sort form Submissions:
submissions
Big Black – Bad Penny Lyrics 8 years ago
Based on the lyrics, I tend to think Mr Albini is referring to another side/facet of the same person.
Thus the song is referring to how this person "ought to know" them/how bad the penny is - because they're one and the same.
I don't think it's talking about a third person, as evidenced by the lines below re girlfriend/friends' girlfriends.

E.g.

"Couldn't throw me too far"
"Ought to know what a liar I am, ought to know me by now"
"Ought've known you couldn't trust me as far as you can throw me, throw me"
(i.e. can't escape self)

"I think I fucked your girlfriend once... maybe twice, I don't remember
Then I fucked all your friends' girlfriends -- now they hate you"
(i.e. these people now hate the facet of the person/personality this song is referring to).

* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.