So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
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
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
I went to your house
Walked up the stairs
I opened your door without ringing the bell
I walked down the hall
Into your room
Where I could smell you
And I shouldn't be here
Without permission
I shouldn't be here
Would you forgive me, love
If I danced in your shower?
Would you forgive me, love
If I laid in your bed?
Would you forgive me, love
If I stay all afternoon? Oh
I took off my clothes
Put on your robe
Went through your drawers
And I found your cologne
Went down to the den
Found your CDs
And I played your Joni
And I shouldn't stay long, you might be home soon
I shouldn't stay long
Would you forgive me, love
If I danced in your shower?
Would you forgive me, love
If I laid in your bed?
Would you forgive me, love
If I stay all afternoon? Oh
I burned your incense
I ran a bath
I noticed a letter that sat on your desk
It said, "Hello, love, I love you so, love, meet me at midnight"
And no, it wasn't my writing
I'd better go soon
It wasn't my writing
So forgive me, love
If I cry in your shower
So forgive me, love
For the salt in your bed
So forgive me, love
If I cry all afternoon
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
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
I went to your house
Walked up the stairs
I opened your door without ringing the bell
I walked down the hall
Into your room
Where I could smell you
And I shouldn't be here
Without permission
I shouldn't be here
Would you forgive me, love
If I danced in your shower?
Would you forgive me, love
If I laid in your bed?
Would you forgive me, love
If I stay all afternoon? Oh
I took off my clothes
Put on your robe
Went through your drawers
And I found your cologne
Went down to the den
Found your CDs
And I played your Joni
And I shouldn't stay long, you might be home soon
I shouldn't stay long
Would you forgive me, love
If I danced in your shower?
Would you forgive me, love
If I laid in your bed?
Would you forgive me, love
If I stay all afternoon? Oh
I burned your incense
I ran a bath
I noticed a letter that sat on your desk
It said, "Hello, love, I love you so, love, meet me at midnight"
And no, it wasn't my writing
I'd better go soon
It wasn't my writing
So forgive me, love
If I cry in your shower
So forgive me, love
For the salt in your bed
So forgive me, love
If I cry all afternoon
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i can't decide on this one. sometimes it seems like she went to her boyfriend's house and found out he was having an affair, but other times i think that they had broken up long ago and she was in his house because she was sort of stalking him. i mean, she says "i shouldn't be here" and "you might be home soon"...it implys that she doesn't want him to find her there.
I don't think she's stalking him. Missing him terribly would be a better term.
This song is about how she messed up and her boyfriend dumped her. She goes into his house without permission, and takes a shower,etc. And while she's there she finds a letter written by her ex's new lover. Breaking up is hard.
Could be some kind of B-side to "You oughta know", dont you think ?
I always listened to this as a response to 'You Oughta Know', like the other side of a coin, because it's deliberately put on the end of the second version of 'You Oughta Know' on 'Jagged Little Pill'- if it was only on there once, it wouldn't have stood out amongst all the other songs quite as much. But it was put on there twice, and this song wasn't given a seperate track, so that we couldn't skip right to it- it's like a surprise on the end of the album. They were meant to be listened to in this order, and together. So to me this song's like the quiet part of her mind that is still in love with her ex, that undermines all the fury of the part of her that's singing 'You Oughta Know'.
This song is about a super in love lady who cant seem to move on from her past relationship.it seems to that they live together before...and maybe she messed up that is why they separated...or somehow the guy doesnt want anymore of her..so she doesnt have any choice but to sneak in snytime she got/.the loneliest song ive ever heard.nothing is more gloomy than being away with someone you love.ouch.
alanis did perfect on this song,there is nobody who can do this song like her, she is perfection!!!
I fell asleep and woke up to this song and had no idea it was on the album. It's so beautiful that you don't judge her for being a stalker. I cried the first time I came to the part when she realizes he has another girl.
this song is sooo good. its kinda weird, bc of something that went on in my life.....but i like the way she sings it. kinda sad too for her
this song's already in here.........."your house."
i LOOVE the syle of this song...n music or anything, its RAW alanis