Morissette assumed creative control and producing duties for her subsequent studio albums, including Under Rug Swept (2002), So-Called Chaos (2004), Flavors of Entanglement (2008), and Havoc and Bright Lights (2012). Her ninth album, Such Pretty Forks in the Road, was released in 2020. Morissette has sold more than 75 million records worldwide and has been dubbed the "Queen of Alt-Rock Angst" by Rolling Stone.
Read the full article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alanis_Morissette
Studio albums
Alanis (1991)
Now Is the Time (1992)
Jagged Little Pill (1995)
Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998)
Under Rug Swept (2002)
So-Called Chaos (2004)
Flavors of Entanglement (2008)
Havoc and Bright Lights (2012)
Such Pretty Forks in the Road (2020)
Break
Alanis Morissette Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Unknown to those outside
My body has contained and suppressed
And swallowed and abetted
Oh I am a stranger to myself
Beneath altruism dwells
A force uncontended
A voice that is tempered
Who am I kidding?
I am not some Mother there'sa
If I don't say something soon
I will break from the weight of the high road I take
No
Indeed I need my chance to fail
Some room to unravel
I need a chance to blame for two minutes
Unbridled, unbrazened
So I need imaginings of maiming
Fantasies of outright screaming
I need a chance to thrash for minutes
Uncontained, unforgiving
Who am I kidding?
I am not some Mother there'sa
If I don't do something soon
I will die from restraint
As a sick subjugate
No
I will move beyond, I'm certain of that
The sooner I go the quicker I'll be back
I would not threaten or cause you any harm
Have to get this out or my light will go out
Who am I kidding?
I am not some Mother there'sa
If I don't do something soon
I will die from restraint
As a sick subjugate
The opening lines of "Break" introduce the theme of self-restraint, and how it can become a burden. Alanis Morissette begins by acknowledging how she has "sucked it up to heights/ Unknown to those outside," implying that she has been holding back her emotions and desires to a severe extent. She describes the toll that this has taken on her, saying that her body has "contained and suppressed," and she has swallowed down her emotions and urges. The persona she presents to the world is one of altruism and selflessness, but she admits that beneath that lies a "force uncontended" and a "voice that is tempered to boiled and unhindered." This implies that she has a dark, raging side that she has been keeping suppressed for too long.
The chorus of the song reinforces the idea that the weight of the high road she has taken has become unbearable. She states that she is not "some Mother Teresa," and if she doesn't say something soon, she will "break from the weight of the high road." By acknowledging her limitations and the fact that she cannot keep holding back forever, she is taking the first step towards setting herself free.
The second verse of "Break" takes this further, with Morissette expressing a need to "fail" and "unravel." She wants to "blame for two minutes," to indulge in "fantasies of outright screaming," and to "thrash for minutes uncontained, unforgiving." These are all violent and intense urges, which suggest a deep-seated rage within her. The persona she has been presenting to the world is one of control and restraint, but she cannot keep this up forever. The chorus repeats once more, reinforcing the idea that she needs to break free from this self-imposed restraint before it destroys her altogether.
The song ends with Morissette stating that she will "move beyond," and that she is "certain of that." She recognizes that she cannot keep herself under control forever, and that she needs to let off steam before she can find some kind of equilibrium. The final lines of the song declare that she is not a "sick subjugate," and that she needs to express herself in order to find her true self.
Line by Line Meaning
Indeed I have sucked it up to heights
I have endured and tolerated more than people know
Unknown to those outside
Other people are unaware of my struggles
My body has contained and suppressed
I have bottled up and repressed my emotions
And swallowed and abetted
I have kept quiet and enabled others to mistreat me
Oh I am a stranger to myself
I don't even recognize my own feelings and desires
Beneath altruism dwells
Despite my kind demeanor, I have anger and frustration hidden inside
A force uncontended
These emotions are strong and persistent
A voice that is tempered
I have restrained my true thoughts and feelings
To boiled and unhindered
But now they are reaching a boiling point
Who am I kidding?
I cannot keep pretending to be someone I'm not
I am not some Mother there'sa
I cannot be the perfect, selfless caregiver
If I don't say something soon
If I don't speak up and express myself soon
I will break from the weight of the high road I take
I will reach my breaking point and snap from trying to be the bigger person
Indeed I need my chance to fail
I need the opportunity to make mistakes and mess up
Some room to unravel
I need space to let my true emotions come to the surface
I need a chance to blame for two minutes
I need to vent my frustrations and blame someone - even if it's for a short time
Unbridled, unbrazened
I need to act without worrying about the consequences or repercussions
So I need imaginings of maiming
I have violent thoughts and fantasies that I need to release and process
Fantasies of outright screaming
I have a desire to yell and let out my pent-up emotions
I need a chance to thrash for minutes
I need to physically release my anger and aggression through movement or exercise
Uncontained, unforgiving
I need to let it all out without holding back or feeling guilty
I will move beyond, I'm certain of that
I will overcome these feelings eventually
The sooner I go the quicker I'll be back
Addressing these feelings head-on will lead to a faster recovery
I would not threaten or cause you any harm
I don't want to hurt anyone else with my actions
Have to get this out or my light will go out
If I don't express these emotions, I will lose my own sense of self
If I don't do something soon
If I don't take action to address these feelings soon
I will die from restraint
I will suffer the consequences of holding back and not expressing myself
As a sick subjugate
I will become a slave to my own inability to stand up for myself
Contributed by Charlotte F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@LadyVanDaele
This.. is my favourite song of ALL TIME! Why is it that Alanis's deleted tracks are always the best!?
@brnmadureira
LadyVanDaele Isn't? All b-sides of entanglement era are better than the singles!
@debfan74
It was how it got die hard fans to buy the imported version of the album or in cases of the singles, the die hards will go for the song(s) they don't have...which is not just Alanis, but all artists who have those hard to get B side tracks
@stephgob
You have no idea how excited I was to discover this song. I always buy Alanis albums, but I sometimes miss out on the songs that only make it on to Singles releases. This is one of those treasures! This definitely made my day! She is so talented and always rocks my socks off (even when I'm not wearing socks)!
@punishedexistence
Sounds like the answer to "Straighjacket". Brilliant music, really.
@meganbaute4254
Still my favourite song ever
@SchizophobicBand
I will never understand how Ke$ha and Rihanna get so much undeserved radio play, while good pop music like this is overlooked.
@MrBottlecapBill
They aren't singing depressing lyrics to recycled rifs. Alanis lost her grit with age sadly. Most of the songs are all the same.
@rockerdane
One of my *VERY FAVORITE songs...
Love it!!!!!!!*+++~~~
@karinaroblesval5498
Thanx for this precious gift. Alanis, YOU ROCK girl. LOve u