You Oughta Know
Ofln - Alanis Morissette Lyrics

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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

Overall Meaning

In Alanis Morissette's song "You Oughta Know," the lyrics explore the emotions of a woman who has been hurt and betrayed by a former lover. The song is a raw and bitter expression of anger, resentment, and longing for closure. The singer initially wishes the best for her ex-lover and his new partner, but quickly delves into questioning their relationship. She wonders if the new partner is as sexually adventurous as she was, implying that she knows intimate details about their past relationship. The singer also questions if the new partner is just as eloquent and capable of having deep conversations like she was, and whether she would have his child. Despite the bitterness, the singer acknowledges the love they shared but feels that it wasn't enough for her ex-lover to fully commit.

The chorus of the song serves as a direct message to the ex-lover, reminding him of the pain he caused and the aftermath of his departure. The singer confronts him about the mess he left behind when he ended their relationship and moved on. She expresses that it is not fair for him to deny her the emotional burden that she now carries, symbolized by the "cross" she bears.

As the song progresses, the singer reveals her own struggles with moving on. She acknowledges that the ex-lover seems to be doing well while she is still hurting. She questions if he has forgotten about her and the betrayal she experienced. The mention of "Mr. Duplicity" implies that the ex-lover may have deceived her during their relationship, adding to her feelings of anger and hurt. The singer acknowledges that she is aware of his new sexual partner and wonders if he ever thinks of her during those moments.

The song's bridge veers towards a more aggressive tone, with the singer asserting her presence and refusing to fade away. She reveals her intention to "scratch [her] nails down someone else's back" as a way of making her ex-lover feel her pain. The final repetition of the chorus strengthens the singer's resolve to remind him of the consequences of his actions.

Overall, "You Oughta Know" captures the intense emotions of heartbreak, betrayal, and the lingering pain that can result from a failed relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

I want you to know, that I am happy for you
I want you to understand that despite everything, I genuinely feel joy for your happiness

I wish nothing but the best for you both
My sincere hope is that you and your new partner experience nothing but happiness and success

An older version of me
A previous version of myself, a different person compared to who I am now

Is she perverted like me?
Does she possess the same unconventional desires and tendencies as I do?

Would she go down on you in a theater?
Would she perform sexual acts on you in a public setting like a theater?

Does she speak eloquently
Does she express herself in a sophisticated and articulate manner?

And would she have your baby?
Would she bear your child?

I'm sure she'd make a really excellent mother
I believe she would excel in the role of a mother

'Cause the love that you gave that we made
Because the love we shared and the love we created together

Wasn't able to make it enough for you
Apparently, our love was insufficient for your needs

To be open wide, no
To fully expose and reveal oneself emotionally, which you were unwilling to do

And every time you speak her name
Every time you mention her, reference her, or say her name aloud

Does she know how you told me
Is she aware of the way you informed me, the things you confessed to me

You'd hold me until you died
That you promised to embrace me until your last breath, until death separated us

'Til you died, but you're still alive
Until your demise, but surprisingly, you are still alive

And I'm here, to remind you
I am present, in this moment, to refresh your memory

Of the mess you left when you went away
To bring to your attention the chaos and emotional wreckage you caused by leaving

It's not fair, to deny me
It is unjust to refuse or reject me

Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
Of the burden and suffering I endure, which you bestowed upon me

You, you, you oughta know
You, specifically you, truly need to understand and realize

You seem very well, things look peaceful
You appear to be in a good state, things seem calm and harmonious

I'm not quite as well, I thought you should know
I am not as emotionally or mentally sound as you may think, and I believe you should be aware of it

Did you forget about me, Mr. Duplicity?
Have you conveniently overlooked my existence, Mr. Dishonesty?

I hate to bug you in the middle of dinner
I dislike interrupting you while you are having a meal

It was a slap in the face
It was a harsh and hurtful blow to my self-esteem and emotions

How quickly I was replaced
How rapidly you found a substitute for me

And are you thinking of me when you fuck her?
And do thoughts of me arise in your mind when you engage in intimate acts with her?