A live version of "Head over Feet" is featured on the album Alanis Unplugged (1999), and an acoustic version of the song was recorded for the album Jagged Little Pill Acoustic (2005).
"Head over Feet" has a harmonic structure that is unusual for its genre. The choruses are in a different key than the verses. Each verse is in the key of C major, whereas each chorus is in the key of D major. As a result, at the end of each chorus the song is forced to modulate down a major second (which is uncommon in rock music).
Alanis' vocal range in this song spans from a G4 to a B5.
Head Over Feet
Alanis Morissette Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You stated your case, time and again
I thought about it
You treat me like I'm a princess
I'm not used to liking that
You ask how my day was
You've already won me over
And don't be alarmed if I fall
Head over feet
And don't be surprised if I love you
For all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault
Your love is thick
And it swallowed me whole
You're so much braver
Than I gave you credit for
That's not lip service
You've already won me over
In spite of me
And don't be alarmed if I fall
Head over feet
And don't be surprised if I love you
For all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault
You are the bearer
Of unconditional things
You held your breath
And the door for me
Thanks for your patience
You're the best listener
That I've ever met
You're my best friend
Best friend with benefits
What took me so long?
I've never felt this healthy before
I've never wanted something rational
I am aware now, oh
I am aware now
You've already won me over
In spite of me
And don't be alarmed if I fall
Head over feet
And don't be surprised if I love you
For all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault
You've already won me over
In spite of me
And don't be alarmed if I fall
Head over feet
And don't be surprised if I love you
For all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault
The lyrics to Alanis Morissette's song Head Over Feet describe the experience of falling in love with someone unexpected, someone who treats the singer kindly and with unconditional love. The singer initially resists this love, as she is not used to being treated so well and may be afraid of being vulnerable. However, the love eventually takes over and she falls head over feet, unable to resist the other person.
Throughout the song, the singer acknowledges the bravery and goodness of this other person, thanking them for their patience and understanding. They become not only a romantic partner, but a best friend with whom the singer feels healthy and happy. The last line of the song - "I couldn't help it, it's all your fault" - can be interpreted as both playful teasing and a genuine expression of gratitude for the other person's role in the singer's newfound happiness.
Overall, the song is a celebration of unexpected love and the joy that can come from allowing oneself to be vulnerable and open to another person's affection.
Line by Line Meaning
I had no choice but to hear you
I couldn't ignore what you were saying
You stated your case, time and again
You made your argument repeatedly
I thought about it
I considered your point of view
You treat me like I'm a princess
You show me kindness and respect
I'm not used to liking that
I'm not accustomed to being treated well
You ask how my day was
You show genuine interest in my life
You've already won me over
I'm convinced by you
In spite of me
Despite my doubts or resistance
And don't be alarmed if I fall
You don't need to worry if I become emotionally attached
Head over feet
Completely, deeply in love
And don't be surprised if I love you
Don't be caught off guard if I have strong feelings for you
For all that you are
For your good qualities and flaws
I couldn't help it
I couldn't control my feelings
It's all your fault
You caused me to fall for you
Your love is thick
Your love is intense and engulfing
And it swallowed me whole
It completely consumed me
You're so much braver
You have more courage than I gave you credit for
Than I gave you credit for
I underestimated you
That's not lip service
I'm not just saying this to please you
You are the bearer
You possess
Of unconditional things
Of love and support without conditions
You held your breath
You waited patiently for me
And the door for me
You opened up opportunities for me
Thanks for your patience
I appreciate your understanding and endurance
You're the best listener
You are skilled at hearing what I have to say
That I've ever met
Of all the people I know
You're my best friend
You are the person I am closest to
Best friend with benefits
We have a close emotional and physical relationship
What took me so long?
Why did I wait so long to realize my feelings for you?
I've never felt this healthy before
Being with you has improved my emotional wellbeing
I've never wanted something rational
I don't always make logical choices when it comes to love
I am aware now, oh
I understand my feelings now
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Glen Ballard, Alanis Nadine Morissette
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AP-gc5ss
Lyrics:
I had no choice but to hear you
You stated your case time and again
I thought about it
You treat me like I'm a princess
I'm not used to liking that
You ask how my day was
You've already won me over in spite of me
Don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault
Your love is thick and it swallowed me whole
You're so much braver than I gave you credit for
That's not lip service
You've already won me over in spite of me
And don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
And don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault
You are the bearer of unconditional things
You held your breath and the door for me
Thanks for your patience
You're the best listener that I've ever met
You're my best friend
Best friend with benefits
What took me so long?
I've never felt this healthy before
I've never wanted something rational
I am aware now
I am aware now
You've already won me over in spite of me
Don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
And don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault
You've already won me over in spite of me
And don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
And don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault
@maryannlago2
Lyrics
I had no choice but to hear you
You stated your case time and again
I thought about it
You treat me like I'm a princess
I'm not used to liking that
You ask how my day was
You've already won me over in spite of me
Don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault
Your love is thick and it swallowed me whole
You're so much braver than I gave you credit for
That's not lip service
You've already won me over in spite of me
And don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
And don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault
You are the bearer of unconditional things
You held your breath and the door for me
Thanks for your patience
You're the best listener that I've ever met
You're my best friend
Best friend with benefits
What took me so long?
I've never felt this healthy before
I've never wanted something rational
I am aware now
I am aware now
You've already won me over in spite of me
Don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
And don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault
You've already won me over in spite of me
And don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
And don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault
@neilmiller617
My wife died 9 weeks ago. I can imagine my wife saying these exact words to me before we were married. These lyrics remind me of things she had said in the past. I’ve listened to this song so many times the last several days. It makes me feel a bit closer to my wife, but also sad. It’s a really good song.
@mambabales4188
Condolence Sir 🙏🏻. God bless
@mjkitty
Love and light to you Neil.
@ND-nv1vv
Sounds like true love. Embrace her spirit. Her arms are around you
@nnshjs9407
So sorry for you loss ❤️
@LL-yi4vo
🙏🏻💗
@andrewparodi1920
A little historical context for those not old enough to know…. At the time that this video was released, music videos were still culturally relevant (MTV was still actually playing them on something called television), and Alanis Morrissette was the "It Girl" of the moment. This album was at the time the highest-selling debut by a female artist, ever. It has sold over 30 million copies to date, with Billboard magazine declaring it the best-selling pop record of the 1990s. Due to all of these factors, at the time this video was hardly seen as "cheap." Her face alone was more valuable than the most extravagant high-tech special-effects could ever be. At a point when music videos were so relevant that millions of dollars were spent in producing them (and MTV was still playing them), it was a downright radical act for her to release a video consisting of nothing but a close-up of her face. It only made her seem that much more cool. Young people of today: I love you; you're awesome; enjoy your youth, for us old people; but also try to learn a little history along the way, okay? (Oh, one more thing…. Two thirds of the way through this song, she refers to her best friend, "best friends with benefits." That is the origin of the term people still use today: "Friends with benefits.")
@CardboardCreative
I was just a kid at the time, so my own experience with the music video is empty. I abolsutely adore it as an adult now, & even more with this context, so thanks :)
A similarly directed video with a separate context is Janelle Monae's "Cold War". A little more dramatic, a little more veiled, but her face & emotions as one of many faces of black America.
@asifmetal666
O man im over thirty..
Damn
Already one step closer to grave..
@JeffSims009
Andrew Parodi I understand what you are saying, but this music video is pretty terrible.