Lyrics to So-Called Chaos, The Prayer Cycle, Precious Illusions Single, and SNL 25.

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND IT	SONG
The Prayer Cycle/The Collection	Movement I: Mercy
The Prayer Cycle	Movement III: Hope
The Prayer Cycle	Movement VI: Innocence
The Prayer Cycle	Movement IX: Faith
Precious Illusions Single	See Feast on Scraps
SNL 25: Saturday Night Live The Musical Performances (Volume 2)/Live Performance	Hand In My Pocket (Live from Saturday Night Live)
So-Called Chaos	Doth I Protest Too Much
So-Called Chaos/Single/The Collection	Eight Easy Steps (Credited as "8 Easy Steps" on The Collection)
So-Called Chaos/Single/The Collection	Everything
So-Called Chaos	Excuses
So-Called Chaos	Knees of My Bees
So-Called Chaos	Not All Me
So-Called Chaos/Single	Out Is Through
So-Called Chaos	So-Called Chaos
So-Called Chaos	Spineless
So-Called Chaos	This Grudge

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All lyrics are written the way they are sung (unless I say I took them from somewhere, in which case I don't know how it's sung), not the way they are originally written.

NOTE: the lyrics below are in English, they are the translations of the actual lyrics. If you speak Hungarian or any of the other languages used on the album, please sign my guestbook if you would like to help with the actual lyrics.

We have slaughtered
In the garden of beauty
Digging graves instead of planting
Mercy for the crucified
A bitter justice
Begging eternity for love

By God's touch I pray
That I may move from this consecrated Earth
Into the next season

By moon we gather
For the ascension
Great sky shelter us
With your endless compassion

Under a sky of innocence
We are now all dying
In a slow black rain
Was it a failure
Of Man and Angels?
Was it a failure of love?

From this human river
Too cruel for winter
We come to the gates
A rehearsal for the silence
Pray we do no enter

Under a sky of innocence
We bathe in the seduction
Beautiful
The light is unraveling now
We open our arms to it

My unborn forgive me
I only wish I had the strength to bring you into this world
More faithful

Hand In My Pocket (Performed Live on Saturday Night Live, Saturday October 28th, 1995)

I’m broke but I’m happy
I’m poor but I’m kind
I’m short but I’m healthy, ye-eah
I’m high but I’m grounded
I’m sane but I’m overwhelmed
I’m lost but I’m hopeful, baby
And what it all comes down to, yeah-ee-eah
Is that everything’s gonna be fine fine fi-i-ine
‘Cause I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving a high fi-ee-ive
Well I feel drunk but I’m sober
I’m young and I’m underpaid
I’m tired but I’m working, ye-eah
I care but I’m restless
I’m here but I’m really gone
I’m wrong and I’m sorry, baby
And what it all comes down to
Is that everything’s gonna be quite alri-a-ight
‘Cause I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is flicking a cigarette
[Brief Harmonica Solo, courtesy Alanis]
What it all comes down to-o-o-o-o
Is that I haven’t got it all figured out just yet, yeah ee yeah yeah ho-o
‘Cause I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving the peace sign
I’m free but I’m focused
I’m green but I’m wise
I’m hard but I’m friendly, baby
I’m sad but I’m laughin'
I’m brave but I’m chicken shit
I’m sick but I’m pretty, baby
And what it all boils down to, yeah ee yeah
Is that no one’s really got it figured out just yet yeah ee yeah yeah ho-o!
But I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is playing the piano-o-ah-o-ah-o yeah
What it all comes down to my frie-ends, yeah yeah
Is that everything’s just fine fine fi-ee-ha-i-ine
‘Cause I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is hailing a taxi cab
[Alanis' Harmonica Solo]
[Applause and cheers]

I'm not threatened by every pair of legs you watch go by-y-y
I don't cringe when you stare at women it's just a thing called 'guy'-uy-uy
I don't notice your sideways glances or where your loyalty lie-ie-ies
I'm secure and out of me it's hard to get a rise

I'm not jealous
I don't get moved by much
I'm not enragèd
Not insecure as such
Not going insane
Rational stays in touch 'n'
Doth I protest too mu-uch

I'm not tortured by how oft you're busy 'cause I've got things to do-o-o
I'm not disappointed about how you don't miss me 'cause I don't need you to-o-o

I'm not needy
I don't get clingy much
I am not scared
I am not afraid as such
I am not dependent
Rock solid stays in touch and
Doth I protest too mu-uch

So much energy to pro-ove to you who I can't possibly be-e-e
So much energy to prove to you I'm not who you hate for me to be-e

I'm not saddened and I don't miss you 'cause I have moved on too-oo-oo
I'm not concerned about your new lover 'cause I've a new lover too-oo-oo

I'm not depressed
I don't get down that much
I'm not despondent
I am not dark as such
I'm never sad
Keep chin up stays in touch and
Doth I protest too mu-uch

I'm not jealous
I don't get moved by much
I'm not enragèd
Not insecure as such
Not going insane
Rational stays in touch and
Doth I protest too mu-uch

[Almost inaudibly]
Let's get it while it's hot

How to stay paralyzèd 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-ou

How to keep people at arm's length and never get too clo-ose
How to mistrust the ones you supposedly love the mo-ost
How to pretend you're fine and don't need help from anyone
How to feel worthless unless you're serving or helping someone

[on 'or] 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 femini-ist
How to play all pious when you're really a hypocri-ite
How to hate god when you're a pray-er and a spiritualist
How to sabotage your fantasies by fear of success

[on 'fear'] 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 yea-ears
I've been practicing my a-a-a-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 à la 'holic to avoid going within
How to stay stuck in blue by blaming them for everything

[on 'them'] 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

[on 'by'] 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 can be an asshole of the grandest kind
I can withhold like it's going out of style
I can be the moodiest baby
And you've never met anyone as, as negative as I am sometimes

I am the wisest woman you've ever met
I am the kindest soul with whom you've connected
I have the bravest heart that you've ever seen
And you've never met anyone as, as positive as I am sometimes

You see everything
You see every part
You see all my light
And you love my dark
You dig everything
Of which I'm ashamed
There's not anything to which you can't relate
And you're still he-e-ere

I blame everyone else not my own partaking
My passive-aggressiveness can be devastating
I'm terrified and mistrusting
And you've never met anyone as, as closed down as I am sometimes

You see everything
You see every part
You see all my light
And you love my dark
You dig everythi-ing
Of which I'm ashamed
There's not anything
To which you can't relate
And you're still he-e-ere

What I resist, persists, and speaks
Louder than I know.
What I resist, you love
No matter how low or high I go

I'm the funniest woman that you've ever known
I am the dullest women that you've ever known
I'm the most gorgeous woman that you've ever known
And you've never met anyone as
As everything as I am sometimes

You see everything (You see everything)
You see every part (You see every part)
You see all my light (You see all my light)
And you love my dark (And you love my-y dark)
You dig everything (You dig everything)
Of which I'm ashamed (Of which I'm ashamed)
There's not anything (There's not anything)
To which you can't relate (To which you can't relate)
And you're still he-e-ere

Why no one will help me I'm too dumb I'm too smart
They'll not understand me I am lonely they'll hate me

There is not enough time it's too hard to help me
God wants me to work no resting, no lazy

These excuses how they've served me so well
They've kept me safe they've kept me stuck
They've kept me locked in my own cell

I'm too far from home it takes far too much energy
And I cannot afford to, no one will ever see me

These excuses how they've served me so well
They've kept me safe they've kept me stuck
They've kept me locked in my own cell

These excuses how they're so familiar
They've kept me blocked they've kept me small
They've kept me safe inside my shell

Bringing these into the-e light shakes their foundation and clears my sight
Now my imagination is the only thing that limits the bar and its rise to the hei-eights

No one can have it all see I have to, they want me to
I can't let them down I will never be happy

These excuses how they've served me so well
They've kept me safe they've kept me stuck
They've kept me locked in my own cell

These excuses how they're so familiar
They've kept me blocked they've kept me small
They've kept me safe inside my shell

We share a culture, same vernacular
Love of physical humour and time spent alone
You with your penchant for spontaneous advents
For sticky unrests be unearthed and then gone

You are a gift renaissance with a wink
With tendencies for conversations that raise bars
You are a sage who is fuelled by compassion
Comes to nooks and crannies as balm for all scars

You make the knees of my bees weak
Tremble and buckle
You make the knees of my bees wea-eak

You are a spirit that knows of no limit
Who knows of no ceiling, who balks at dead ends
You are a wordsmith who cares for his brothers
Not seduced by illusion or fair weather friends

You make the knees of my bees weak
Tremble and buckle
You make the knees of my bees wea-eak

[Instrumental]

You are a vision who lives by the signals
Of stomach and intuition as your guide
You are sliver of god on a platter who walks what he talks
And who cops when he's lied

You make the knees of my bees weak
Tremble and buckle
You make the knees of my bees wea-eak

You make the knees of my bees weak
Tremble and buckle
You make the knees of my bees wea-eak

Back to Top

I wear their face o-o-on top of my face
I am the perfect target screen for your blindly-fueled rage

I bear the brunt of your long-buried pain
I don't mind helping you out but I want you to remember my name

It's not all me
It's not a-all my fault
I may remind you-ou-ou
But I won't take it a-all on

Past-riddled rage I see the buttons I engage
With my dignity in place I'm all too happy to assuage

It's not all me-e-e
It's not a-all my fault
I may remind you-ou-ou
But I won't take it a-a-a-all on

Lest I find my voice, find the strength to stand up to you
Lest I state my limit, and take on only what is mine to

We are a team I'm here to help mend and re-seam
All I trigger unknowingly a job I hold in high esteem

It's not all me-e-e
It's not a-all my fault
I may remind you-ou-ou
But I won't take it a-a-a-all on

It's not all me-e-e
It's not a-all my fault
I may remind you-ou-ou
But I won't take it a-a-a-all on

I'll only take some of i-i-i-it
Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm
Mmm hey la la eh ya ya 'nd oh ho oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh yo oh oh oh 'n oh oh oh
Hmm hey ya ah oh oh oh
Mmm mm oh oh oh oh oh
[continue 'til fade]

Back to Top

Every time you raise your voice I see the greener grass
Every time you run for cover I see this pasture
Every time we're in a funk I picture a different choice
Anytime we're in a rut, this distant grandeur

My tendency to want to do away feels natural and
My urgency to dream of softer places feels understandable but I know

[on 'but'] The only way out is through
The faster we're in the better
The only way out is through ultimately
The only way out is through
The only way we'll feel better
The only way out is through ultimately-y

Every time that I'm confused I think there must be easier ways
Every time our horns are locked I'm towel throwing
Every time we're at a loss we've bolted from difficulty
Anytime we're in stalemate, a final bowing

My tendency to want to hide away feels easier and
The immediacy of picturing another place, comforting to go but I know

[on 'but'] The only way out is through
The faster we're in the better
The only way out is through ultimately
The only way out is through
The only way we'll feel better
The only way out is through ultimately-y

We could just walk away and hide our heads in the sand
We could just call it quits only to start all over again, with somebody else

Every time we're stuck in struggle I'm down for the count that day
Every time I dream of quick fix I'm assuagèd
Now I know it's hard when it's through and I'm damned if I don't, no quick fix way
What formerly was treatment silent's now outdated

My tendency to want to run feels unnatural now
The urgency to want to give to you what I want most feels good and I know

[on 'and'] The only way out is through
The faster we're in the better
The only way out is through ultimately
The only way out is through
The only way we'll feel better
The only way out is through ultimately-y

[on 'ly-y'] The only way out is through
The faster we're in the better
The only way out is through ultimately
The only way out is through
The only way we'll get better
The only way out is through ultimately-y

Back to Top

Deadlines and meetings and contracts all breached
D-days and structure, responsibility
Have to's and need to's, 'n' get to's by three
Eleventh hours and upset employee-ee-ees

I want to be naked running through the stree-eets
I want to invite this so-called chaos that you think I dare not be
I want to be weightle-ess flying through the air
I want to drop all these limitations but the shoes upon my feet
Ah ooh oh oh

Heartburn and headaches and soon-to-be ulcers
Compulsive yearnings non-stop to please others

I want to be naked running through the stree-eets
I want to invite this so-called chaos that you think I dare not be
I want to be weightle-ess flying through the air
I want to drop all these limitations but the shoes upon my feet
Ah ooh oh oh

All won't be lost if I'm governed by my own innate-ness
The stoplights won't work, I'll get home sound and safe regardless and
Won't be mayhem if I'm rulèd by my own rule-lessness
My fire won't quell and I'll be harm-free and distress-less (trust me)

Line-towing, and helping, expectations-up-to living
Inside-box-obeying, inside-line-colouring

I want to be naked running through the stree-eets
I want to invite this so-called chaos that you think I dare not be
I want to be weightle-ess flying through the air
I want to drop all my limitations but the shoes upon my feet

I want to be naked running through the stree-eets
I want to invite this so-called chaos that you think I dare not be
I want to be weightle-ess flying through the air
I want to drop all these limitations and return to what I was born to be-e
Ah oh oh

[Audible Breath]
[Instrumental to fade]

Back to Top

I won't see my dear friends as much
Male friends especially I'll no longer be in touch
I'll change my hobbies to match you-ou-ou-ou-ours

I'll stop reading my favourite books
I won't spend all this selfish time alone
I'll cater to you and hang on your e-e-every word

I'll be subservient and spineless
I'll lick your boots as empty shell
I'll be opinion-less and silent
I'll be the prettiest appendage to ever lose herself

I'll redefine self-sacrifice
Live my life as apologetic compromi-ise
I know you'd leave if I rocked the boa-oa-oa-oa-oat

I'll be subservient and spineless
I'll lick your boots as empty shell
I'll be opinion-less and silent
I'll be the prettiest appendage to ever lose herself

I feel this, truly proclaimed, will help the curbing of this tendency
I know this sharing of shame will ensure that I won't forget myself so easily

I'll be low maintenance and agreeable
I will not talk about my dreams so much
I'll listen to you for hours, won't need anything

I'll be subservient and spineless
I'll lick your boots as empty shell
I'll be opinion-less and silent
I'll be the prettiest appendage to ever lose herself

I'll be subservient and spineless
I'll lick your boots as empty shell
I'll be opinion-less and silent
I'll be the prettiest appendage to ever lose herself

I feel this, truly proclaimed, will help the curbing of this tendency
I know this sharing of shame will ensure that I won't forget myself

I feel this, truly proclaimed, will help the curbing of this tendency
I know this sharing of shame will ensure that I won't forget myself so easily

Back to Top

Fourteen years thirty minutes fifteen seconds I've held this grudge
Eleven songs four full journals, thoughts of punishment I've expended

Not in contact not a letter such communication telepathic
You've been vilified, used as fodder, you deserve a piece of every record

But who's it hurting now?
Who's the one that's stuck?
'Nd who's it torturing now, with an antique knot in her stomach

I want to be big and let go of this grudge that's grown old
All this time I've not known how to rest this bygone
I want to be soft and resolved clean of slate and released
I want to forgive for the both of u-us

Like an abandoned house, dusty-covered furnitu-ure still intact
If I visit it now, do I simply re-live it, somehow gratuitous

But who's still aching now-ow?
Who's tired of her own voice?
Who's it weighing down with no gift from time of said healing

I want to be big and let go of this grudge that's grown old
All this time I've not known how to rest this bygone
I want to be soft and resolved clean of slate and released
I want to forgive for the both of u-us

Maybe as I cut the cord, veils will lift from my eyes
Maybe as I lay this to rest, dead weight off my shoulders will rise

Here I sit, much determined ever ill-equipped to draw this curtain
How this has entertained, validated and has served me greatly ever the victim

But who's done whining now?
Who's ready to put dow-own
This load I've carried longer than I had cared to remember

I want to be big and let go of this grudge that's grown old
For the life of me I've not known how to rest this bygone
I want to be soft and resolved clean of slate and released
I want to forgive for the both of u-us

I want to be big and let go of this grudge that's grown old
For the life of me I've not known how to rest this bygone
I want to be soft and resolved clean of slate and released
I want to forgive for the both of u-us

Back to Top

	You see everything You see every part
[on "every part" in background] And you're still he-e-ere
[on "And" in background] Ooh oh oh	You see all my light And you love my dark [Simultaneous to "My..] And you're still here
Ho oh oh 'Nd ooh oh oh oh	You dig everything Of which I'm ashamed There's not anything To which you can't relate