Alanis Morissette "Head Over Feet"
During the mid-1990s, Alanis Morissette emerged as one of the defining voices of alternative rock, blending confessional songwriting with raw emotion and musical authenticity. Her breakthrough album Jagged Little Pill, released in 1995, became a cultural phenomenon. While known for its angsty, confrontational hits like “You Oughta Know” and “All I Really Want,” the album also featured moments of vulnerability and tenderness.
One such moment is “Head Over Feet,” a gentle, heartfelt love song that contrasts with the album’s more aggressive tone. This track showcases a different side of Morissette—one grounded in gratitude, sincerity, and emotional clarity. For music fans, it’s an intimate and refreshing shift; for musicians, it offers insights into subtle songwriting, melodic restraint, and emotional honesty.
Song Overview
“Head Over Feet” was released in 1996 as the fifth single from Jagged Little Pill. The phrase “head over feet” is a variation of the common idiom “head over heels,” implying being completely swept up in love. In the song, Morissette expresses appreciation for a partner who treats her with consistent kindness, patience, and respect—qualities she implies she may not have always expected or received in the past.
Musically, the track is rooted in folk-pop and soft rock. It features a 6/8 time signature that gives the rhythm a gentle sway, almost like a lullaby or slow waltz. The instrumentation is understated, built around acoustic guitar strumming, light percussion, and subtle piano and electric guitar accents. The arrangement supports the introspective mood without overshadowing the lyrics or vocal performance.
The song is structured traditionally, with verses, a chorus, and a brief instrumental bridge. Its simplicity is one of its strengths, allowing the lyrical content and vocal delivery to shine. Morissette’s performance is conversational yet melodic, as though reading a letter or diary entry set to music.
Songwriting and Production
“Head Over Feet” was co-written by Alanis Morissette and producer Glen Ballard, who played a crucial role in shaping the sound of Jagged Little Pill. Their creative chemistry is evident throughout the album, and this track is no exception. Ballard’s production here is minimalist, designed to support Morissette’s storytelling rather than distract from it.
Lyrically, the song is notable for its tone of emotional maturity. Morissette expresses gratitude and affection without sentimentality or exaggeration. Lines like “You’re the best listener that I’ve ever met” and “You’ve already won me over in spite of me” convey a deep emotional connection through everyday language.
From a compositional standpoint, the song is harmonically straightforward, mostly centered around diatonic chords in E major. Its melodic phrases are unhurried and often land on longer, sustained notes, enhancing the reflective nature of the lyrics. Musicians studying this track can appreciate the delicate balance between lyrical intimacy and musical openness.
Charts
“Head Over Feet” achieved commercial success, especially in Canada, where it reached number one on the RPM Top Singles chart. In the United States, the song performed well on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart and received significant airplay on adult contemporary and pop radio stations.
While it may not have been as explosively popular as some of Morissette’s earlier singles, the song helped sustain the momentum of Jagged Little Pill as it continued to dominate charts and rack up multi-platinum sales. It also showcased Morissette’s versatility as a songwriter—capable of both rage-fueled anthems and introspective ballads.
Music Video
The music video for “Head Over Feet” is striking in its simplicity. Directed by Michele Laurita, it features a single continuous shot of Morissette singing directly into the camera, with minimal movement or background changes. The entire video is a close-up portrait, focusing solely on Morissette’s face as she performs.
This stripped-down visual approach mirrors the emotional transparency of the song itself. There are no dramatic visuals or narrative storytelling—only the artist and her performance. For musicians and performers, the video offers a lesson in restraint and presence: how to hold an audience’s attention with pure expression rather than spectacle.
Morissette’s facial expressions throughout the video are subtle but telling. She smiles, blinks, and slightly adjusts her gaze, creating a sense of vulnerability and intimacy that matches the lyrical content. The viewer feels as though they are being sung to personally, enhancing the emotional impact.
“Head Over Feet” is a standout track in Alanis Morissette’s discography—not for its bombast, but for its quiet honesty. It represents a moment of peace and reflection within an otherwise emotionally turbulent album. For music fans, it’s a reminder that love can be simple and sincere. For musicians, it’s an example of how songwriting, arrangement, and performance can align to create a powerful emotional experience without relying on complexity or volume.
Whether you approach it as a listener or a creator, “Head Over Feet” is a masterclass in musical humility and heartfelt expression.
Alanis Morissette "Ironic"
“Ironic” by Alanis Morissette was released in February 1996. The song is known for its unique lyrics that highlight ironic and contradictory moments in everyday life, making it one of the defining alternative rock tracks of the 1990s.
