What's the matter, Mary Jane? You had a hard day
As you place the don't disturb sign on the door
You lost your place in line again, what a pity
You never seem to want to dance anymore

It's a long way down
On this roller coaster
The last chance streetcar
Went off the track
And you're on it

I hear you're counting sheep again, Mary Jane
What's the point of trying to dream anymore
I hear you're losing weight again, Mary Jane
Do you ever wonder who you're losing it for

Well it's full speed, baby
In the wrong direction
There's a few more bruises
If that's the way
You insist on heading

Please be honest, Mary Jane
Are you happy
Please don't censor your tears

You're the sweet crusader
And you're on your way
You're the last great innocent
And that's why I love you

So take this moment, Mary Jane, and be selfish
Worry not about the cars that go by
'Cause all that matters, Mary Jane, is your freedom
So keep warm my dear, keep dry

Tell me
Tell me
What's the matter, Mary Jane?
Tell me
Tell me
Please be honest, Mary Jane
Tell me


Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21

Mary Jane Lyrics as written by Alanis Nadine Morissette Glen Ballard

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Mary Jane song meanings
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40 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    this isnt about drugs its about a girl who dedicates her life to making others happy and not herself the person who is singing this is warning her not to ignore her problems and that she doesnt need to wear a facade all the time

    ssjprincessburaon July 02, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    "Mary Jane" is just your typical woman. She has problems and fears like the rest of us. This song is about a woman trying to overcome her fears and emotional problems to become the woman she wants to be.

    nietzsche_66on May 21, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    yeah, this song is not about drugs. I think its about Mary Jane's self destructive relationship with someone that causes her to give all of herself to this one person and never think of herself. " Well it's full speed baby, In the wrong direction, There's a few more bruises, If that's the way you insist on heading" Shes warning her

    PixiEpunk84on July 05, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Everyone has very valid points about this song. What I personally think it means is this: Mary Jane is a girl who is depressed and she's always doing things to please others and not herself. she may be in an abusive relationship or just taking the general abuse of life when Alanis refers to "bruises". She isn't letting anyone help her. "Are you losing weight again.." probably just refers to another attempt for her to be accepted by others.

    tayloradairon July 16, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song is most definitely about a woman who has an eating disorder. I think its just one of her problems. It seems this woman is very unhappy and therefore has unhealthly habits. (I.e. an eating disorder). The line "so take this moment, Mary Jane, and be selfish" is the singer telling the woman to move on and get better. When I was in high school, I thought that the song was talking about a woman leaving an abusive relationship. But that could also be an unhealthy addiction like an eating disorder or even a drug problem.

    purplespikeson March 10, 2012   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    What's the matter Mary Jane, you had a hard day As you place the don't disturb sign on the door

    This first line is in reference to anybody who feels the need to shut themselves away, because of feelings of paranoia potentially induced by marajuana, or because of some other pain or deep rooted unhappiness that has eroded at a person's self esteem to the extent that they feel unable to interact with others

    You lost your place in line again, what a pity You never seem to want to dance anymore

    Mary Jane feels that she has let herself down by not reaching her expectations of herself, and fails to fit in. As a result she shies away from participating in the things that used to bring her happiness and becomes withdrawn.

    It'sa long way down On this roller coaster The last chance streetcar Went off the track And you're on it

    The first part of this phrase reminds us that no matter how anxious or depressed we may feel, things can always get worse. Once you get trapped into the cycle of self destruction it is inevitable that things will gradually worsen as you become less able to interact/eat/stay sober. While you are damaging yourself in whichever way, you will never be able to gain the stability and happiness that you deserve.

    I hear you're counting sheep again Mary Jane What's the point of trying' to dream anymore

    Reference to insomnia which is generally caused by anxiety and withdrawal from drugs. Dreaming can seem futile when we doubt ourselves, and the pain and frustration that we feel when we know that we can never be our 'best' is devastating.

    I hear you're losing weight again Mary Jane Do you ever wonder who you're losing it for

    Loosing weight in this phrase could be a metaphor for loosing a part of oneself, such as one's mind, one's abilities etc. By questioning the intention of this, Alanis draws us to the point that we should question our actions and our decisions.

    Well it's full speed baby In the wrong direction

    While we are not in control of our lives for whatever reason, it is likely that things will spiral out of control and become extremely difficult to revere. Habits and rituals have a tendency of governing our behaviour, and we should acknowledge this

    There's a few more bruises If that's the way You insist on heading

    Reminds us that we do make our own choices, and that we we will suffer the damage of our own self destruction unless we learn to overcome our inner demons

    Please be honest Mary Jane Are you happy Please don't censor your trears

    A lot of us avoid the issue of whether or not we are happy. Here Alanis encourages you to be true to your own feelings and to be in touch with your emotions. Repressing things will only make them seem worse

    You're the sweet crusader And you're on your way

    You can changes, you have the power to change and it's sweet that you are doing your best to reform, essntially you have the capacity to reform

    You're the last great innocent And that's why I love you

    You do have redeeming qualities worth acknowledging, and you need to learn to like yourself for them. Tries to show the sufferer that they are valued

    So take this moment Mary Jane and be selfish Worry not about the cars that go by

    To survive you need to look after your own interests and stop mistreating yourself. The cars point reminds the sufferer not to get caught up in trivial surroundings

    All that matters Mary Jane is your freedom Keep warm my dear, keep dry

    The most important thing is that you are free from whatever demon or powerful hold that has a destructive influence over you. Reminds suffere to look after themself

    Tell me Tell me What's the matter Mary Jane

    Share your problems!

    crazylittlesugarpuffon October 06, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    where does weed fit into this???? not every song has to do with drugs.

    alone & depressedon June 20, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    at first this song was my least favourite song on jagged little pill but once i fully grasped this song, i realised how beautiful it is. i think this song is about anybody feeling unworthy, with self-image problems and going through a difficult time. but this song and many other songs can mean whatever to the listener. alanis write something like, "may your own unique interpretations of these songs hold you with tenderness," in the flavors of entanglement thank you notes.

    sopurejunkieon January 22, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song is not about drugs Or ED, its about people who do every thing correct and nice, say picture perfect but at the end of the day, feel sad because something is not right. People who give everything, change themselves to build a relationship, to make it work but once in a while doubt .... IS IT WORTH IT? this song is about that self doubt which could be rightly placed as well. Say, for example, I love my wife, I want my home to be happy, I spend less time with my friends to be with her, ignore my hobbies, lose some place among the guys because i spend less time then i used. One day, i miss my friends and think... is it worth it? Now the song here says... its OK but dont lose yourself so very much. Keep some space for yourself, you never know when you need it! I could be wrong... but this is still a beautiful song!!

    poppsiqueon April 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    what is this song about? does anyone know or have an idea?

    failurebydesignon May 07, 2002   Link

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