Been awhile since I shared an öhrwurm…
Most ear worms happen to me because I hear a tune and it sticks but this one, inexplicably, came into my brain from my distant past. That’s the only explanation I can find since I have no idea when I last heard this song or Jagged Little Pill.
When Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette’s third studio album, came out in 1995, I was working at IBM in Southbury, CT. That was shortly after this happened. I was commuting more than an hour each way to Southbury and that was on good traffic days. When I commuted that much I mostly listened to books on tape (or CD) because that was the only way to make the time on I84 bearable. YouTube and all manner of streaming was still many years in the future.
I don’t remember the TV show where I first saw Alanis Morissette perform You Really Ought to Know but I remember very well that the performance blew me away. Totally. Everything about that song was rock on perfect. The music more than simple, the lyrics were visceral and relatable, and Alanis’ voice was unusual, her energy extremely powerful. I had to have that song!
The next day I took my lunch break to go to the record story in the nearby strip mall. I couldn’t wait for the drive home after work to listen to it. I think it was all I listened to for at least a week because even though I had been willing to spend the $18 or whatever it was on a CD for just one song (as that was the way of it back then) it turned out every single song on the album was really good; thought provoking, good melodies, musically inspiring. I learned every note, every lyric – it was in my top 10 for at least 2 years.
So, back to the present, starting yesterday, for some reason, I keep hearing this bit of a tune:
I care, but I’m restless
I’m here, but I’m really gone
I’m wrong, and I’m sorry, baby
Of course I knew it from JLP but I was amazed because I really haven’t heard any of JLP in ages. Ear worms are so fascinating, aren’t they? Anyway, here’s my öhrwurm of the day (lyrics below) and if you’ve never listened to JLP you really should.
Kinda interesting that 30 years ago I felt the same way:
What it all comes down to
Is that I haven’t got it all figured out just yet
And here all these decades later, I feel like maybe I’m finally getting there.
Hand in My Pocket – Alanis Morissette
I’m broke but I’m happy, I’m poor but I’m kind
I’m short but I’m healthy, yeah
I’m high but I’m grounded, I’m sane but I’m overwhelmed
I’m lost but I’m hopeful, baby
What it all comes down to
Is that everything’s gonna be fine, fine, fine
‘Cause I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving a high five
I feel drunk but I’m sober, I’m young and I’m underpaid
I’m tired but I’m working, yeah
I care but I’m restless, I’m here but I’m really gone
I’m wrong and I’m sorry baby
What it all comes down to
Is that everything’s going to be quite alright
‘Cause I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is flicking a cigarette
What it all comes down to
Is that I haven’t got it all figured out just yet
‘Cause I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving a peace sign
I’m free but I’m focused, I’m green but I’m wise
I’m hard but I’m friendly, baby
I’m sad but I’m laughing, I’m brave but I’m chickenshit
I’m sick but I’m pretty, baby
And what it all boils down to
Is that no one’s really got it figured out just yet
But I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is playing the piano
And what it all comes down to, my friends, yeah
Is that everything is just fine, fine, fine
‘Cause I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is hailing a taxi cab
Written by: Glen Ballard, Alanis Nadine Morissette
Album: Jagged Little Pill
Released: 1995
Lyrics provided by Musixmatch