About The Song
Ray Charles was a pioneer of soul music, a genre that combined elements of gospel, jazz, and blues. He was also a master of country music, and his 1962 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music was a critical and commercial success. The album’s lead single, “You Don’t Know Me”, was a countrypolitan ballad that became one of Charles’s signature songs.
The song is about a man who is in love with a woman who does not know him. He sings about how he has been dreaming of her and longing to kiss her, but he is too afraid to tell her how he feels. He knows that she will never love him back, but he cannot help but love her anyway.
The song is sung from the first-person perspective, and the narrator’s voice is full of emotion. He sings with a mixture of hope and despair, and his voice cracks with vulnerability at times. The lyrics are simple but effective, and they perfectly capture the pain of unrequited love.
The song’s melody is slow and mournful, and it perfectly complements the lyrics. The song builds to a crescendo in the chorus, and the narrator’s voice becomes more impassioned as he sings about his love for the woman. The song ends with a fade-out, leaving the listener with a sense of longing and regret.
“(You Don’t Know Me)” is a beautiful and moving song about the pain of unrequited love. It is a classic example of Ray Charles’s genius, and it is a song that will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Here are some additional details about the song:
- The song was written by Eddy Arnold and Cindy Walker.
- It was originally released by Arnold in 1956.
- Charles’s version of the song was released in 1962.
- The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
- It has been covered by many artists, including Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, and Diana Krall.
“(You Don’t Know Me)” is a timeless classic that continues to be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a song about love, loss, and longing, and it is a song that will stay with you long after you hear it.