You Oughta Know
E.M. Cooper Lyrics
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I wish nothing but the best for you both
An older version of me
Is she perverted like me?
Would she go down on you in a theater?
Does she speak eloquently
And would she have your baby?
I'm sure she'd make a really excellent mother
Wasn't able to make it enough for you
To be open wide, no
And every time you speak her name
Does she know how you told me
You'd hold me until you died
'Til you died, but you're still alive
And I'm here, to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair, to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know
You seem very well, things look peaceful
I'm not quite as well, I thought you should know
Did you forget about me, Mr. Duplicity?
I hate to bug you in the middle of dinner
It was a slap in the face
How quickly I was replaced
And are you thinking of me when you fuck her?
'Cause the love that you gave that we made
Wasn't able to make it enough for you
To be open wide, no
And every time you speak her name
Does she know how you told me
You'd hold me until you died
'Til you died, but you're still alive
And I'm here, to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair, to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know
'Cause the joke that you laid in the bed
That was me and I'm not gonna fade
As soon as you close your eyes, and you know it
And every time I scratch my nails
Down someone else's back I hope you feel it
Well, can you feel it?
Well I'm here, to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair, to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know
Well I'm here, to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair, to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know
In the song "You Oughta Know" by E.M. Cooper, the lyrics reflect a raw and intense expression of heartbreak and betrayal. The singer begins by expressing seemingly genuine good wishes towards their former lover, stating that they wish only the best for them and the person they are now with. However, underlying this facade of well-wishing is a sense of bitterness and unresolved emotions towards the past relationship.
The lyrics then delve into a series of questions and accusations directed towards the ex-lover, questioning if their current partner is similar to the singer in certain ways, particularly in terms of intimacy and connection. The singer contemplates whether the new person in their ex-lover's life is as passionate and committed as they once were, highlighting feelings of inadequacy and jealousy.
As the song progresses, the singer confronts their ex-lover with the harsh reality of their actions and the pain they inflicted. The lyrics reveal a deep sense of hurt and betrayal, as the singer recounts how quickly they were replaced and how the love they shared was seemingly not enough for their ex-lover. There is a strong sense of longing and resentment in the words, as the singer seeks to remind their former partner of the emotional turmoil they caused.
The repeated refrain of "You oughta know" serves as a powerful declaration of the singer's need for acknowledgment and closure. The lyrics convey a complex mix of emotions, ranging from anger and sadness to longing and defiance. Overall, the song captures the rawness of heartbreak and the lingering effects of a past relationship gone wrong, leaving the listener with a haunting sense of unresolved emotions and the pain of betrayal.
Line by Line Meaning
I want you to know, that I am happy for you
I want you to understand that I genuinely wish happiness for you
I wish nothing but the best for you both
I hope that you and your partner only experience good things
An older version of me
A previous version of myself
Is she perverted like me?
Does she have similar unconventional desires like mine?
Would she go down on you in a theater?
Would she perform sexual acts on you in a public setting?
Does she speak eloquently
Does she communicate in a refined and articulate manner
And would she have your baby?
And would she bear your child?
I'm sure she'd make a really excellent mother
I'm confident she would be a great mother
'Cause the love that you gave that we made
Because the affection we shared and created
Wasn't able to make it enough for you
Was not sufficient to satisfy you
To be open wide, no
To be emotionally vulnerable, no
And every time you speak her name
And each time you mention her name
Does she know how you told me
Is she aware of the things you confided in me
You'd hold me until you died
You promised to embrace me until death
'Til you died, but you're still alive
Even though you're still alive
And I'm here, to remind you
I'm present to jog your memory
Of the mess you left when you went away
Of the chaos and hurt you caused when you left
It's not fair, to deny me
It's unjust to refuse me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
Of the burden I carry due to you
You, you, you oughta know
You, specifically, need to understand
You seem very well, things look peaceful
You appear content, everything seems calm
I'm not quite as well, I thought you should know
I am not as content as you may think, I believed you should be aware
Did you forget about me, Mr. Duplicity?
Have you neglected to remember me, deceitful individual?
I hate to bug you in the middle of dinner
I dislike interrupting your meal
It was a slap in the face
It was a painful shock or insult
How quickly I was replaced
How rapidly you found a replacement for me
And are you thinking of me when you fuck her?
And do thoughts of me cross your mind when you are intimate with her?
Well, can you feel it?
So, are you able to sense it?
Well I'm here, to remind you
Well, I am here to jog your memory
Of the mess you left when you went away
Of the chaos and hurt you caused when you departed
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
Of the burden that you bestowed upon me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Glen Ballard, Alanis Nadine Morissette
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind