Featured Unknown/Underrated Song: Alanis Morissette with "Hand In My Pocket"

People have had their criticisms of Billboard, but the magazine's low point may have been in the mid-'90s.  Their methodology at the time failed to recognize that Alanis Morissette's album Jagged Little Pill was on the way to becoming one of The Top 10 Albums of the Rock Era*.  Despite six singles and all the great songs on the album, Billboard only ranked two songs from the album in the Top 10.  

This song, which Billboard said was popular on its "Airplay" chart, never even made the Top 100 on the Popular chart.  We call BS on that, making it one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

"Hand In My Pocket"

Alanis Morissette

Lyrics by Alanis Morissette and Music by Glen Ballard

I'm broke but I'm happy
I'm poor but I'm kind
I'm short but I'm healthy, yeah
I'm high but I'm grounded

I'm sane but I'm overwhelmed
I'm lost but I'm hopeful baby
What it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be fine fine fine
'cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving a high five

I feel drunk but I'm sober
I'm young and I'm underpaid
I'm tired but I'm working, yeah
I care but I'm restless
I'm here but I'm really gone
I'm wrong and I'm sorry baby

What it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be quite alright
'cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is flicking a cigarette

And what it all comes down to
Is that I haven't got it all figured out just yet
'cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving the peace sign

I'm free but I'm focused
I'm green but I'm wise
I'm hard but I'm friendly baby
I'm sad but I'm laughing
I'm brave but I'm chicken**
I'm sick but I'm pretty baby

And what it all boils down to
Is that no one's really got it figured out just yet
'cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is playing the piano

And what it all comes down to my friends
Is that everything's just fine fine fine
'cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is hailing a taxi cab