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"Guardian" is a song by Canadian-American recording artist Alanis Morissette, released as the lead single from her eighth studio album, Havoc and Bright Lights. The song was written by Morissette and Guy Sigsworth, and produced by Sigsworth and Joe Chiccarelli.

Background and recording
After finishing promotion for Flavors of Entanglement and leaving Maverick Records, Morissette got married and gave birth to a son in 2010. She didn't give information about writing an album, however she was seen leaving Sunset Sound Recorders in Los Angeles (meanwhile the company listed her as a 2011 client ). Finally, in November 2011, Morissette appeared at American Music Awards, where she said she had written 31 songs and would release an album the next summer.

It wasn't until May 1 that Morissette announced through Facebook she would be making a few big announcements the next days. The following day Billboard magazine reported Morissette would release her next studio album, Havoc and Bright Lights, on August 28, 2012. Billboard also revealed the title of the album's lead single.

Morissette released an official lyric video exclusively through MetroLyrics on May 10, 2012. While sharing the lyrics of "Guardian", she wrote: "So excited to share these with you. The greatest offering and aspiration within any relationship, for me, is the willingness to combine protection, commitment, vulnerability, tenacity, tenderness, constancy, empathy, mutuality, intentionality, innocence, presence, courage, freedom-offering and beautiful humanity at the same time. This song speaks to that commitment to both my sweet son, as well as my own inner child".

Composition
"Guardian" is four minutes and eighteen seconds long (the radio version being almost a minute and a half shorter). It is a pop-rock song with a standard song structure with heavy guitar/keyboard introduction.

Live performances
Morissette performed "Guardian" on March 21, 2012 (along with another new song, "Spiral") during Guitar Center Sessions. She promoted the song on Dancing with the Stars the day the song was released. On May 22, Morissette performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Track listing

 * Digital download
 * 1) "Guardian" – 4:18