Hands Clean

"Hands Clean" is a song written, produced, and performed by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette from her fifth studio album, Under Rug Swept (2002). It was released as the album's lead single in January 2002. The song features a shuffling, largely acoustic-rock framework. Lyrically, "Hands Clean" caused controversy, since it is reportedly the singer's recollection of a taboo sexual relationship she shared with a much older man when she was approximately 14 years of age. The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, some of whom immediately chose the track as an album standout compared to some of her previous material. "Hands Clean" charted at number one in Canada and New Zealand while reaching the top 10 in Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, and Switzerland. An accompanying music video was released in 2002 for the single.