That I Would Be Good

"That I Would Be Good" is a song by Alanis Morissette that was first featured on her 1998 album Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie. An acoustic live version of the song was recorded during a session for MTV Unplugged on September 18, 1999. It was released as a single for the album Alanis Unplugged on February 8, 2000.

The lyrics relate Morissette's intimate feelings about being judged, insecurity and self-doubt, expressing in theme and variation the desire to be sufficient in the face of changing external circumstances.

According to Morissette on VH1 Storytellers, the song was written during a time when there were many people in her house and she retreated to her closet to write the lyrics. She also confirmed that she wrote the lyrics and then the music at different times.

Track listing

1. "That I Would Be Good" (MTV Unplugged) – 4:07
2. "Would Not Come" (Reverb live) – 4:11
3. "Forgiven" (Reverb live) – 5:11
4. "I Was Hoping" (99X live) – 4:37

References

Kelly Clarkson covered "That I Would Be Good" during her "All I Ever Wanted" tour. The song was mashed up with Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody."

The song appeared on the popular teen drama Dawson's Creek twice in relation to one of the show's lead characters Jennifer played by Michelle Williams.