Alanis Morissette – Baba

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I've seen them kneel
With baited breath for the ritual
I've watched this experience raise
Them to pseudo higher levels
I've watched them leave their families
In pursuit of your nirvana
I've seen them coming to line up from Switzerland and America

[Chorus]
How long will this take baba
How long have we been sleeping
Do you see me hanging on to every word you say
How soon will I be holy
How much will this cost guru
How much longer 'til you completely absolve me

I've seen them give their drugs up
In place of makeshift altars
I've heard them chanting
Kali kali frantically
I've heard them rotely repeatly your
Teaching with elitism
I've seen them boasting robes and
Foreign sandalwood beads

[Chorus]

I've seen them overlooking god in
Their own essence
I've seen their upward glances
In hopes of instant salvation
I've seen their righteousness
Mixed without loving compassion
I've watched you smile as
The student bow to kiss your feet

[Chorus]

Give me strength all knowing one
How long 'till enlightenment
How much longer 'til you
Completely absolve me

Send "Baba" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by Lamia

Track duration: 04:30

"Baba" as written by Alanis Nadine Morissette, Glen Ballard

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Baba song meanings
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24 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This song is hardly ideal for an atheist. It doesn't criticize religion in general, but it does criticize the perversion of religious cults. Alanis is a spiritual person, so she wouldn't sarcastically insult any religion or religious person. Fathers abandoning their families in order to achieve nirvana, blindly worshiping and forking over money. This song pays no tribute to Christianity or any other religion besides Hinduism and Buddhism. Simple: money cannot buy you salvation. You should seek after God. No man on Earth is comparable to God. Giving into the fear of man gets you nowhere.
    Flag acremobieon June 29, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:man, i never realized how amazing these lyrics are, i knew there was a reason why i love this woman so much!!!
    Flag sneakerpimpsfanon November 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is really cool, since I have a World Views class I can really recognise and interpret things a lot better now! It seems like, as always, Alanis is being kinda sarcastic, Asking the Baba figure how long its going to take for her to reach salvation. Im a Christian myself but I totally get how she talks about certain people who believe that by money or the power of their lungs alone that they can obtain salvation also theres a self importance that people sometimes put themselves on an alter, not to mention a bit of hypocrisy...a pitty really that people get killed and beat upon because of differing views...
    Flag goblingrrlon March 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is really cool, since I have a World Views class I can really recognise and interpret things a lot better now! It seems like, as always, Alanis is being kinda sarcastic, Asking the Baba figure how long its going to take for her to reach salvation. Im a Christian myself but I totally get how she talks about certain people who believe that by money or the power of their lungs alone that they can obtain salvation also theres a self importance that people sometimes put themselves on an alter, not to mention a bit of hypocrisy...a pitty really that people get killed and beat upon because of differing views...
    Flag goblingrrlon March 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:To me, this song is pretty specific, as in a specific Hindu Guru she may have encountered on her travels in India. I get the feeling it may be about Sai Baba, as someone previously mentioned. He's had a lot of controversy surrounding him, and claims that he is an incarnation of God, and all sorts of miracles. I don't think her anger here is directed at religion at all, Alanis is a very spiritual person. She's angry at the hypocrisy and the people who try to buy and sell enlightenment, the very act of which proves they've missed the mark entirely. The followers think they've gotten something that they've paid for and have nothing to actually improve themselves, and the 'guru' has a bunch of dedicated fools.
    Flag jthavokon June 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song actually made me more spirtual. thats actually my favorite line too. CadillacKincaid , becasue it shows how like hyprocritical religion is...like people look for the skies for instant salvation. or like in christianity all you have to forgive your sins and your saved and have a spot in heaven.....but its not like that,.... i think what she is saying that religon is just a front for what you belive... like you don't really need that institution to believe in god or what have you. you can be spiritual without it.
    Flag mlfm256on April 24, 2008   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:My Favorite Alanis Song! I love the line:

    "I've seen men overlooking god in
    their own essence
    I've seen their upward glances
    in hopes of instant salvation
    I've seen their righteousness
    mixed without loving compassion "

    That's how I personally feel about christianity, but I think Alanis is talking about buddhism and how empty and foolish worshipping idols is. She wrote this after going to India and seeing their culture.

    By the way, I don't think Alanis is an atheist, but she is much like myself and hates the hypocrisy of people who claim to be something they're not.
    Flag CadillacKincaidon March 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:hehe i know who its about...and no you do not ha ve to be isolated in a temple away from your worldly possessions to achieve liberation. all you need to do is realize that you your self are somehow God and to treat others as you would God. All you need to do is find your inner self, gain self realization by controlling your monkey mind and realizing that you yourself as God. God is always with you, you do not need to travel anywhere or leave your family to gain liberation, you just need to do some serious soul searching and understand everything that I have said. But thats just me...
    Flag debbie345on January 09, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:The extreme acesticism of Hinduism and Buddhism.
    Alanis is definately not an atheist in my opinion. She sings a lot about spirituality. Mostly hinduism it seems. Baba is a spiritual guru and leader that is or was practicing in California.
    She is talking to him saying how long does it take to achieve enlightenment? Do i have to follow evey rule
    and even the ones who do seem to be mechanical and ritualistic. They don't seem to be good people. What are they aiming for?
    Do she have to go to these extreems to achieve liberations, and even the people who do seem to be blindly worshipping, and leaving their families all waiting to be "absolved".
    i can relate to this one. Do i have to be isolated in a temple away from my wordly possessions to achieve liberation!!!
    Flag animus8221on October 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Kali was one blood-thirsty goddess, known for wearing skulls around her neck. 100% badass.
    Flag Buddha of Suburbiaon November 19, 2006   Link

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