Hey, I, I
Yeah, ah, ah
Yeah, I

An old man turned ninety-eight
He won the lottery and died the next day
It's a black fly in your Chardonnay
It's a death row pardon two minutes too late
And isn't it ironic, don't you think?

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
And who would've thought? It figures

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"
And isn't it ironic, don't you think?

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
And who would've thought? It figures

Well, life has a funny way
Of sneaking up on you
When you think everything's okay
And everything's going right
And life has a funny way
Of helping you out
When you think everything's gone wrong
And everything blows up in your face

A traffic jam when you're already late
A "no smoking" sign on your cigarette break
It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife
It's meeting the man of my dreams
And then meeting his beautiful wife
And isn't it ironic, don't you think?
A little too ironic, and yeah I really do think

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
And who would've thought? It figures

And yeah, well, life has a funny way
Of sneaking up on you
And life has a funny, funny way
Of helping you out
Helping you out


Lyrics submitted by jstalilwyrd

Ironic Lyrics as written by Alanis Nadine Morissette Glen Ballard

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Ironic song meanings
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112 Comments

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  • +6
    General Comment

    Ironically, of course it isn't actually ironic, perhaps that's the point of the song, how ironic Alanis!

    cbennetton January 26, 2002   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    i dunno y but i've always thaught this song centred around her 'meeting the man of my dreams, and then meeting his beautiful wife', and while thinking of how ironic that was she came accross other ironic things in the world. dont reckon its right or anything but thats just the way i like to think of it

    pabloredfoxon April 24, 2003   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    If we are all fans of Alanis Morissette, we can know how intelligent she is, that she may understand something deep known as "sarcasm" or sarcastic irony within this song. We can see how that idealism is not a so because of how "literal music is" and that is is one facutalas to note. As forth, all human thoughts revolve around the logic of what words mean when said.

    Calixtrrraon January 25, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Yeah, I hate when that happens, everyone should have an emergency supply of knives.

    geirkbendon May 03, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    lol.. I havent heard this song in a while. Was just thinking.. this is my life story.. .. the world is against me.. haha. Oh well. I'll live.

    anna118kon May 13, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    here's the real lyrics:

    An old man turned ninety-eight He won the lottery and died the next day It's a black fly in your Chardonnay It's a death row pardon two minutes too late Isn't it ironic... don't you think?

    It's like rain on your wedding day It's a free ride when you've already paid It's the good advice that you just didn't take Who would've thought... it figures

    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..." And isn't it ironic... don't you think?

    It's like rain on your wedding day It's a free ride when you've already paid It's the good advice that you just didn't take Who would've thought... it figures

    Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you When you think everything's okay and everything's going right And life has a funny way of helping you out when You think everything's gone wrong and everything blows up In your face

    A traffic jam when you're already late A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife It's meeting the man of my dreams And then meeting his beautiful wife And isn't it ironic... don't you think? A little too ironic... and yeah I really do think...

    It's like rain on your wedding day It's a free ride when you've already paid It's the good advice that you just didn't take Who would've thought... it figures

    Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out Helping you out

    luckycharmon June 14, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    dahm this songs the greatest i remember when it first came out i couldnt stop singin it......shit she the best

    tonieatsworld420on July 19, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i haven't heard it in a L O N G time... but it rox... so does alanis. !!! Life is Ironic... completely...!!!~

    lammydivaon September 23, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is how life is. Amazing lyrics.

    JaumeBCNon September 28, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "it's great to have people in the world that waste their lives preaching about stuff when no one really cares..."

    That's a bit harsh on Alanis.

    cbennetton April 23, 2004   Link

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