front row
a stream of consciousness recounting three seperate converstions with people or situations that inspired me in some way. the chorus allows me to express how privileged i feel to provide an environment for them in which they can fell safe...where i can see all parts of them without judgement.
G2 clip

baba
my direct experiences with spiritual materialism within certain communities (particularly in the west), and the idealism of eastern/exotic spiritual practices...sensing the dissonance between the competition, elitsm and judgement within some of these culturally adopted rituals/gods and compassion itself.
G2 clip

thank u
first song written with glen ballard for the record...after having stopped for what i felt like the first time in my life and experiencing a deep stillness, i was with an overwhelming sense of gratitude, inspiration and compassion...it felt natural for this to be the first song release as it encapsulates the heart-space from which all the songs on the record sprung.
G2 clip

are you still mad
on jagged little pill i viscerally reacted to certain people/situations that resulted in a cathartic release... on this song i allow myself the emotional reaction (which i think is important) while also taking responsibility for my role in the relationships which resulted in a sense of closure that had not been realized by my simply reacting of solely pointing the finger.
G2 clip

sympathetic character
i needed to get the root of why i was so afraid of conflict and being around anger. this song was my recounting my fears of having spent a lot of time around people that couldn't control (their rage). the writing of this song allowed me to be able to see rage as natural and not to fear my own.
G2 clip

that i would be good
i was meditating in my closet and i asked myself "what do you want?"
G2 clip

the couch
this song was written following a converstion i had with my dad regarding his life story. i was able to see him for who he was (outside his role as my father) for what felt like the first time. it was healing for the both of us.
G2 clip

can't not
this was written in 1995 after i had started touring for jagged little pill and it reflects some of what my mindset was at the time. it was originally being recorded as a b-side but once it was recalled i wanted it on the record.
G2 clip

ur
a brief and retrospective look at my career in chronological order. the first verse being about when i was 10 years old. the second verse about my mid teens. and the third being about the time right after the jagged little pill tour. parts of the choruses are ither people's perspectives and some are mine.
G2 clip

i was hoping
the choruses in this song are about my having been excited with the newly discovered oppurtunity that i saw....the new relationship i was in...and what it was providing for the both of us. the versus are my recounting three seperate conversations/experiences.
G2 clip

one
i was safe enough with this person to show him parts of myself that i needed to express in order to change them. i also explore the concept of our connectedness.
G2 clip

would not come
finding inner peace, finding worthiness and acceptance. having to achieve, run, grasp or become something other.
G2 clip

unsent
some of the names are nick names, some are variations of their names and some of them are their real names. this song allowed me to connect with these people directly and not rely on songwriting as a way of my avoiding direct/difficult contact.
G2 clip

so pure
i allowed myself to be inspired and infatuated with this person who is unapologetically and exuberantly themself.
G2 clip

joining you
my reaching out to a friend who was questioning his own suffering by my saying that who we are within can manifest itself externally rather than allowing society's illusions to define who we are.
G2 clip

heart of the house
my tribute to my mother ant to femininity in general. i thought in order to function in society i had to adopt masculine qualities. in doing so i was unwittingly being chauvinistic.
G2 clip

your congratulations
feeling for so long that i had to compromise/downplay my power, intelligence or talent in order not to threaten and lose the affection of those that i loved.
G2 clip