What Alanis Morissette wrote in 1995 (Jagged Little Pill) resonates in my story – and perhaps in OUR  story for 2021.  With her help, let me exorcise a bit of frustration, have one last therapy session in 2021, and make pleas (in bold) before the start of the new year.  Believe it or not, this is all in preparation for a more positive and happier 2022.  Thank you for your attention and kind indulgence.

Dear Friends and Readers – in the words of *All I Really Want by Alanis Morissette: 

Do I stress you out?

My sweater is on backwards and inside out
and you say how appropriate.

I don’t want to dissect everything today
I don’t mean to pick you apart you see
But I can’t help it.

There I go jumping before the gunshot has gone off
Slap me with a splintered ruler.
And it would knock me to the floor if I wasn’t there already.
If only I could hunt the hunter.

And all I really want is some patience
A way to calm the angry voice.
And all I really want is deliverance.

Do I wear you out?
You must wonder why I’m relentless and all strung out,
I’m consumed by the chill of solitary.

I’m like Estella
I like to reel it in and spit it out
I’m frustrated by your apathy.

And I am frightened by the corrupted ways of this land
If only I could meet the Maker.
And I’m fascinated by the spiritual man
I am humbled by his humble nature.

What I wouldn’t give to find a soulmate
Someone else to catch this drift.
And what I wouldn’t give to meet a kindred.

Enough about me, let’s talk about you for a minute
Enough about you, let’s talk about life for a while.
The conflicts, the craziness and the sound of pretenses
Falling all around… all around.

Why are you so petrified of silence
Here can you handle this?
Did you think about your bills, your ex, your deadlines
Or when you think you’re gonna die
Or did you long for the next distraction?

And all I need now is intellectual intercourse
A soul to dig the hole much deeper.
And I have no concept of time other than it is flying,
If only I could kill the killer.

All I really want is some peace man
A place to find a common ground
And all I really want is a wavelength.

Aha, Aha……

All I really want is some comfort
A way to get my hands untied.

And all I really want is some justice!

 **You Live, You Learn
Morissette Mash-Up

“I recommend getting your heart trampled on to anyone.

And I am here to remind you

Of the mess you made when you went away

It’s not fair to deny me

Of the cross I bear that you gave to me

You, you, you oughta know.

Swallow it down – what a jagged little pill.”

(Mate selection can be a real bitch. SF)

“You live, you learn.

Your love, you learn.

You cry, you learn.

You lose, you learn.

You bleed, you learn.

You scream, you learn.

I recommend biting off more than you can chew to anyone

I certainly do.

I recommend sticking  your foot in your mouth at any time.

Feel free.

Throw it down (the caution blocks you from the wind).

Hold it up (to the rays).

You wait and see when the smoke clears.

You grieve, you learn.

You choke, you learn.

You laugh, you learn.

You choose, you learn.

You pray, you learn.

You ask, you learn.

You live…….. you learn.”

Best Wishes for 2022.   Really. 

(I’ve got one hand in my pocket

And the other one is giving a high five.)

Jagged Little Pill and Alanis Morissette exploded on the musical and cultural scene in 1995 and swept the Grammy Awards. Jagged Little Pill has sold 33 million copies since then; it is the second best-selling album by a female artist and the 12th best-selling album of all time. 

References

* All I Really Want · Alanis Morissette
Listen to All I Really Want on Alanis Morissette’s YouTube channel with this link. Link opens in a new tab and contains ads. Unless you have an ad blocker, you will have to listen through a couple of ads before the song plays.

Jagged Little Pill ℗ 1995 Maverick/Reprise Records, Inc.

Harmonica: Alanis Morissette

Vocals: Alanis Morissette

Unknown: Chris Bellman

Recording & Mixing: Christopher Fogel

String Arranger: Glen Ballard

Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer: Glen Ballard

Producer: Glen Ballard

Percussion, Programmer: Gota Yashiki

Unknown: Rich Weingard

String Arranger: Suzie Katayama

Unknown: Victor McCoy

Writers: Alanis Morissette, Glen Ballard

**You Live, You Learn
(Morissette Mash-Up)

From these songs:

•  You Oughta Know
• You Learn
• Hand In My Pocket

Same authorship and record label references.

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