You Don't Know Me

You Don't Know MeSong by Ariana Grande
General information
Artist	Ariana Grande
Release date	August 25, 2014
Recorded	2013
Studio	London Bridge Studios (Los Angeles, CA)
Genre	Pop, R&B
Length	3:54
Album	My Everything (Deluxe)
Label	Republic Records
Songwriter(s)	Harmony Samuels, H. "Carmen Reece" Culver, Al Sherrod Lambert, Maurice David Wade, Ariana Grande
Producer(s)	Harmony Samuels, Jo Blaq
Credits	You Don't Know Me credits
My Everything track list
"Only 1"
"You Don't Know Me"
"Cadillac Song"
Audio

"You Don't Know Me" (commonly abbreviated as "YDKM") is a song by American singer Ariana Grande from her second studio album, My Everything, released in 2014. It is the third bonus track and fifteenth track overall off the deluxe edition of the album. It was written and produced by Harmony Samuels, with additional writing by Helen "Carmen Reece" Culver, Al Sherrod Lambert, Maurice David Wade, and Grande.

Background

It was announced on March 3, 2014, that Grande would appear on "Don't Be Gone Too Long", the intended fifth single off Chris Brown's then-upcoming sixth studio album titled X. The single was originally set for release on March 25, 2014, however, due to Brown's assault charges and subsequent arrest, the single was postponed. Following the announcment of the song's delay and subsequent cancellation, Grande held a livestream where she previewed five new songs from My Everything as an apology to her fans. She previewed "You Don't Know Me" during the stream, amongst others ( "My Everything", "Be My Baby", "Only 1", and "Too Close").

Lyrically, "You Don't Know Me" tackles themes of resilience, media criticism, and public perception. The song responds to the backlash Grande recieved while she was dating Jai Brooks.

Trivia

• "You Don't Know Me", alongside "Bang Bang", "Only 1", "Cadillac Song", and "Too Close" are Ariana's first deluxe edition songs.
• Prior to the song's release, any fans assumed the title of the song was "They Don't Understand", as that phrase was repeated several times throughout the snippet that was shared.
• "You Don't Know Me" contains samples from three different songs:
  • "The Champ" by The Mohawks.
  • "Jimbroski" by Jungle Brothers.
  • "Slow and Low" by Beastie Boys.
• Grande has stated on numerous occasions that "You Don't Know Me" is in her top 5 favorite songs from My Everything.
• "You Don't Know Me", "Too Close", "Intro" and "Cadillac Song" are the only songs from My Everything that have never been performed live.
  • Grande once sang "Cadillac Song" to a fan during an episode of the Honeymoon Diaries, though it has still never been performed at any live show.

Videos

You Don't Know Me (preview)

Ariana playing "You Don't Know Me" for the first time in the March 17 livestream

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Center of attention once again
They don't understand
They don't understand, no
Then they try to tell me who I am
But they don't understand
They don't understand, no

[Pre-Chorus]
You want a perfect picture to believe in?
Then you can't be looking for me then

[Chorus]
I don't need to live by your rules (you don't control me)
Until you've walked a mile in my shoes (you don't know me)
And I know, I know, I know you don't like it
You don't, you don't, you don't know where I've been
It's my life, so truth be told
I see you thinking but there's just one thing dear
You think you know, but you don't have no idea
Think you know me, but there's more to see, my love

[Verse 2]
The same arguments time and time again
And you watch them all happen
But they don't understand, no
Thinking you're the reason that it ends
And he won't be back again
But they don't understand, no

[Pre-Chorus]
You want a perfect picture to believe in?
Then you can't be looking for me then

[Chorus]
I don't need to live by your rules (you don't control me)
Until you've walked a mile in my shoes (you don't know me)
And I know, I know, I know you don't like it
You don't, you don't, you don't know where I've been
It's my life, so truth be told
You don't know me

[Bridge]
The girl you see in photographs is only a part of the one I am
Don't judge me
'Cause that's not reality
And all I can be is in love with who I'm becoming

[Breakdown]
Think you know me, but there's more to see, my love
You think you know, but you don't have no idea

[Chorus]
I don't need to live by your rules (you don't control me)
Until you've walked a mile in my shoes (you don't know me)
And I know, I know, I know you don't like it
You don't, you don't, you don't know where I've been
It's my life, so truth be told
I see you thinking, you don't know me
I don't need to live by your rules (you don't control me)
Until you've walked a mile in my shoes (you don't know me)
And I know, I know, I know you don't like it
You don't, you don't, you don't know where I've been
It's my life, so truth be told
I see you thinking, but there is just one thing my dear
You think you know, but you don't have no idea
Think you know me, but there's more to see, my love

[Outro]
My love