Eight Easy Steps
Alanis Morissette Lyrics


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(Let's get it while it's hot)

How to stay paralyzed by fear of abandonment
How to defer to men in solvable predicaments
How to control someone to be a carbon copy of you
How to have that not work and have them run away from you

How to keep people at arms-length and never get too close
How to mistrust the ones you supposedly love the most
How to pretend you're fine and don't need help from anyone
How to feel worthless unless you're serving or helping someone

I'll teach you all this in eight easy steps
The course of a lifetime, you'll never forget
I'll show you how to in eight easy steps
I'll show you how leadership looks when taught by the best

How to hate women when you're supposed to be a feminist
How to play all-pious when you're really a hypocrite
How to hate God when you're a prayer and a spiritualist
How to sabotage your fantasies by fear of success

I'll teach you all this in eight easy steps
The course of a lifetime, you'll never forget
I'll show you how to in eight easy steps
I'll show you how leadership looks when taught by the best

I've been doing research for years
I've been practicing my ass off
I've been training my whole life for this moment, I swear to you
Culminating just to be this well-versed leader before you

I'll teach you all this in eight easy steps
The course of a lifetime, you'll never forget
I'll show you how to in eight easy steps
I'll show you how leadership looks when taught by the best

How to lie to yourself and thereby to everyone else
How to keep smiling when you're thinking of killing yourself
How to numb a la 'holic to avoid going within
How to stay stuck in blue by blaming them for everything

I'll teach you all this in eight easy steps
The course of a lifetime, you'll never forget
I'll show you how to in eight easy steps
I'll show you how leadership looks when taught by the best

I'll teach you all this in eight easy steps
The course of a lifetime, you'll never forget




I'll show you how to in eight easy steps
I'll show you how leadership looks when taught by the best

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Eight Easy Steps" by Alanis Morissette clearly outline a list of behaviors and habits that can keep an individual stagnant and paralyzed with fear. The song is a critique of self-help culture and those who claim to have easy answers to complex problems. Morissette sings about the dangers of relying too heavily on these supposed easy solutions and how they can ultimately leave individuals feeling empty and unfulfilled.


In the first verse, Morissette discusses the ways in which individuals can control others and push them away, while in the second verse, she addresses issues such as hypocrisy and self-sabotage. She then goes on to discuss lying to oneself, numbing oneself to avoid introspection, and placing blame on others for one's own shortcomings. Through her lyrics, Morissette highlights the complexities of human behavior and the dangers of reducing them to simple, easy-to-follow steps.


In the chorus, Morissette declares her intention to teach these eight steps, but the sarcasm underlying the lyrics implies that there is no easy path to leadership or emotional growth. The song ultimately poses the question of what true leadership and emotional growth look like when the journey is far from easy.


Line by Line Meaning

How to stay paralyzed by fear of abandonment
Learning to be immobilized by the possibility of someone leaving you


How to defer to men in solvable predicaments
Learning to let men take charge in situations that can easily be resolved


How to control someone to be a carbon copy of you
Learning to manipulate someone into becoming like you


How to have that not work and have them run away from you
Learning that this manipulation tactic backfires, causing the person to leave you


How to keep people at arms-length and never get too close
Learning to keep relationships shallow and not fully invest in them


How to mistrust the ones you supposedly love the most
Learning to have doubts and mistrust for those closest to you


How to pretend you're fine and don't need help from anyone
Learning to put up a facade of being alright and not wanting help, even when in need


How to feel worthless unless you're serving or helping someone
Learning to believe that your value is only in serving others


How to hate women when you're supposed to be a feminist
Learning to have hatred for women when claiming to support their rights


How to play all-pious when you're really a hypocrite
Learning to act morally superior when really being a hypocrite


How to hate God when you're a prayer and a spiritualist
Learning to have animosity towards God even while being religious and spiritual


How to sabotage your fantasies by fear of success
Learning to sabotage your own dreams due to fear of achieving them


How to lie to yourself and thereby to everyone else
Learning to deceive yourself and consequently, others


How to keep smiling when you're thinking of killing yourself
Learning to hide suicidal thoughts behind a smile


How to numb a la 'holic to avoid going within
Learning to become addicted to numbing activities to avoid self-reflection


How to stay stuck in blue by blaming them for everything
Learning to stay in a negative state by blaming others for all issues




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Alanis Morissette

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Mattia Remondi

How to stay paralyzed by fear of abandonment
How to defer to men in solve-able predicaments
How to control someone to be a carbon copy of you
How to have that not work and have them run away from you
How to keep people at arm's length and never get too close
How to mistrust the ones you supposedly love the most
How to pretend you're fine and don't need help from anyone
How to feel worthless unless you're serving or helping someone
I'll teach you all this in eight easy steps
A course of a lifetime you'll never forget
I'll show you how to in eight easy steps
I'll show you how leadership looks when taught by the best
How to hate women when you're supposed to be a feminist
How to be all pious when you're really a hypocrite
How to hate god when you're a prayer and a spiritualist
How to sabotage your fantasies by fears of success
I'll teach you all this in eight easy steps
A course of a lifetime you'll never forget
I'll show you how to in eight easy steps
I'll show you how leadership looks when taught by the best
I've been doing research for years
I've been practicing my ass off
I've been training my whole life for this moment I swear to you
Culminating just to be this well-versed leader before you
I'll teach you all this in eight easy steps
A course of a lifetime you'll never forget
I'll show you how to in eight easy steps
I'll show you how leadership looks when taught by the best
How to lie to yourself and thereby to everyone else
How to keep smiling when you're thinking of killing yourself
How to numb a la holic to avoid going within
How to stay stuck in blue by blaming them for everything
I'll teach you all this in eight easy steps
A course of a lifetime you'll never forget
I'll show you how to in eight easy steps
I'll show you how leadership looks when taught by the best
I'll teach you all this in eight easy steps
A course of a lifetime you'll never forget
I'll show you how to in eight easy steps
I'll show you how leadership looks when taught by the best.



All comments from YouTube:

James Bond

I'm surprised they didn't blow this up on the radio as much as much as some of her other greatest hits. Under-appreciated...

Мы Мышицы

Because it's a big secret 🤐

Raymond Prach

There is seriously a parallel universe out there where this was her break-out hit (instead of You Oughta Know), and it is a better world than the one we know.

James Bond

@Raymond Prach interesting. I'm into the whole Mandella Effect thing because things were a lot different in my childhood than they are today. In my universe, it was You Oughta Know. In my universe, C3PO was also all gold. What about yours?

Aquaticus12

Criminally underrated song! I wish she would play this song live again!

Soniaja Malenfant

it is a good song

Pacho Ruiz

I love Alanis' music, but this song and video is one of the most brilliant things she's done. The irony used on the whole concept, mocking on herself past eras and with those sharped and satirical lyrics that talk about being hypocrite, showing yourself in one way but feeling something different and extreme. This woman is a genius

Anki Hansen

Isn't it ironic? Don't you think?

heyward boyce

100% agree

yu stu

i've been doing research for years, i've been practicing my ass off

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