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


Lyrics submitted by kevin

You Oughta Know Lyrics as written by Alanis Nadine Morissette Glen Ballard

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

You Oughta Know song meanings
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138 Comments

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  • +10
    General Comment

    This is the greatest paean to outright rage and fury I've ever heard. I like it; I wish I knew more songs that expressed violent emotion as eloquently as this one. Like a blast of ice water to the face...

    mekratrigon June 17, 2002   Link
  • +9
    General Comment

    This is a GREAT song. It's about a girl being dumped by a guy out of nowhere, she probably thought the relationship was fine and going well. Then her boyfriend dumps her, and she's devestated at first. Then, when she finds out that he's already with another girl, she's gets very mad. She realizes that she was pushed to the side for no reason, and she wants to know if this new girl is as good as her. Then, at the end,she kind of taunts him- saying how he'll never be able to forget her and when she's with another guy and having an amazing time she hopes he feels as hurt and she did. Great song...

    babieemellyon April 08, 2004   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    even though i'm a guy, I love this song. Women sometimes drop men like they are nothing... not as often as men, but nice guys like me do get burned a lot, dropped a lot even though they tell you how much they love you, and I end up feeling just like the woman in this song. Even though this is a great song, the memories it brings up are really powerful to me, and sometimes i have trouble listening to it.

    examanceron August 26, 2002   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    It's official- It's about Dave Coulier.

    Here's a clip of an interview of Coulier from US magazine: "Coulier best known as goofy Uncle Joey on ABC's Full House is the inspiration behind Morrisette's 1995 angst-ridden anthem "You Oughta Know."

    He says he was driving when he first heard the tune.

    "I said, 'Wow, this girl is angry.' And then I said, 'Oh man, I think it's Alanis,'" Coulier tells the Calgary Herald. "I listened to the song over and over again, and I said, 'I think I have really hurt this person.'"

    He says they are now on good terms.

    justduckygalon August 15, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Definitly one of the best breakup songs... or "i feel shitty" songs

    Just a Girlon April 06, 2003   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    fuckin........ Navarro and Flea wrote this song with Alanis, it definatley rocks!

    UNKNOWIT88on June 20, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Yeah, a lot of guys promise a lot of shit. I knew a guy like that, he fell through too. Yes, she does seem pathetic, jealous and immature but she is honest with her feelings. And you'd feel the same way too? I know I would.

    I like this song, just because of its honesty, and you can literally feel the sarcasm, the rage, the jealousy dripping off the lyrics.

    funklesson January 20, 2009   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning

    This song is about Dave Coulier: <a href="clevelandleader.com/node/6447">clevelandleader.com/node/6447</a>

    kaleidoscopeeyes8on October 20, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    "And are you thinking of me when you fuck her?"

    In all likelihood no, Alanis. It's almost certain, though, that in the weeks before he left he was thinking of her when he was fucking you

    mycheezyhelmon December 07, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I would't want to piss her off.

    anbanon May 25, 2013   Link

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