“Reasons I Drink”, the lead single from Alanis Morissette’s 2020 album “Such Pretty Forks in the Road”, is a powerful and introspective song that tackles with raw honesty the addictions to work, food, and alcohol.
The song opens with Morissette’s voice singing: “These are the reasons I drink, the reasons I tell everyone I’m fine even though I’m not”. The singer admits to having worked since she was a child and not knowing where to draw the line between dedication and obsession.
The chorus is a cry of pain: “Nothing can give relief like them, nothing can give me a break from this torture like them”.
In the second verse, Morissette focuses on her relationship with food: “These are the reasons I eat, the reasons I feel everything so intensely when I’m not medicated”.
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The song ends with a sense of hope and redemption: “These are the reasons I don’t think I’ll ever stop, these are the reasons I can’t even see straight”.
“Reasons I Drink” was nominated for a Grammy Award for “Best Rock Song”.
“Reasons I Drink” is a courageous and touching song that tackles a sensitive topic like addiction. Morissette’s voice is strong and vulnerable at the same time, and her words resonate with anyone who has ever struggled with a personal demon.
“Reasons I Drink” is a song that invites us to be honest with ourselves and with others, and not to be afraid to ask for help when we need it.
