You Oughta Know

According to the You Oughta Know Songfacts, the song is rumored to be about the actor Dave Coulier, who Morissette went out with for a while when she was 16 and he was 31 In a 2008 interview with the Calgary Herald, Coulier claimed that this song was about their rocky former relationship

[Verse 1] 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 you in a theatre? Does she speak eloquently And would she have your baby? I'm sure she'd make a really excellent mother [Pre-Chorus 1] '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 [Verse 2] 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 thinkin' of me when you fuck her? [Pre-Chorus 1] '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 [Pre-Chorus 2] '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? [Chorus] 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 [Chorus / Outro] Why 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