You Oughta Know
Lauren Patten Original Broadway Cast Of Jagged Little Pill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 speaks eloquently
And you can have his baby?
â˛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 how you told me
You'd be there until you died
â˛Til you died, but youâ˛re still alive
And I'm here, to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
Itâ˛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 he fucks you?
â˛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 how you told me
Youâ˛d be there until you died
'Til you died, but you're still alive
And Iâ˛m here, to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
Itâ˛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 Iâ˛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?)
And Iâ˛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
And Iâ˛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 Oughta Know" is a song that deals with the emotions that come with a failed relationship, and how the person who has been left behind is coping with the aftermath. The song is filled with anger, sadness, and frustration. The lyrics are addressed to an ex-lover who has moved on to a new relationship. At the beginning of the song, the singer says that she is happy for her ex-partner, but then goes on to ask if the new partner is "perverted" like her, questioning if he is capable of doing the things the singer did in bed. The singer then expresses her disappointment that their love was not enough, and that her ex-partner had to move on to someone else. She also questions if her ex still thinks about her while having sex with his new partner. The final stanza is a direct address to the ex, reminding him of the pain he has caused and the cross that she now bears because of him.
The song by Lauren Patten Original Broadway Cast Of Jagged Little Pill focuses on the confusion and resentment felt by a woman who has been betrayed by a partner. The song was released in 1995 and became an instant hit, making the Canadian artist Alanis Morissette a household name. The song was written by Morissette and her co-writer Glen Ballard, and was inspired by Morissette's own experiences in relationships. The song's lyrics are raw and honest, and they struck a chord with audiences who appreciated the honesty and emotion in the song. The song has since become a feminist anthem, capturing the spirit of women who refuse to be silenced and who speak their truth.
Line by Line Meaning
I want you to know, that I am happy for you
I genuinely hope that you are happy
I wish nothing but the best for you both
I hope that everything goes well for you and your partner
The perfect version of me
The idealized image of me that you once held in your mind
Is he perverted like me?
Does your new partner have the same sexual preferences as me?
Would he go down on you in a theater?
Would he perform sexual acts on you in a public place?
So he speaks eloquently
Your new partner has a way with words
And you can have his baby?
You are able to have children with your new partner
I'm sure you'd make a really excellent mother
I believe that you would be a great mother
'Cause the love that you gave that we made
The love that we shared and created together
Wasn't able to make it enough for you
However, it wasn't sufficient for you to stay committed
To be open wide, no
You were not willing to be vulnerable and honest with me
And every time you speak his name
Whenever you mention your new partner's name
Does he know how you told me
Does he know that you had promised to be with me forever?
You'd be there until you died
You vowed to me that you would be there for me until the end of your life
'Til you died, but you're still alive
However, you are still alive and did not keep your promise
And I'm here, to remind you
I am here to bring back memories of our relationship
Of the mess you left when you went away
Of the hurt and chaos that you caused in my life when you left
It's not fair, to deny me
It is not right to take away from me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
Of the burden that you have put on me and that I continue to carry
You, you, you oughta know
You need to be aware of these facts and acknowledge what you did to me
You seem very well, things look peaceful
It appears that you are doing well and are at peace
I'm not quite as well, I thought you should know
However, I am not doing as well as it may seem, and I want you to know that
Did you forget about me, Mrs. Duplicity?
Have you completely forgotten about me, even though you were dishonest and unfaithful?
I hate to give him so much to live up to
I feel sorry for your new partner, who has to compare to my image in your mind
It was a slap in the face
Your actions were a painful insult to me
How quickly I was replaced
You moved on from our relationship very fast
And are you thinking of me when he fucks you?
Do you ever think of me when you are intimate with your new partner?
Ohh...
An expression of sadness and despair
'Cause the joke that you laid in the bed
The humorous irony of the situation between you and your new partner
That was me and I'm not gonna fade
That person in the bed was once me, and I will not disappear from your memory
As soon as you close your eyes, (and you know it)
When you are alone and have time to reflect, you are aware of the truth
And every time I scratch my nails
Every time I engage in activities of self-harm
Down someone else's back I hope you feel it
I hope that you can sense my pain and suffering
Well, can you feel it?
Can you truly understand my emotions and how I am coping with this situation?
Writer(s): Glen Ballard, Alanis Nadine Morissette
Contributed by Anthony V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Attiritacus
I was lucky to watch her live in NYC, all hell broke loose after her performance of "oughta know", the audience erupted in applause and cheers. I'd say that the standing ovation at the end of the show was 80% for her. I wish there were an official recording of her performance available online & from abroad !
@farghifar
It's available on spotify!
@AlisonS521
When I saw it she got a standing ovation after this song. She was spectacular
@KingdomHeartsFan3211
From deadpan shock to anger to struggle to full-on rage. This is just perfectly acted.
@kirstythomson4043
something so powerful about how she sings the first section almost entirely motionless, deadpan expression.
@michaelparness2896
But you can see her slowly losing grip on her emotions on the inside. The initial shock of finding out you have been stabbed through the chest.
@5674inCincy
Alanis is pretty good about emoting during the song too.
Sounds much different today live today than the first decade she played itâŚso much frustration!
@KingdomHeartsFan3211
@@michaelparness2896
IKR!!! Itâs so masterfully acted!!! And the chorus portrays it just as well!
@KuroDokueki
Yes. Their first section is so damn powerful, and it's by far my favorite part of the whole performance. Just because it's filled with such eerie calmness. It's a great example of the calm before the storm, that you can see crackling to life.
@zeynand4039
He is a great actor with such a great voice. She is going to make it anywhere with that talent.