In my last post on Alanis Morissette – Hand in my Pocket, I was wondering what she had been up to in recent times. The last time I saw her was in a Curb Your Enthusiasm episode seen here where she sabotages her own set. I suppose it was to appease Larry’s storyline, which is self effacing on her part. Jeff at Eclectic Music Lover filled me in a little on Alanis and recommended Reasons I Drink. What a cracking song and the accompanying music video is outstanding. It’s uncanny how this song appears today in the Music Library Project since I was just telling Christian yesterday at his blog – Christian’s Music Musings how much I like this song in response to his regular feature – The Sunday Six.
Reasons I Drink stands out as a poignant testament to the struggles and triumphs of navigating the human condition. Released in 2019, this compelling track from her ninth studio album, Such Pretty Forks in the Road, encapsulates a deeply personal journey through the lens of addiction and coping mechanisms. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Morissette revealed, “It’s about my lifelong journey of being addicted to substances and behaviors to avoid pain and to avoid facing my own issues“.
I too have faced addictions for almost all of my adult life and reflected upon it on occasion like here – I Won’t Forget and The Last Words – “Every Passing Minute is Another Chance to Turn it all Around.”
[Verse 1]
These are the reasons I drink
The reasons I tell everybody I’m fine even though I am not
These are the reasons I overdo it
I have been working since I can remember, since I was single digits
Now, even though I’ve been busted
I don’t know where to draw the line ’cause that groove has gotten so deep
[Pre-Chorus 1]
And nothing can give reprieve like they do
Nothing can give a break for this soldier like they do
[Chorus 1]
Here we are
I feel such rapture and my comfort is so strong, oh
One more hit
It feels so helpful in my need for respite, oh
[Verse 2]
And here are the reasons I eat
Reasons I feel everything so deeply when I’m not medicated
And so that’s it, I am buying a Lamborghini
To make up for these habits, to survive this sick industry
I’m hardly a connoisseur of Alanis’ discography, but from the scant I have heard I’ve become an admirer of her innate talent, transparency and audacity as a singer-songwriter (and special mention to her stand-out track Thank U). Twenty nine years ago Alanis became an overnight superstar because she was jilted and angry and she thought the world ought to know. Now that she’s older, she seems to have reconciled some of her demons but the embers of her angst have been replaced with generalized anxiety and depression on Such Pretty Forks in the Road, which is her first record in eight years and ninth overall.
References:
1. Reasons I Drink – Wikipedia
2. Alanis Morissette Takes the Safe Path on New Album ‘Such Pretty Forks in the Road’ – Rolling Stone
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Thanks yet again for the mention Matt. This is a great song by A. Morissette, and I can’t believe it’s already more than four years old! It’s scary how time seems to fly by faster and faster the older I get.
You know your stuff Jeff and what a recommendation! I’m grateful to have someone like you to just spew out, ‘hey have you heard this’? Haha
Thanks for the shoutout, Matt. And thanks to introducing me to this song. It’s pretty powerful! I consider myself fortunate not to have been addicted to alcohol or drugs. I believe nobody is immune to addiction and it can happen more easily than many folks think, who have never been addicted.
I couldn’t believe when I drew down one song from yesterday’s feature that it was the same song we spoke about it yesterday. Serendipity. I never look ahead on the songs coming up which I’ve spoken about before. I’m relieved you haven’t had these afflictions to bear although you shouldn’t discount the possibility it was because of your own volition and fortitude to choose not to succumb to it. I’m still agnostic on the ‘whole’ addiction ‘chance’ game.
She knows the score…sweet