My Gen X Playlist: You Learn – Alanis Morrisette

Being self-aware is an ever evolving process. The downside is you come face to face with some hard truths. For one thing, I’m stubborn. Many people don’t really know this about me because my outward appearance says otherwise. But for those who really know me, you’re either nodding your head yes, or shaking your head oh my god, hell yes.

The reason I bring this up is because of the other part of me that I’ve recently embraced. I’ve come to accept that I’m not always right. Yes, yes, I can imagine what you are thinking. No shit, Sherlock. But there are times when I’m convinced I’m right. No ifs, ands or buts. If you try to convince me otherwise, good luck. Sometimes it goes the other way and I find myself completely off base. Sure, I’ll do a deep dive after the fact and be able to explain the technicality why I’m off. But at the end of the day, does that really matter? Even being wrong with a footnote still doesn’t change that I was wrong. The fact is, I have to be open to the hard truth that I’m not always right regardless how certain I feel. And all it takes is to be open, to listen and consider the another side.

I try to stop myself these days when I feel that other guy creeping up on me. “Close your mouth and open your ears,” my dad used to say. It’s not easy, you know. Changing fifty five years of an ingrained habit is no easy task. But I’m now aware and accepting of my new enlightened state. It sucks, but I guess that’s the price of self-awareness. Sometimes it seems it might be easier to go through life dumb and happy.

I didn’t really appreciate Alanis Morrisette until recently. Yes, back in the day, I thought her music was OK. I even bought one of her CDs. It wasn’t until I started researching music for this blog did I stop and say, “Hey, this is really good.” Looks like I wasn’t alone.

Sometimes these songs hit harder now than they did back when they came out.

– YouTube comment by thrumylenns2207

As a male teen, I never really cared about Alanis Morissette but coming back in my late 30s I can really appreciate the music a lot more. She is a creative genius.

– YouTube comment by Retronize84

Morrisette released You Learn in 1995. It turns out, the name for her album came from the lyrics of this song.

In this song, Morissette points out that everything in life is a learning experience. It’s based on the saying “Live and Learn,” which is a common way of dealing with negative events and accepting whatever life brings you.

The lyrics, “Swallow it down, what a jagged little pill” provided the album title. This relates to the saying “a hard pill to swallow,” which means dealing with something difficult that must be accepted.

– Songfacts

Swallow that jagged little pill. Yep. Check. Damn, that’s not fun, but necessary. I heard they call this growth. Turns out old dogs can learn new tricks. Woof.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

I recommend getting your heart trampled on to anyone
Yeah, oh
I recommend walking around naked in your living room
Yeah

Swallow it down (What a jagged little pill)
It feels so good (Swimming in your stomach)
Wait until the dust settles

You live, you learn
You 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 live, you learn
You love, you learn
You cry, you learn
You lose, you learn
You bleed, you learn
You scream, you learn

Wear it out (The way a three-year-old would do)
Melt it down (You're gonna have to eventually anyway)
The fire trucks are coming up around the bend

You live, you learn
You love, you learn
You cry, you learn
You lose, you learn
You bleed, you learn
You scream, you learn

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