I Don't Believe You

Pink is one angry chick. Don't get me wrong, I like her stuff tremendously. But some of her songs are pretty brash. That's probably why I like her stuff so much. Back when I was in college, my friend Bill and I were outside one day and the women's soccer game was at halftime. From across the campus we heard the strains of Alanis Morrisette's "You Oughta Know" blaring from the loud speakers, and then spent a good twenty minutes riffing on the possibility of a wave of very angry women running over the hill at us like the Scottish army in Braveheart. Pink sings stuff that makes Alanis seem like June Cleaver. "So What" shows that she can hang with the old boys and party like a rock star.

Which is why it is such a pleasant surprise (and highly indicative of her vast talent) to hear •I Don't Believe You• show her softer, more vulnerable side. Even looking at the lyrics, at first blush, you see a lot of positive affirmations; "the passion's there, so it's got to be right" and "but I want more, no, I wont' stop, 'Cause I just know you'll come around." But in a very subtle interplay of words, she turns that confidence into vulnerability with a single, questioning word: "right?" She shows her voice wonderfully here, and this song is truly music to contemplate by.

I don't mind it, I don't mind at all
It's like you're the swing set, and I'm the kid that falls
It's like the way we fight, the times I've cried
We come to blows and every night
The passion's there, so it's got to be right, right?

No, I don't believe you
When you say don't come around here no more
I won't remind you
You said we wouldn't be apart

No, I don't believe you
When you say you don't need me anymore
So don't pretend to
Not love me at all

I don't mind it, I still don't mind at all
It's like one of those bad dreams when you can't wake up
Looks like you've given up, you've had enough
But I want more, no, I wont' stop
'Cause I just know you'll come around, right?

No, I don't believe you
When you say don't come around here no more
I won't remind you
You said we wouldn't be apart

No, I don't believe you
When you say you don't need me anymore
So don't pretend to
Not love me at all

Just don't stand there and watch me fall
'Cause I, 'cause I still don't mind at all

It's like the way we fight, the times I've cried
We come to blows and every night
The passion's there
So it's got to be right, right?

No, I don't believe you
When you say don't come around here no more
I won't remind you
You said we wouldn't be apart

No, I don't believe you
When you say you don't need me anymore
So don't pretend to
Not love me at all
Oh, I don't believe