Ironic

Hey, yeah, yeah Yeah, ah-ah-ah, yeah An old man turned ninety-eight He won the lottery, and died the next day It's a black fly in your Chardonnay It's a death row pardon two minutes too late And isn't it ironic? Don't you think? It's like rain on your wedding day It's a free ride when you've already paid It's the good advice that you just didn't take And who would've thought? It figures Mr. Play-It-Safe was afraid to fly He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbye He waited his whole damn life to take that flight And as the plane crashed down He thought, "Well, isn't this nice?" And isn't it ironic? Don't you think? It's like rain on your wedding day It's a free ride when you've already paid It's the good advice that you just didn't take And who would've thought? It figures Well, life has a funny way of sneaking up on you When you think everything's okay and everything's going right And life has a funny way of helping you out When you think everything's gone wrong And everything blows up in your face It's a traffic jam when you're already late A "No smoking" sign on your cigarette break It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife It's meeting the man of my dreams And then meeting his beautiful wife And isn't it ironic? Don't you think? A little too ironic And yeah, I really do think It's like rain on your wedding day It's a free ride when you've already paid It's the good advice that you just didn't take And who would've thought? It figures And yeah, life has a funny way of sneaking up on you And life has a funny, funny way of helping you out Helping you out

Composer: Glen Ballard, Alanis Nadine Morissette

In-depth Analysis of 'Ironic' by LyricLens AI

Alanis Morissette's classic hit 'Ironic' from her 1995 album 'Jagged Little Pill' has captivated listeners for decades, largely due to its relatable scenarios of unfortunate coincidences. The song humorously narrates a series of events that are often perceived as ironic, even if technically they might lean more towards bad luck or mere coincidence.

Central Themes Explored:

Life's Unpredictability: The lyrics highlight how life often throws unexpected curveballs, subverting expectations in frustrating or amusing ways. From winning the lottery only to die the next day, to rain on a wedding, these moments underscore a lack of control over fate.
Misconceptions of Irony: A significant theme, and source of much debate, is the song's exploration of what constitutes 'irony'. Morissette presents scenarios commonly labeled as ironic in everyday speech, prompting listeners to reflect on the true definition of the term versus its colloquial use.
Resignation and Acceptance: Despite the frustrating nature of these events, there's an underlying tone of resignation, encapsulated in lines like "Well, life has a funny way of sneaking up on you." It suggests a recognition of life's unpredictable, sometimes cruel, humor.

The song's enduring appeal lies in its ability to make us reflect on those moments when life seems to be playing a trick on us, whether truly ironic or simply an unfortunate twist of fate.

Q&A & Fun Facts: 'Ironic' by Alanis Morissette

What is the main message of Alanis Morissette's 'Ironic'?

'Ironic' explores life's frustrating coincidences and unfortunate events, often mistaken for true irony, highlighting the unpredictable and sometimes humorous nature of existence. It suggests that life often presents situations that defy our expectations.

Are the examples in 'Ironic' truly ironic?

Most examples in the song are widely considered coincidental or simply bad luck rather than true irony. True irony involves a contrast between expectation and reality (situational irony), or what is said and what is meant (verbal irony). This debate has become a famous aspect of the song's legacy.

When was 'Ironic' released?

'Ironic' was released in 1996 as the third single from Alanis Morissette's highly successful 1995 album, 'Jagged Little Pill'.

Fun Facts:

The song sparked extensive public and critical debate about the precise definition of