David Benoit, (born May 9, 1953) is an American jazz fusion / contemporary … Read Full Bio ↴David Benoit, (born May 9, 1953) is an American jazz fusion / contemporary jazz pianist, composer and producer, who is from Los Angeles, California. He has been nominated for five Grammy Awards.

His GRP debut album Freedom at Midnight was his biggest seller and most popular album. Benoit also says that it was his favorite album to produce, because it was when "everything came together," as he stated in an interview on smoothviews.com.

Out of respect for one of his main influencers, Bill Evans, he dedicated his 1992 album Letter to Evan to him.

Many of his songs employed a string section, most notably on his American Landscape and Orchestral Stories albums in 1997 and 2005, respectively. He has said that it is his dream to release a symphonic album.

In 2000, after the death of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, he released a memorial album entitled Here's to You, Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years! Collaborators included the chorus group Take 6, guitarist Mark Antoine and trumpeter Chris Botti. He also did the music for "Peanuts" in the later specials.

He is a close friend of The Rippingtons' guitarist and lead Russ Freeman, and they often appeared on each other's albums. They also released collaborative efforts The Benoit/Freeman Project and The Benoit / Freeman Project 2.

Don't Know Why
David Benoit Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I waited 'till I saw the sun
I don't know why I didn't come
I left you by the house of fun
I don't know why I didn't come
I don't know why I didn't come

When I saw the break of day
I wished that I could fly away

Instead of kneeling in the sand
Catching teardrops in my hand

My heart is drenched in wine
But you'll be on my mind
Forever

Out across the endless sea
I would die in ecstasy
But I'll be a bag of bones
Driving down the road alone

My heart is drenched in wine
But you'll be on my mind
Forever

Something has to make you run
I don't know why I didn't come
I feel as empty as a drum
I don't know why I didn't come

I don't know why I didn't come
I don't know why I didn't come

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of David Benoit's song "Don't Know Why" tell the story of a person who is trapped in a relationship that he no longer wants to be in. He reflects on the reasons why he has not left the person and feels the pressure of the current state of the relationship. The words in the chorus "My heart is drenched in wine but you'll be on my mind forever" speaks to the conflicting emotions the person is experiencing, his heart being heavy with sadness and pain, but still not wanting to forget the love he once had.

The lyrics also mention the singer's desire to fly away and die in ecstasy but simultaneously acknowledging the loneliness that comes with this freedom. In the end, the person notes the emptiness he feels and acknowledges that something must make him run, but he is unsure of what it is.

Overall, the song touches on the complexities of emotions and relationships, and how even though someone might want to leave, they might still hold onto the memories and feelings of the relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

I waited 'till I saw the sun
I delayed my arrival until the morning light.

I don't know why I didn't come
I am uncertain as to my reasoning for not arriving sooner.

I left you by the house of fun
I abandoned you near a place of enjoyment.

I don't know why I didn't come
I am unsure as to my motivation for not being with you at that time.

I don't know why I didn't come
I remain puzzled at the decisions I made that kept me apart from you.

When I saw the break of day
As the dawn arrived, my mood altered.

I wished that I could fly away
I yearned for the ability to soar out of reach.

Instead of kneeling in the sand
Rather than being in a position of submission by the shore,

Catching teardrops in my hand
I collected tears in my grasp.

My heart is drenched in wine
My emotional state is saturated in alcohol.

But you'll be on my mind
Yet, my thoughts only focus on you.