Thank U

Album: Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998)
Charted: 5 17
Play Video
  • How 'bout getting off of these antibiotics?
    How 'bout stopping eating when I'm full up?
    How 'bout them transparent dangling carrots?
    How 'bout that ever elusive kudo?

    Thank you India
    Thank you terror
    Thank you disillusionment
    Thank you frailty
    Thank you consequence
    Thank you thank you silence

    How 'bout me not blaming you for everything?
    How 'bout me enjoying the moment for once?
    How 'bout how good it feels to finally forgive you?
    How 'bout grieving it all one at a time?

    Thank you India
    Thank you terror
    Thank you disillusionment
    Thank you frailty
    Thank you consequence
    Thank you thank you silence

    The moment I let go of it was the moment
    I got more than I could handle
    The moment I jumped off of it
    Was the moment I touched down

    How 'bout no longer being masochistic?
    How 'bout remembering your divinity?
    How 'bout unabashedly bawling your eyes out?
    How 'bout not equating death with stopping?

    Thank you India
    Thank you providence
    Thank you disillusionment
    Thank you nothingness
    Thank you clarity
    Thank you, thank you silence

    Yeah, yeah
    Oh, oh, oh
    Oh, oh, oh
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Writer/s: Alanis Morissette, Glen Ballard
    Publisher: CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 20

  • Glen Schmidt from West MichiganHere's something ironic:

    She thought of the idea of being naked, while she was actually naked. But probably not because she was naked. Because when we shower in privacy we usually ignore the fact that we're naked and go on to think about other things. In her case it would be nudity in other places.
  • Thank You, Adonai! from Harris County, Tx!Thank You, God!
  • Violet from United StatesThe song is used perfectly in the Movie “The Way” featuring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez. However the movie is NOT a comedy as referenced above, but rather an inspirational and thought provoking story about walking the Way of St James or Camino de Santiago. A pilgrimage of self discovery and people you meet along the Way.
  • Tricia from UkI really feel for Alanis in this song... I can only imagine, her thought process - she starts her career singing for the joy of it, writes open, honest and cathartic songs, works hard, releases an AMAZING album (Jagged Little Pill - my favourite album EVER!) and becomes a mega-star... which society says should make her super-happy - and maybe it does, at first, but is money and fame all it's cracked up to be? Is all that 'success' truly fulfilling? Is it even about the music any more? Why aren't I happy, now I have all I ever dreamed of, all I worked my guts out for - why isn't it 'enough'? Plagued with self-doubt, she stops... and, over time, goes on a journey - both literally and metaphorically - of self-renewal and discovery, what (and who) is important to her, what she really wants out of life, and that she's actually an ok person! And as she re-discovers the joy and fulfillment she had always found through her music, that being 'happy' all the time is just not possible (or writes great songs!) she just wants to thank the world for showing her that... much as I want to thank Alanis for doing what she does! ????
  • Xuaan from Mumbai, Indiashe is thanking india....coz she found her ineer peace in this country.. and terror made her to reach india... so she thanks terror either.. this song is all about indian belief and buddhism....
  • Avadhut from Pune, IndiaThis song is about my country - Inida. Thank you Alanis.
    Btw, I disagree with Pradeep who comments, "'Thank You India' was actually a sarcasm meaning that India added more to terror". Tracy (Tulsa, OK) correctly explains the reference to India in a comment below.
  • Kamlesh from Bhavnagar, Indiai would advice some people here who made foolish comments ,to visit india & try to find out whatever she said, she is thanking india to help her to understand the ultimate truth of the world, but i dont think anyone would sense it, if anybody intrested to know more bout what she said contact me :- newtapal@yahoo.com
  • Sarah from London, United Kingdomwell i think India doesn't suits this song no offence it's a great country but what've she learned from a place which is so beautiful from the outside and so dreadful from inside i mean may be she has just seen all the beauty but not the beast i don't care whether any one agrees or not but such superstitions like burring little ill kids during eclipse its awful i cant even imagine whatever not all of it is bad but most of it you know "ALL THAT GLITTER IS NOT GOLD"IT'S an al right song magic of her voice may be don't know what Emma Watson liked in it
  • Amanda from Salem, OrFor example: this is my favorite line. Her words do sound off when you first hear them but if you think about it, they make perfect sense. What do people attach to horses heads to keep them walking? Carrots dangling in front of their noises, as they move so do the carrots - they are after the carrot but it keeps them going. In life we have transparent dangling carrots - something always in front of us to keep us going. Something we tie ourselves to so we always have hope and never give up.
  • Amanda from Salem, Or"Thank you" is Alanis' reflection after her visit to India. She came to notice that all these habits she has didn't need to exist. It's a humbling song about growth and gratification, and how easily you can suddenly become aware of yourself and the people around you.

    She thanks India for bringing her to realization with the facts of life; Great fullness, not greed.
  • Rahul from Chennai, Indiayaaaaaaaaay its bout my country......
  • Theresa from Murfreesboro, TnThe video overshadowed the song. Kinda killed her career but I still love her.
  • Tracy from Tulsa, OkNo, she was not making reference to India causing terror. Terror caused her to take notice of the things that were important. This is a Cathartic song, thanking all elements of emotion and happening to molding her into the person she is happily embracing today.
  • Jesse from Haddam, CtThis song is about being thankful for all the bad in the world because it helps us recognize and be thankful for the good.
  • Mindy from Moorpark, CaI heard that she wrote this song after coming out of a deep depression and it was her taking that year off and traveling to India and stuff that helped her move on from her depression, so she is thanking everything that helped her through it, the good and the bad.
  • Theo from Johannesburg, South Africaevery single person in the vid is a very good friend of alanis, hence her 'ease' with her nudity.
  • Pradeep from Kathmandu, OtherAccording to me, this song is a satire on growing terror and arms in the world. When this song was released, India had just concluded its Nuclear Tests and "Thank You India" was actually a sarcasm meaning that India added more to terror. Hence " Thank you terror" and when the world chose to remain silent about it, " thank you, thank you silence" comes in. I might be wrong here, but if she was talking about happiness why would she thank "terror'.
  • Phill from Oakland, CaTo me, this is about being thankful for everything in life that gives perspective, for the ability to look at things in a different way, and for the ability to see things from the other side of the coin. A wonderful song, and a powerful statement against the ways of life that we (as Americans) feel are "right" or "the way it is".
  • Jaime from Melbourne, Australiawhat's ironic is that when alanis toured india in jan2005, she didn't receive good response. ..she even mucked up lyrics under pressure. jaime, melbourne
  • Pavitra from Cape Town, South AfricaTHANK YOU Alanis!!!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Melanie

MelanieSongwriter Interviews

The singer-songwriter Melanie talks about her spiritual awakening at Woodstock, "Brand New Key," and why songwriting is an art, not a craft.

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.