You Owe Me Nothing In Return

Album: Under Rug Swept (2002)
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Songfacts®:

  • "The heart of that song is about the real definition of what love is," Morissette explained in the track-by-track commentary. "And what love is to me is wanting for someone that you love what they want for themselves. And at the same time not sacrificing my own life and my thoughts and my own beliefs. Supporting someone in their choices and at the same time being able to express what mine are, even if they differ, is the ultimate healthy, loving interaction. And there were a few lyrics that I changed in the song because it was kind of hinting at myself sacrificially, loving someone at the cost of myself, which is definitely not the case and really not the sentiment that I was trying to get across in the song. So, having changed some of the lines that were kind of hinting at that, the song finally addressed what I was trying to communicate, which is: the highest form of love is to really listen to someone and honor them and accept them and have my own version and definition of who it is that I am. And if they can both cohabitate or spend time together or feel compatible, great. And if they don't, that's okay too -there's still a lotta love - but maybe the form of the relationship would change."
  • This features Meshell Ndegeocello on bass.

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