I Was Hoping

Alanis Morissette · MTV Unplugged

As we were talking outside,
It was cold,
We were shivering, yet warmed by the subject matter.

My wife is in the next room,
We've been having troubles you know,
Please don't tell her or anyone,
But I need to talk to somebody.

You said, "Wouldn't it be a shame if I knew how great I was
Five minutes before I died? I'd be filled with such regret
Before I took my last breath."
And I said, "You're willing to tell me this now, and you're notgoing to die
anytime soon."
And I said I haven't been eating chicken,
Or meat,
Or anything.

And you said yes, but you've been wearing leather and laughed andsaid
We're at the top of the food chain.
And yes you're still a fine woman,
And I cringed.

I was hoping,
I was hoping we could heal each other.
I was hoping,
I was hoping we could be raw together.

We left the restaurant where the head waiter (in his 60's),said
"Good bye, sir. Thank you for your business sir. You'resuccessful and
established, sir, and we like the frequency with which you dinehere sir. And
your money."
And when I walked by, they said "Thank you too dear."
I was all pigtails and cords.
And there was a day when I would've said something like,
"Hey dude, I could buy and sell this place, so kiss it."
I too once thought I was owed something.

I was hoping,
I was hoping we could challenge each other.
I was hoping,
I was hoping we could crack each other up.

I too thought that when proved wrong, I lost somehow.
I too thought life was cruel.
It's a cycle, really.
You think I'm withdrawing and guilt tripping you.
I think you're insensitive and I don't feel heard.

And I said "Do you believe we are fundamentally judgmental?
Fundamentally evil?"
And you said Yes.
And I said I don't believe in revenge, in right or wrong, good orbad?
And you said "Well, what about the man that I saw handcuffed inthe emergency
room,
Bleeding after beating his kid, and she threw a shoe at hishead.
I think what he did was wrong, and I wouldn't have had a hardtime feeling
compassion for him."
I had to watch my tone for fear of having you feel judged.

I was hoping,
I was hoping we could dance together.
I was hoping,
I was hoping we could be creamy together.

I Was Hoping

Alanis Morissette's "I Was Hoping" appears on her 1996 MTV Unplugged recording, a pivotal shift in her discography that stripped away her signature heavy production for an intimate acoustic approach. The track exemplifies her ability to blend personal vulnerability with anthemic power, characteristic of her work during this era. By removing the electric distortion of her earlier albums, Morissette focused on raw vocal delivery and stripped-down instrumentation, creating a more direct connection with listeners. This recording stands as a testament to her versatility, showcasing a softer side of her songwriting while maintaining the emotional intensity that defined her career. The song remains a notable example of her transition into acoustic territory, offering a unique listening experience within her broader catalog of work.