I Was Hoping

As we were talking outside it was cold -
We were shivering yet warmed by the subject matter:
"My wife is in the next room,
We’ve been having troubles, you know.
Please don’t tell her or anyone,
But I need to talk to somebody."

You said "Wouldn’t it be a shame
If I knew how great I was five minutes before I died?
I’d be filled with such regret
Before I took my last breath" and I said
"But you’re willing to tell me this now
And you’re not going to die any time soon."

And I said “I haven’t been eating chicken or meat
or anything” and you said
“Yes but you’ve been wearing leather
and laughed and said we’re at the top of the food chain.
And yes you’re still a fine woman”
And I cringed.

I was hoping, I was hoping we could heal each other.
I was hoping, I was hoping we could be raw together.

We left the restaurant where the head waiter (in his 60s) said
"Good-bye Sir, thank you for your business Sir,
You’re successful and established, Sir.
And we like the frequency with
Which you dine here Sir
And your mone.y"

And when I walked by they said
"Thank you, too, dear."
I was all pigtails and cords
And there was a day when I would’ve said something like
"Hey dude I could buy and sell this place
So kiss it"
I too once thought I was owed something.

I was hoping, I was hoping we could challenge each other.
I was hoping, I was hoping we could crack each other up.



I too once thought that when proved wrong that I lost somehow.
I too once thought life was cruel.
It’s a cycle really I think I’m withdrawing and guilt tripping
You - I think you’re insensitive.
And I don’t feel heard and I said "Do you believe we are
Fundamentally judgmental? Fundamentally evil?

And you said “Yes”, I said “I don’t believe in revenge
In right or wrong, good or bad, you said
"Well what about the man that I saw handcuffed in the emergency room
Bleeding after beating his kid
And she threw a shoe at his head.
I think what he did was wrong and I would’ve had a hard time
Feeling compassion for him."
I had to watch my tone for fear of having you feel judged.

I was hoping, I was hoping we could dance together.
I was hoping, I was hoping we could be creamy together.


(Von Alanis Morissette, in wunderbarer Version zu finden auf ihrem MTV unplugged-Album.)