The song is deliberately ambigious about whether the 'fine fine fine' is genuine or sarcastic. But the circumstances of Gen X set the song in context, and allow us to consider the feelings expressed in the song in a wider context. Now I'm not saying the song is *about* all of the above. And anyway, boomers abandoned their high ideals of the 60s and sold out to affluenza. We don't have the luxury of being able to be activists like our parents, because we couldn't afford to be. We're too busy looking after ourselves.Īnd we were too young to enjoy the prosperity of the 80s as an adult. We're not engaged with politics and big issues. We grew up at the end of the Cold War: still with the threat of nuclear holocaust over our heads. Things are always morally ambigious and the truth is spun out of every communication. We live in a postmodern world of uncertainty. Our bosses and our parents enjoyed the prosperity of the 50s and 60s, and were were screwing us for all we were worth when we did get a job working for them. We became adults during a recession: we found it hard to find jobs. I see this as an anthem for Generation X, the generation that were becoming adults in the 90's. Is that everything is just fine, fine, fine Is that no one's really got it figured out just yetĪnd what it all comes down to, my friends, yeah I'm sad but I'm laughing, I'm brave but I'm chicken shit I'm free but I'm focused, I'm green but I'm wise Is that I haven't got it all figured out just yet

Is that everything's gonna be quite alrightĪnd the other one is flicking a cigarette I care but I'm restless, I'm here but I'm really gone I feel drunk but I'm sober, I'm young and I'm underpaid Is that everything's gonna be fine, fine, fine I'm high but I'm grounded, I'm sane but I'm overwhelmed I'm broke but I'm happy, I'm poor but I'm kind

Alanis pocket