You Oughta Know

Alanis Morissette

About You Oughta Know

"You Oughta Know" is a song by Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, released as the lead single from her third studio album, Jagged Little Pill (1995) on July 7, 1995. After releasing two commercially successful studio albums through MCA Records Canada, Morissette left MCA Records Canada and was introduced to manager Scott Welch. Morissette began working on new music after moving from her hometown of Ottawa to Toronto, but did not make much progress until travelling to Los Angeles, where she met Glen Ballard. Morissette and Ballard co-wrote the song with the latter producing it. L. A. producer and friend, Jimmy Boyle, recorded and engineered the track in addition to recruiting musicians Flea and Dave Navarro of the Red Hot Chili Peppers to play bass and guitar on the track. The song was the first released track that saw Morissette's departure from bubblegum pop to the alternative rock sound she was later known for. Released to positive reviews from critics, the single managed to outperform the label's initial expectations. KROQ-FM, an influential Los Angeles modern rock radio station, began playing "You Oughta Know", leading to the single receiving commercial success, reaching the top ten in Australia and the United States, where it was a multiformat hit in several different genre charts, and making the top forty in Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. 


4:09
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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 f*ck 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?

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

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Alanis Morissette

Alanis Nadine Morissette (born June 1, 1974) is a Canadian and American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards. Morissette began her career in Canada, and as a teenager recorded two dance-pop albums, Alanis and Now Is the Time, under MCA Records Canada. more »

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Written by: Glen Ballard, Alanis Nadine Morissette

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Song's Background
"You Oughta Know" is a song by Alanis Morissette from her third studio album, "Jagged Little Pill", released in 1995.
Chart Performance
It was a hit, reaching number six on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and topping the U.S. Alternative Songs chart.
Song Elements
The song possesses a mix of alternative rock and post-grunge elements, and is noted for its raw sound and intense lyrics.
Autobiographical Element
Morissette has never publicly confirmed who the song is about, but it is generally believed to be inspired by her past relationships.
Collaborations
The American record producers and songwriters, Glen Ballard and Alanis Morissette, co-wrote the song.
Grammy Awards
"You Oughta Know" won two Grammy Awards in 1996: Best Rock Song and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
Cultural Impact
It was one of the first songs that introduced female anger and betrayal to the modern music scene, breaking the mold of the "nice" female singer-songwriter.
Cover Versions
Various artists have covered the song, including Britney Spears, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift.
Iconic Line
The line "The cross I bear that you gave to me" was nominated for the 1996 Best Rock Line award by the New York Music Awards.
Pop Culture References
The song has been referenced in popular culture across several shows, including the "Glee" series where it was performed.
Music Video
The song's music video was directed by Nick Egan and featured Morissette performing the song in a desert setting.
First Single
"You Oughta Know" was the first single from the "Jagged Little Pill" album, effectively launching Morissette’s career as a respected singer-songwriter worldwide.
Intense Emotion
Morissette was only 21 when she recorded the song, yet her intense emotion and depth of feelings is palpable, indicating her maturity as an artist.
Backup Musicians
The song features Flea and Dave Navarro of Red Hot Chili Peppers playing bass and guitar, respectively, on the recording.
Multiplatinum Success
Propelled by the song's success, the "Jagged Little Pill" album eventually sold over 33 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums in music history.

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