In the song the first glimpse of Morissette's insightful, new-age guru appears for the first time, speaking of the importance of poor decision making in life and explaining that every decision that people make will teach a valuable lesson. A line from "You Learn" is the source of the title of Jagged Little Pill. It refers not to drug use, but rather to the lessons of life being hard to accept ("Swallow it down, what a jagged little pill/ It feels so good swimming in your stomach"). The phrase is often mistaken for the title of the song, which Morissette has performed at nearly all her concerts. The arrangement of the song has changed repeatedly (particularly parts of the chorus melody), but the lyrics have remained the same.
In the United States the track was number one on Billboard's Hot 100 Airplay chart for five weeks. After its radio airplay had started to decline, "You Learn" was released as a retail single and debuted and peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. Because the CD single includes a live version of "You Oughta Know" from the 1996 Grammy Awards as an A-side, Billboard credited the chart position to "You Learn"/"You Oughta Know". An acoustic version of the song from Morissette's live album Alanis Unplugged (1999) was released as a single in some countries in 2000. Another acoustic version was recorded for the album Jagged Little Pill Acoustic (2005) and charted at sixty-six on the Tokio Hot 100 radio chart in Japan.
There are two music videos for this single. The original music video, which features a dread-locked Morissette cart-wheeling, back-flipping, and wearing five different warm-up jackets. The video was directed by Liz Friedlander. The second video was clips of Morissette and her band on and off stage including live performances. A live version of the single was used instead of the album version.
You Learn
Alanis Morissette Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
I (la la)
I, yeah (la la)
Oh, oh (la la)
I, yeah (la la)
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
"You Learn" by Alanis Morissette is a song about learning from life experiences, both positive and negative. In the first verse, she suggests that getting your heart trampled on and walking around naked are experiences to embrace because they can both be liberating in their own way. In the second verse, she recommends biting off more than you can chew and sticking your foot in your mouth because making mistakes and taking risks are important parts of learning and growing as a person. The chorus reinforces the idea that no matter what life throws at you, it's a learning experience and you can come out stronger on the other side if you approach it with an open mind.
The bridge of the song begins with a playful reference to the phrase "wear it out" and continues to encourage listeners to embrace life fully, even when it's difficult. The final verse includes a nod to the impermanence of all things - everything will eventually have to be let go of, and it's important to take joy and lessons from the fleeting moments.
Overall, "You Learn" is a song about staying open to life's ups and downs, and trusting that each experience is an opportunity for growth and learning.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, oh, oh
The song begins with a simple interjection expressing the singer's emotions.
I, recommend getting your heart trampled on to anyone, yeah
The singer believes that experiencing heartbreak can lead to growth and recommends it to others.
I, recommend walking around naked in your living room, yeah
The singer is suggesting that people should be comfortable with themselves and not be afraid to be vulnerable.
Swallow it down (what a jagged little pill)
The phrase 'swallow it down' implies that the singer is suggesting that the listener should try to accept some painful truth, which is likened to a small, but sharp, pill.
It feels so good (swimming in your stomach)
Although it may be difficult, there may be a sense of satisfaction or relief from finally being able to confront and accept something difficult.
Wait until the dust settles
It's better to wait for the chaos to die down before trying to make sense of a situation.
You live you learn, you love you learn
Life is a continuous learning process and the experiences of living and loving contribute to that.
You cry you learn, you lose you learn
Even in the toughest of times, people can learn valuable lessons from experiencing and processing their emotions.
You bleed you learn, you scream you learn
Metaphorical bleeding and screaming represent painful moments in life that can also teach us valuable lessons.
I, recommend biting off more than you can chew to anyone
The singer believes that people should challenge themselves and take on tasks that may seem difficult, even if they might fail.
I certainly do
The singer practices what she preaches and likes to take risks herself.
I, recommend sticking your foot in your mouth at any time
The singer is suggesting that being unapologetically authentic and speaking your mind, even if it may lead to embarrassment, is better than suppressing your thoughts and feelings.
Feel free
The singer encourages the listener to embrace their imperfections and express themselves honestly.
Throw it down (the caution blocks you from the wind)
The caution is a metaphor for fear, and fear can hold you back from experiencing the fullness of life.
Hold it up (to the rays)
The sun's rays represent the energy and positivity that can come from overcoming fear and caution.
You wait and see when the smoke clears
As with the earlier line about waiting for the dust to settle, here the singer is saying that sometimes it's better to wait for clarity and understanding before taking action.
Wear it out (the way a three-year-old would do)
The singer is encouraging the listener to enjoy and appreciate life's experiences fully, like how a child would with a beloved toy.
Melt it down (you're gonna have to eventually, anyway)
Everything in life is temporary, so the singer is saying to cherish the moment while it lasts.
The fire trucks are coming up around the bend
This unexpected line implies that something exciting or dramatic is about to happen, as if the song is building up to a climax or conclusion.
You grieve you learn, you choke you learn
Not all of life's lessons are easy to process, but they still contribute to growth and learning.
You laugh you learn, you choose you learn
Enjoying the happy moments in life and making decisions for oneself are also important parts of the learning process.
You pray you learn, you ask you learn
Turning to one's faith or asking others for help are also valid ways of learning and growing.
You live you learn
The song ends where it started, with the repeated idea that life is a continuous learning process.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Glen Ballard, Alanis Nadine Morissette
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jasoncase9481
Jasmine Russell Beautiful woman terrific singer, great music videos, and a terrific song writer.
Be great to see her play herself or someone else in a MCU super hero movie.
I do want to meet her and find out what she is like as a person. Also I know I'm not a great or decent singer with certain exceptions but I would still sing karaoke with her, or with her watching.
Scary and exciting at the same time.
Also her songs could easily be movies although altered for certain ones so a happy ending happens.
Great songs to hear while working out, for dances, to relax, or made happy or feel better because of something bad or terrible, a song to hear before dreaming, etc.
Wow that's a high cds collection the highest I heard of.
@sole.81
What a blessing being a teenager in the 90s. Alanis, counting crows, pearl jam, REM, what a time.
@redskies4530
Hi I recommend an indie song & video called 'Where I Come From' By Robert Nix
@claydogg1231
Minus counting crows …. Not as great as it’s peers
@bigtool4088
Sure was
@chrisf153
Hey, it was ok being in my forties either .
Wasn't it a great time to be alive.
@D61664
None of the cunts born today will ever know !
@Houseworksaws
My cousin was a huge Alanis Morissette fan. She had dreads and was a free spirit. A beautiful young woman who cared more about the earth and others than anything. She was 23 when she passed from leukemia.. I always wonder what she’d be doing today. Hearing this was a wonderful trip down memory lane.
@paolofenney2222
😢
@tamarquaye
❤❤❤❤❤
@georgetrusty7696
🙏🏾