You Don't Know Me (Cindy Walker song)

1956 song by Eddy Arnold & Cindy Walker

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"You Don't Know Me"

Single by Eddy Arnold
B-side	"The Rockin' Mockin' Bird"
Released	April 21, 1956
Recorded	1955
Genre	Country
Length	2:34
Label	RCA Victor
Songwriter(s)	Eddy Arnold Cindy Walker

"You Don't Know Me" is a song written by Eddy Arnold and Cindy Walker in 1955. "You Don't Know Me" was first recorded by Arnold that year and released as a single on April 21, 1956, on RCA Victor. The best-selling version of the song is by Ray Charles, who took it to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1962, after releasing the song on his number 1 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. The first version of the song to make the Billboard charts was by Jerry Vale in 1956, peaking at number 14 on the pop chart. Arnold's version charted two months later, released as an RCA Victor single, 47–6502, backed with "The Rockin' Mockin' Bird", which reached number 10 on the Billboard country chart. Cash Box magazine, which combined all best-selling versions at one position, included a version by Carmen McRae that never appeared in the Billboard Top 100 Sides listing.

Origin

In his book Eddy Arnold: Pioneer of the Nashville Sound, author Michael Streissguth describes how Arnold and Walker composed the song:

Cindy Walker, who had supplied Eddy with "Take Me in Your Arms and Hold Me" (a number-one country record in 1949 and Eddy's first Cindy Walker release), recalled discussing the idea for "You Don't Know Me" with Eddy as she was leaving one of Nashville's annual disc-jockey conventions. "I went up to the Victor suite to tell Steve Sholes good-bye," she explained, "and just as I was leaving, Eddy came in the door." Arnold approached Walker with the title of the song: "I got a song title for you... 'You Don't Know Me.'" Walker, in jest, replied "But I know you!" to which Arnold retorted he was serious and proceeded to outline the story he had in mind. Walker promised to take Arnold's story and think about how to turn it into workable lyrics and melody, which eventually came naturally. "The song just started singing. It sort of wrote itself..."

The song, in a basic thirty-two-bar form, tells a narrative of a man, who has "never (known) the art of making love," and his friendly encounter with someone he knows but secretly loves—fearing rejection, the narrator never expresses his feelings toward the object of his affections and lets her walk away with another "lucky guy" (this lyric is gender-neutralized when sung by a woman), never knowing if she loves him back.

Notable recorded versions

"You Don't Know Me"

Single by Jerry Vale

B-side

"Enchanted"

Released

1956

Recorded

1955

Genre

Traditional pop

Length

2:33

Label

Columbia

Songwriter(s)

Eddy Arnold
Cindy Walker

Producer(s)

Percy Faith

Jerry Vale singles chronology

"Innamorata (Sweetheart)"
(1956)

"You Don't Know Me"
(1956)

"Mother Mine"
(1956)

"You Don't Know Me"

Single by Ray Charles

from the album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

B-side

"Careless Love"

Released

July 1962

Recorded

February 1962

Studio

United Recording Studios, Hollywood, California

Genre

Length

3:14

Label

ABC-Paramount 10345

Songwriter(s)

Eddy Arnold
Cindy Walker

Producer(s)

Sid Feller

Ray Charles singles chronology

"I Can't Stop Loving You"
(1962)

"You Don't Know Me"
(1962)

"You Are My Sunshine"
(1962)

The best-selling version of the song is by Ray Charles, who took it to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in September 1962, after releasing the song on his number 1 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. It was the follow-up single to "I Can't Stop Loving You", which held the number 1 position for five weeks. After being released in July, it was kept from the number 1 spot by "Sheila" by Tommy Roe. This version also topped the Easy Listening chart for three weeks in 1962 and was used in the 1993 comedy film Groundhog Day. The song was the 12th number one country hit for Mickey Gilley in 1981.

The song has been performed or recorded by hundreds of artists, including Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, and Willie Nelson. Charles re-recorded the song with Diana Krall on his number 1 album of duets, Genius Loves Company, the only song common to both of Charles' two number 1 albums. It was sung by Meryl Streep in the 1990 film Postcards from the Edge, by John Legend in the 2007 Curb Your Enthusiasm episode "The Bat Mitzvah", by Robert Downey Jr. in the 1998 film Two Girls and a Guy, and by Lizzy Caplan.

Artists that released versions of the song:

Eddy Arnold (1955)
Jerry Vale (1956)
Jeanne Black (1960)
Lenny Welch (1960)
Patti Page (1961) on album Somethin' Country
The Anita Kerr Singers (1962) on album From Nashville The Hit Sound
Ray Charles (1962) on album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Dodo Greene (1962) on album My Hour of Need
Floyd Cramer (1964) on album Country Piano-City Strings
Manfred Mann (1965) on album Mann Made
Rick Nelson (1965) on album Best Always
Vic Damone (1965) on album Country Love Songs
Jackie Wilson (1965) on album Spotlight on Jackie Wilson!
Jan Howard (1967) on album This Is Jan Howard Country
Elvis Presley (1967) on album Clambake
Nancy Wilson (1967) on album Welcome To My Love
Ray Pennington (1970) on album Sings for the Other Woman
Roy Orbison (1973) on album Milestones
Steve Marriott (1976) on album Marriott
Bette Midler (1977) on album Broken Blossom
Kenny Loggins (1977) on album Celebrate Me Home
Mickey Gilley (1981) on album You Don't Know Me
Juice Newton (1984) on album Can't Wait All Night
Richard Manuel (1985) on album Whispering Pines: Live at the Getaway
Bob James and David Sanborn (1986) on album Double Vision
The Heptones (1986) on album Changing Times
Don McLean (1989) on album For the Memories Vols I & II
Marc Hunter (1989) on album Night and Day
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (1990) on album Ka 'Ano'i
Charlie Rich (1992) on album Pictures and Paintings
Emmylou Harris (1993) on album Cowgirl's Prayer
Allen Toussaint (1994) on album Bluesiana Hot Sauce
Diane Schuur and B.B. King (1994) on album Heart to Heart
World Saxophone Quartet with Fontella Bass (1994) on album Breath of Life
Van Morrison (1995) on album Days Like This (duet with his daughter Shana Morrison)
David Sanborn (1995) on album Love Songs
Jann Arden (1997) for the soundtrack of My Best Friend's Wedding
Steven Houghton (1997) on album Steven Houghton
Roseanna Vitro (1997) on album Catchin' Some Rays: The Music of Ray Charles
Kenny Rogers (1999) on album After Dark
Patricia Barber (2000) on album Nightclub
Jennifer Warnes (2001) with Doyle Bramhall on album The Well
Anne Murray (2002) on album Country Croonin'
Michael Bolton (2003) on album Vintage
Janis Siegel (2003) on album Friday Night Special
Ray Charles and Diana Krall (2004) on album Genius Loves Company
Harry Connick Jr (2004) on album Only You
Peter Cincotti (2004) on album On the Moon
Sarah Geronimo (2004) on album Sweet Sixteen
Michael Bublé (2005) on album It's Time
John Scofield (2005) with Aaron Neville on album That's What I Say: John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray Charles
Willie Nelson (2006) on album You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker
Russell Watson (2007) on album That's Life
Leon Jackson (2008) on album Right Now
Michael McDonald (2008) on album Soul Speak
Gina Jeffreys (2010) on album, Old Paint
Michael Grimm (2011) on album Michael Grimm
Anna Wilson and Matt Giraud (2011) on album Countrypolitan Duets
Lulu Roman (2013) on album At Last
Michael Geier (2013)
Ronnie Dunn (2014) on album Peace, Love, and Country Music
Alison Krauss (2017) on album Windy City
Crystal Gayle (2019) on album You Don't Know Me
Ray Stevens (2021) on album Nouveau Retro

Charts

Eddy Arnold

Chart (1956)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)	10

Jerry Vale

Chart (1956)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100	14

Lenny Welch

Chart (1960)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100	45
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	28

Ray Charles

Chart (1962)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100	2
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	5
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)	1
UK Singles (OCC)	9

Elvis Presley

Chart (1968)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100	44
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)	34

Ray Pennington

Chart (1970)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)	61

Mickey Gilley

Chart (1981)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)	1
US Billboard Hot 100	55
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)	12
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)	1
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)	6

References

"Cover versions of You Don't Know Me by Eddy Arnold with Orchestra and Choir conducted by Charles Grean". Secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
"Eddy Arnold: Pioneer of the Nashville Sound". Upress.state.ms.us. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
"The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 137.
"Jeanne Black, A Little But Lonely". Discogs. 1960. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
"Puddles Pity Party - You Don't Know Me". YouTube. 3 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
"Eddy Arnold Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
"Jerry Vale Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
"Lenny Welch Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
"Lenny Welch Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
"Ray Charles Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
"Ray Charles Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
"Ray Charles Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
"Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
"Elvis Presley Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
"Elvis Presley Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
"Ray Pennington Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
"Mickey Gilley Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
"Mickey Gilley Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
"Mickey Gilley Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
"Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 0385." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
"Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 0402." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.

External links

Eddy Arnold: Pioneer of the Nashville Sound Archived 2016-12-20 at the Wayback Machine

v t e Eddy Arnold
Albums	Wanderin' with Eddy Arnold (1955) Anytime (1956) Have Guitar, Will Travel (1959) Thereby Hangs a Tale (1959) One More Time (1962) Cattle Call (1963) Folk Song Book (1964) The Easy Way (1965) My World (1965) I Want to Go with You (1966) The Last Word in Lonesome (1966) Somebody Like Me (1966) Lonely Again (1967) Turn the World Around (1967) The Everlovin' World of Eddy Arnold (1968) The Romantic World of Eddy Arnold (1968) Walkin' in Love Land (1968) So Many Ways/If the Whole World Stopped Lovin' (1973)
Singles (1940s)	"The Cattle Call" "Each Minute Seems a Million Years" "That's How Much I Love You" "What Is Life Without Love" "It's a Sin" "I'll Hold You in My Heart" "To My Sorrow" "Anytime" "Bouquet of Roses" "Texarkana Baby" "Just a Little Lovin'" "A Heart Full of Love" "Don't Rob Another Man's Castle" "One Kiss Too Many" "The Echo of Your Footsteps" "I'm Throwing Rice" "Take Me in Your Arms"
Singles (1950s)	"Little Angel with the Dirty Face" "Why Should I Cry Over You?" "Cuddle Buggin' Baby" "Enclosed One Broken Heart" "Lovebug Itch" "There's Been a Change in Me" "Kentucky Waltz" "I Wanna Play House With You" "Something Old, Something New" "Somebody's Been Beating My Time" "Heart Strings" "Easy on the Eyes" "A Full Time Job" "Eddy's Song" "I Really Don't Want to Know" "This Is the Thanks I Get" "Hep Cat Baby" "I've Been Thinking" "The Cattle Call" "Just Call Me Lonesome" "You Don't Know Me" "Tennessee Stud"
Singles (1960s)	"What's He Doing in My World" "Make the World Go Away" "I Want to Go with You" "The Tip of My Fingers" "Somebody Like Me" "Lonely Again" "Misty Blue" "Turn the World Around" "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye"
Related	Discography The Eddy Arnold Show Eddy Arnold Time Roy Wiggins

Ray Charles

Studio albums

Atlantic	Ray Charles (Hallelujah, I Love Her So) The Great Ray Charles Yes Indeed! Soul Brothers What'd I Say The Genius of Ray Charles The Genius Sings the Blues Soul Meeting The Genius After Hours True to Life Love & Peace
ABC	The Genius Hits the Road Dedicated to You Ray Charles and Betty Carter Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Vol. 2 Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul Sweet & Sour Tears Have a Smile with Me Together Again / Country and Western Meets Rhythm and Blues Crying Time Ray's Moods Ray Charles Invites You to Listen A Portrait of Ray I'm All Yours Baby! Doing His Thing My Kind of Jazz Love Country Style Volcanic Action of My Soul Jazz Number II A Message from the People Through the Eyes of Love
Crossover	My Kind of Jazz Part 3
Columbia	Wish You Were Here Tonight Friendship From the Pages of My Mind Just Between Us
Warner Bros.	Would You Believe? My World Strong Love Affair
Other labels	Genius + Soul = Jazz Porgy and Bess Genius Loves Company

Posthumous
studio creations

Live albums

Notable
compilations

Billboard Hot 100
top 10 singles

Other Billboard Charts
#1 singles

Grammy Awarded Works
(not included above)

See also

Category

Elvis Presley singles

1954	"That's All Right" / "Blue Moon of Kentucky" "Good Rockin' Tonight" / "I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine" "Milkcow Blues Boogie" / "You're a Heartbreaker"
1955	"I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone" / "Baby Let's Play House" "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" / "Mystery Train"
1956	"Heartbreak Hotel" / "I Was the One" "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" / "My Baby Left Me" "Don't Be Cruel" / "Hound Dog" "Blue Suede Shoes" / "Tutti Frutti" "Money Honey" "I Got a Woman" "Tryin' to Get to You" "Blue Moon" "I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin')" / "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (over You)" "Shake, Rattle and Roll" / "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" "Love Me Tender" / "Any Way You Want Me"
1957	"Too Much" / "Playing for Keeps" "All Shook Up" / "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" "Peace in the Valley" "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" / "Loving You" "Paralyzed" (UK) "Jailhouse Rock" / "Treat Me Nice" "Party" / "Got a Lot o' Livin' to Do!" (UK)
1958	"Don't" / "I Beg of You" "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" / "Doncha' Think It's Time" "Hard Headed Woman" / "Don't Ask Me Why" "King Creole" (UK) "One Night" / "I Got Stung"
1959	"I Need Your Love Tonight" / "A Fool Such as I" "A Big Hunk o' Love" / "My Wish Came True"

1960	"Stuck on You" / "Fame and Fortune" "It's Now or Never" / "A Mess of Blues" "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" / "I Gotta Know"
1961	"Surrender" / "Lonely Man" "I Feel So Bad" / "Wild in the Country" "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame" / "Little Sister" "Can't Help Falling in Love" / "Rock-A-Hula Baby"
1962	"Good Luck Charm" / "Anything That's Part of You" "She's Not You" / "Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello" "King of the Whole Wide World" "Return to Sender" / "Where Do You Come From"
1963	"One Broken Heart for Sale" / "They Remind Me Too Much of You" "(You're the) Devil in Disguise" "Bossa Nova Baby" / "Witchcraft"
1964	"Kissin' Cousins" / "It Hurts Me" "Kiss Me Quick" / "Suspicion" "Viva Las Vegas" / "What'd I Say" "Such a Night" / "Never Ending" "Ask Me" / "Ain't That Loving You Baby" "Blue Christmas"
1965	"Do the Clam" / "You'll Be Gone" "Crying in the Chapel "(Such an) Easy Question" / "It Feels So Right" "I'm Yours" / "(It's a) Long Lonely Highway" "Puppet on a String" / "Wooden Heart"
1966	"Tell Me Why" / "Blue River" "Frankie and Johnny" / "Please Don't Stop Loving Me" "Love Letters" "Spinout" / "All That I Am" "If Every Day Was Like Christmas"
1967	"Indescribably Blue" / "Fools Fall in Love" "You Gotta Stop" / "The Love Machine" (UK) "Long Legged Girl (with the Short Dress On)" / "That's Someone You Never Forget" "There's Always Me" / "Judy" "Big Boss Man" / "You Don't Know Me"
1968	"Guitar Man" "U.S. Male" / "Stay Away" "We Call on Him" / "You'll Never Walk Alone" "Your Time Hasn't Come Yet, Baby" / "Let Yourself Go" "Almost in Love" / "A Little Less Conversation" "If I Can Dream" / "Edge of Reality"
1969	"Memories" / "Charro" "How Great Thou Art" "In the Ghetto" / "Any Day Now" "Clean Up Your Own Backyard" "Suspicious Minds" / "You'll Think of Me" "Don't Cry Daddy" "Rubberneckin'"

1970	"Kentucky Rain" "The Wonder of You" / "Mama Liked the Roses" "I've Lost You" / "The Next Step Is Love" "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" / "Patch It Up" "I Really Don't Want to Know" / "There Goes My Everything"
1971	"Rags to Riches" "Life" / "Only Believe" "I'm Leavin'" "It's Only Love" / "The Sound of Your Cry" "Merry Christmas Baby" / "O Come All Ye Faithful"
1972	"Until It's Time for You to Go" / "We Can Make the Morning" "He Touched Me" / "Bosom of Abraham" "An American Trilogy" / "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" "Burning Love" / "It's a Matter of Time" "Separate Ways" / "Always on My Mind"
1973	"Steamroller Blues" / "Fool" "Raised on Rock" / "For Ol' Times Sake"
1974	"Take Good Care of Her" / "I've Got a Thing About You, Baby" "If You Talk in Your Sleep" / "Help Me" "Promised Land" / "It's Midnight"
1975	"My Boy" / "Thinking About You" "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" "Bringing It Back" / "Pieces of My Life"
1976	"For the Heart" / "Hurt" "Moody Blue" / "She Thinks I Still Care"
1977	"Way Down" / "Pledging My Love" "My Way" / "America the Beautiful"
1978	"Unchained Melody" / "Softly as I Leave You"

Posthumous
singles

"Puppet on a String" / "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" (1978)
"Are You Sincere" / "Solitaire"
"There's a Honky Tonk Angel (Who'll Take Me Back In)" / "I Got a Feelin' in My Body"
"Guitar Man"
"Loving Arms" / You Asked Me To"
"You'll Never Walk Alone / "There Goes My Everything" (1982)
"The Elvis Medley"
"I Was the One" / "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" (1983)
"Heartbreak Hotel" (1996)
"Blue Christmas" (1998)
"A Little Less Conversation" (JXL remix)
"Rubberneckin'" (Paul Oakenfold Remix)
"In the Ghetto" (with Lisa Marie Presley)
"Baby Let's Play House" (Spankox Re:Version)
"I'll Be Home for Christmas" (with Carrie Underwood) (2008)
"Blue Christmas" (with Martina McBride) (2008)
"Pocketful of Rainbows" (Spankox Remix)
"I Love You Because" (with Lisa Marie Presley)
"O Come, All Ye Faithful" (with Susan Boyle)
"I Got a Feelin' in My Body" (Tommie Sunshine & Wuki Remix)

Category

v t e Mickey Gilley
Albums	Too Good to Stop Now Invitation Only
Notable singles	"Lotta Lovin'" "Room Full of Roses" "I Overlooked an Orchid" "City Lights" "Window Up Above" "Bouquet of Roses" "Overnight Sensation" "Don't the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time" "Bring It On Home to Me" "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" "She's Pulling Me Back Again" "Honky Tonk Memories" "Chains of Love" "The Power of Positive Drinkin'" "Here Comes the Hurt Again" "The Song We Made Love To" "Just Long Enough to Say Goodbye" "My Silver Lining" "True Love Ways" "Stand by Me" "That's All That Matters" "A Headache Tomorrow (Or a Heartache Tonight)" "You Don't Know Me" "Lonely Nights" "Tears of the Lonely" "Put Your Dreams Away" "Talk to Me" "Fool for Your Love" "Your Love Shines Through" "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" "Too Good to Stop Now" "I'm the One Mama Warned You About" "You've Got Something on Your Mind" "Your Memory Ain't What It Used to Be" "Doo-Wah Days" "Full Grown Fool" "She Reminded Me of You" "There I've Said It Again"
Collaboration singles	"Candy Man"
Guest singles	"Paradise Tonight" (with Charly McClain)
Related articles	Discography Jerry Lee Lewis Jimmy Swaggart Barbi Benton Ray Charles Gilley's Club

v t e Willie Nelson singles
1950s	"No Place for Me" "Man With the Blues" / "The Storm Has Just Begun" "What a Way to Live"
1960s	"Nite Life" "The Part Where I Cry" / "Mr. Record Man" "Willingly" "Touch Me" "Wake Me When It's Over" "Half a Man" / "The Last Letter" "Am I Blue" "I Never Cared For You" "Pretty Paper" "San Antonio Rose" "I Love You Because" "The Party's Over" "Blackjack County Chain" "Johnny One Time" "Bring Me Sunshine"
1970s	"Fire and Rain" "Yesterday's Wine" "Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer)" "Bloody Mary Morning" "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" "If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time" "Georgia on My Mind" "Blue Skies" "All of Me" "Whiskey River" "September Song" "White Christmas"
1980s	"Help Me Make It Through the Night" "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" "Midnight Rider" "On the Road Again" "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" "Mona Lisa" "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" "Always on My Mind" "Let It Be Me" "Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning" "Little Old Fashioned Karma" "Why Do I Have to Choose" "Take It to the Limit" "Without a Song" "City of New Orleans" "Forgiving You Was Easy" "Living in the Promiseland" "Heart of Gold" "Spanish Eyes" (with Julio Iglesias) "Twilight Time" "Nothing I Can Do About It Now" "There You Are" "Mr. Record Man"
1990s	"Ain't Necessarily So" "Graceland"
2000s	"Mendocino County Line" (with Lee Ann Womack) "Wurlitzer Prize" (with Norah Jones) "Beer for My Horses" (with Toby Keith) "The Harder They Come" "You Don't Know Me" "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other" "Gravedigger"
2010s	"Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die" "Just Breathe" "Grandma's Hands" (with Mavis Staples) "The Wall" "It's All Going to Pot" "Summer Wind" "Vote 'Em Out" "Forever Country"
Category:Willie Nelson

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