In 1995, Alanis Morissette released the legendary album “Jagged Little Pill”. “You Oughtta Know” has been a guessing game ever since to whom she wrote the song about. Another iconic song on that album is “Ironic”. Throughout the song, Alanis Morissette constantly asks “Isn’t it ironic?” But the true question would be: “Is it?” Is it ironic? Or is it just unfortunate?
According to the Oxford Dictionary, the definition of “irony” is: The expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect. According to the Oxford Dictionary, the definition of “unfortunate” is: Having or marked by bad fortune; unlucky.
Now it is time to get all the lyrics and break down the song to see if it truly is ironic, or if it is just unfortunate.
“An old man turned ninety-eight. He won the lottery, and died the next day.”
The overuse of description in this line may actually take away the irony. A man turning 98 and dying the next day may possibly be ironic. But winning the lottery and dying the next day is just unfortunate. That’s just bad luck. Also, turning 98 is an odd number to choose. Why not just say a hundred? This is most likely unfortunate.
“It’s a black fly in your Chardonnay.”
Having a fly in your drink is just unfortunate. Once again her use of description is up for debate. She makes it clear to mention that it is a black fly. Irony does have to do with the use of language. So is the fact that a black fly is in your white wine ironic? That is a possibility. If we’re talking about a fly in your wine, that’s unfortunate. But a black fly in your white wine may actually be ironic.
“It’s a death row pardon two minutes too late.”
This may actually be ironic. This could be described as an unfortunate situation. The pardon came through too late. That’s unfortunate. But if you really look into it, is it actually ironic? The man gets pardoned for his crimes, after he is dead. He is executed for crimes he did not commit and was pardoned for. This may be ironic.
“It’s like rain on your wedding day.”
Absolutely unfortunate.
“It’s a free ride, when you’ve already paid.”
The context here is questionable. This was the nineties, so she’s obviously not talking about an Uber ride. So it’s most likely a bus or a train. You buy a ticket to the train. You get on the train, and they don’t take your ticket or charge anyone for the ride. Is that ironic? No. That just sounds unfortunate.
“It’s the good advice that you just didn’t take.”
Is there any way this could be ironic? You get good advice, and you don’t use it. How is that ironic? Perhaps maybe if you chose to do the opposite of what the advice told you to do and you were dead wrong, then maybe then it could be ironic. The lack of context here just makes it unfortunate.
“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.’”
This could be seen as ironic. The man never flies because he is afraid of it, and when he finally does, the plane crashes. And what about the fact that he’s not surprised? It’s as if he saw it coming. Did he know he was going to die? He kissed his kids goodbye. Did he kiss them goodbye because he was going on a trip, or was it because he knew he was going to die? Was he afraid to fly because he knew that’s how he was going to die? After all, he’s Mr. Play It Safe. He waited his whole life to take that flight. Did he know all along? That may make it less ironic. Unless clairvoyance was an intention here, and we’re just reading too deeply into it.
“A traffic jam when you’re already late.”
That’s just unfortunate.
“A ‘No Smoking’ sign on your cigarette break.”
This is actually ironic. You finally get your smoke break, but there’s a “No Smoking” sign. That’s ironic.
“It’s like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife.”
Why does she have 10 thousand spoons and no knife? Why does she have 10 thousand spoons in the first place? If she was really in need of a knife, why not buy knives instead of 10 thousand spoons? If you are searching for a knife and you just keep finding spoons, is that ironic? No. It’s just unfortunate.
“It’s meeting the man of my dreams, and then meeting his beautiful wife.”
The lack of context here makes this one difficult to decipher. It all depends on the situation. Does she meet the man, fall for him, then meet his wife? Or does she meet them both together? If this is a first meeting, then how does she know that he is the man of her dreams? Doesn’t it take time to decide that? So she would have to have already known the man, fall for him, then meet his wife. Is that ironic? Maybe.
So when it comes down to it, the most ironic thing about “Ironic” by Alanis Morissette is the lack of ironies. Does that in itself actually make the song ironic? Was that her intention all along? Or maybe she just doesn’t really understand what “irony” means.
