm from Denmark, love to you all!!
músicaço do CARALHO!! LONGA VIDA AO ROCK!
Good song!
te amo Alanis!
the original comment was about a 16 year old and a 28 year old...that seems just as extreme to me...at 16 your body isnt fully developed and neither is your brain....its the same thing...for a 28 year old man to be interested in a 16 year old child is just plain fucked up...at my age of 25 now..even 18 seems just a bit to young ...sure its legal....i couldnt even imagine being even older and interested in teenagers
That's because you are psychologically healthy and not suffering from a characterological disorder known as a Cluster B personality disorder (Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder).
Narcissists LIVE for the huge "age gap" relationships, and especially male narcissists (i.e. Donald Trump and his cronies).
@@le_th_ I think it depends on the kind of age gap you're talking about. I dated a 48 year old woman at 23. I remember feeling a lot of stigma around it, but I didn't feel I was being taken advantage of since I was consenting over the age of 21. I wouldn't feel right though if the situation was reversed and I was the older one.
@@CaseyB3476 the age gap would have been the same ages switched. It's just a dumb taboo. (I'm talking about your case both legal age, not the one in the song)
I love this song
I always heard it was Danny Tanner.I don't know his name,but he was the big blondish goof off the show full House! but I heard it 100 times.she's from Canada and so am I,so the whole country was trying to find out who this pig was.that's the same name I've been hearing.and no other names. BUT ,take it with a grain of salt. hope I helped my friend
i love Alanis
ai que sdds da Minha adolescência :(
Saudade vem com tudo...
she sounds so much like avril lavigne in this song i love love love it because it so
emotional nd truthful i love artists that write meaningful music
2024 & still hits