You Oughta Know
Lauren Patten & The Original Broadway Cast of Jagged Little Pill Lyrics


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I want you to know, that I'm happy for you
I wish nothing but the best for you both

The perfect version of me
Is he perverted like me?
Would he go down on you in a theatre?
So he speaks eloquently
And you can have his baby?
I'm sure you'd make a really excellent mother

'Cause the love that you gave that we made
Wasn't able to make it enough for you
To be open wide
And every time you speak his name
Does he know why you told me
You'd be there 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, Mrs. Duplicity?
I hate to give him so much to live up to
It was a slap in the face
How quickly I was replaced
And are you thinking of me when he fucks you?

'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 his name
Does he know why you told me
You'd be there 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

Ohh...

'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 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?

And I'm here, to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair (it's not fair), to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You (you), you (you), you (you) oughta know
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

Overall Meaning

The song "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette, which was covered by Lauren Patten and The Original Broadway Cast of Jagged Little Pill, is a raw and powerful expression of pain, anger, and betrayal after a relationship has ended. The lyrics start with a seemingly sincere wish for the other person's happiness, but then quickly turn to bitter questions about whether the new partner is better than the singer in bed and can make her pregnant. The line "I'm sure you'd make a really excellent mother" drips with sarcasm and jealousy. The chorus is an angry and cathartic reminder of what the other person has done to hurt the singer and how she has been left to deal with the aftermath ("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"). The bridge is a final, cutting blow, as the singer claims ownership of the sexual and emotional intimacy that the other person now shares with someone else ("The joke that you laid in the bed, that was me").


Line by Line Meaning

I want you to know, that I'm happy for you
I hold no animosity towards you and I wish you the best.


I wish nothing but the best for you both
My goodwill extends to both you and your new partner.


The perfect version of me
An idealized version of myself that you may have held in your mind.


Is he perverted like me?
Does your new partner share the same unconventional and taboo interests as I do?


Would he go down on you in a theatre?
Is he willing to engage in public sexual activity with you?


So he speaks eloquently
Your new partner is capable of speaking in a refined and impressive manner.


And you can have his baby?
You and your new partner are capable of starting a family together.


I'm sure you'd make a really excellent mother
I have confidence that you possess the qualities necessary to raise a child effectively.


'Cause the love that you gave that we made
The affection we shared and expressed in our relationship.


Wasn't able to make it enough for you
Our love wasn't sufficient to satisfy your needs.


To be open wide
To be fully receptive and vulnerable in a romantic relationship.


And every time you speak his name
Whenever you mention the name of your new partner.


Does he know why you told me
Did you reveal to your new partner the reasons why our relationship ended?


You'd be there until you died
The promise you made to me that you would be with me forever.


'Til you died, but you're still alive
You continue living despite breaking the vow you made to me.


And I'm here, to remind you
I am present to bring to your attention.


Of the mess you left when you went away
The emotional turmoil and chaos that resulted from your departure.


It's not fair, to deny me
It's unjust to withhold from me.


Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
The burden that I must bear due to the pain and suffering that you caused me.


You, you, you, oughta know
You should be aware of these things.


You seem very well, things look peaceful
You appear to be doing well and living a tranquil life.


I'm not quite as well, I thought you should know
I am not doing as well and think it's important for you to be aware of that.


Did you forget about me, Mrs. Duplicity?
Have you neglected to remember me and my existence, you duplicitous person?


I hate to give him so much to live up to
I feel sorry for the unrealistic expectations that you have placed on your new partner.


It was a slap in the face
Your abrupt departure was a humiliating insult to me.


How quickly I was replaced
You found a new partner with surprising speed, indicating that our relationship was not as significant to you as I thought.


And are you thinking of me when he fucks you?
Do you ever have thoughts of me when you engage in sexual activity with your new partner?


Ohh...
Vocalization indicating emotional pain and frustration.


'Cause the joke that you laid in the bed, that was me
I was the object of your ridicule and mockery when we were intimate.


And I'm not gonna fade as soon as you close your eyes
My presence and memory will continue to exist beyond the duration of your life.


And you know it (and you know it)
You are aware of the truth of this statement.


And every time I scratch my nails
Whenever I deliberately cause harm to another person.


Down someone else's back, I hope you feel it
I desire for you to experience the emotional pain and suffering that I have felt.


You (you), you (you), you (you) oughta know
It is imperative that you have knowledge of these facts.




Writer(s): Glen Ballard, Alanis Nadine Morissette

Contributed by Mason S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@ShastaWolf3

I FOUND IT

THE SONG I SAW ON TV TODAY


YESSS I LOVED THIS



IT MESMERIZED ME WHEN I SAW IT OMG



I’ve never heard of this musical before but this song I heard on tv today while eating dinner and it hypnotized me.



@charliesimpson3879

Lyrics
I want you to know that I'm happy for you
I wish nothing but the best for you both
An older version of me, is she perverted like me
Would she go down on your in a theatre?
Does she speak eloquently? And would she have your baby?
I'm sure she'd make a really excellent mother
'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
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
But 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 sill 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
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



@zackstark2696

I want you to know that I'm happy for you
I wish nothing but the best for you both
The Perfect version of me
Is he perverted like me
Would he go down on you in a theater?
So He speak eloquently
And you can have his baby
I'm sure you make a really excellent mother

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

(chorus)
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 on the face how quickly I was replaced
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

(repeat chorus)

Cause the joke that you laid in the bed that was me
And i'm not going to fade
As soon as you close your eyes and you know it
And everytime I scratch my nails down someone else's back
I hope you feel it ... well can you feel it?

(repeat chorus)



@Andrea.is.better55

I want you to know, that I am happy for you
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
'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
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



All comments from YouTube:

@garfieldspenis

Lauren got a TWO MINUTE standing ovation after this performance when I saw it. It was wild

@jamessimmons2193

same

@sniperm9059

OMG it was so good. We saw the broadway show 2 weeks ago and Lauren absolutely rocked. Made the hairs on my arm stand up!

@sarahelizabeth291

I just saw it last night. Same thing happened! More than well deserved.

@ColumbusMatthew

I cried. It was epic.

@Joannathewizard_

queen periot

12 More Replies...

@somethingnexttonormal

This moment is indescribable live. Her energy as well as the lighting and the ensemble and band is freaking through the roof. If Lauren doesn't win the featured actress tony I will call the les mis and hamilton fans and start a revolution

@caylamarie777

This comment deserves a Tony

@35adeutsch

I just saw this yesterday and am posting on FB that this number was the show-stopper to end all show-stoppers! Lauren Patten is AMAZING!!!!

@amandaevers-bellace2261

Just saw it yesterday - it was incredible. Absolutely mind-blowing - Lauren Patten is incredible, and this scene is a show-stopper!

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