The LA Times said in January 2007 'David Ford digs down deep in the heart-and-soul tradition: an English and male Lucinda Williams? He puts everything into every note, every word.'
Ford recorded his debut album 'I Sincerely Apologise For All the Trouble I've Caused' on his own in his cellar flat in Eastbourne during 2005 thinking he was just "doing a bunch of demos". However, the strength of these recordings led to magnoliaMAM taking him on for management and shortly thereafter licensing the 'demos' as a finished album to Independiente for the UK and then, in April 2006, to Columbia Records in New York for the USA and the 'rest of the world'.
The album was widely acclaimed and featured in the best of lists for 2006 in the LA Times, The Sunday Times, The New York Post, The Word and The Toronto Star - who said 'you have to go back to Dylan's 'Idiot Wind'/'Blood on the Tracks' to find such an impressively sustained, bile-soaked round of invective'.
Ford toured extensively in the USA, the UK, Canada and Australia during 2006. When performing live, Ford makes use of a 'looping pedal' which allows him to build up layers of vocals, guitars, percussion and keyboards to create extremely powerful and beautiful layers of sound; most notably when playing the song "State Of The Union". (live footage can be seen on both his myspace page and his old archived web site - www.myspace.com/davidford & www.davidford.mu - current website is at www.davidfordmusic.com)
2007 saw the release of his critically-aclaimed, yet widely ignored, album Songs For The Road. Ford spent the most of 2008 in the US promoting it.
February 2010 saw the release of his album, Let The Hard Times Roll, coinciding with a tour of the UK, with dates in the US too.
In April 2011 Ford released his autobiography, I Choose This, covering his musical experience from high school through to touring the United States as a solo artist.
Ford's musical honesty and passionately melodic songwriting has seen him compared to the likes of Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, James Taylor and Elton John.
I Don't Care What You Call Me
David Ford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You never made much sense
We never stood a chance,
If we're honest.
You were not the first,
And I won't be the last,
But if it makes it better,
Get home late,
No one's here.
Pace around the house
And sit in my chair.
And if you think of me,
It doesn't mean a thing.
So why don't you just tell me
What you really think again?
I don't care what you call me
Because it won't hurt any more.
I know I let you down,
And Christ, you let me know
Every time
And time again.
Just another afternoon
Get drunk and disappear
So call me what you will
Rain it on down.
What else can you throw at me
I haven't heard before?
And tear me on down.
I am unforgivable.
So why don't you just tell me
What you really think of me?
And scream me on down
I am so forgettable
Yes, I know.
And shoot me on down
Don't you think this isn't killing me?
But it's no more than I deserve.
I don't care what you call me.
Because it won't hurt any more.
The lyrics to David Ford's song "I Don't Care What You Call Me" seem to be directed towards an individual in a strained relationship. The lyrics highlight the lack of connection between the singer and the other person, and how they are resigned to the fact that things will not work out. The opening lines set the tone of the song - "I never made time, You never made much sense, We never stood a chance, If we're honest" - indicating that the two parties were never fully committed to each other, either emotionally or physically.
The chorus shows a sense of apathy in the singer, who seems to have given up on the situation: "I don't care what you call me, Because it won't hurt any more." The repeated phrase suggests that the singer has reached a point of acceptance, where they are no longer concerned with the other person's feelings towards them. The subsequent lines in the chorus - "You were not the first, And I won't be the last, But if it makes it better, Well, you can call me what you will" - indicate that the singer recognizes that their relationship was not meant to be, but is willing to be called anything that makes the other person feel better.
The subsequent verses highlight the singer's loneliness and feeling of isolation, as they find themselves alone at home or drunk and disappearing from situations. The lines "And if you think of me, it doesn't mean a thing. So why don't you just tell me what you really think again?" indicate a sense of hopelessness in the singer and a desire to know what the other person truly thinks of them. Overall the song seems to depict a sense of finality, where the singer has given up on the relationship and is ready to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
I never made time,
I didn't prioritize our relationship and didn't put in the effort to make time for you.
You never made much sense
Your actions and words were confusing and difficult to understand.
We never stood a chance,
Our relationship was doomed from the start.
If we're honest.
Being truthful, we both knew that our relationship wasn't working out.
You were not the first,
You're not the first person to hurt me like this.
And I won't be the last,
I know that I will continue to be hurt in this way.
But if it makes it better,
If it helps ease your pain, go ahead and do it.
Well you can call me what you will.
You can refer to me in any way you want.
Get home late,
I arrive home after spending time away.
No one's here.
No one else is home at the time of my arrival.
Pace around the house
I move around restlessly, feeling uneasy.
And sit in my chair.
I finally settle down and take a seat.
And if you think of me,
If you happen to have thoughts about me,
It doesn't mean a thing.
It has no significance or impact.
So why don't you just tell me
Why don't you share with me
What you really think again?
Your true thoughts and feelings?
I don't care what you call me
I am indifferent to your words or actions towards me
Because it won't hurt any more.
Because I have already been hurt to the point where I am desensitized.
I know I let you down,
I am aware that I disappointed you.
And Christ, you let me know
And you make it abundantly clear
Every time
Repeatedly, without fail.
And time again.
Over and over, without a break.
Just another afternoon
Just another typical day
Get drunk and disappear
Drink alcohol excessively and not be present mentally.
So call me what you will
Refer to me with any name or label.
Rain it on down.
Bring on the insults or negative comments.
What else can you throw at me
What other criticisms or attacks can you direct at me?
I haven't heard before?
Is there anything new you can say about me?
And tear me on down.
Continue to break me apart and make me feel worthless.
I am unforgivable.
I am undeserving of forgiveness.
So why don't you just tell me
So why don't you open up and be honest with me
What you really think of me?
Share your true opinions and feelings about me.
And scream me on down
Shout and use a loud voice to criticize me.
I am so forgettable
I am not memorable in any significant way.
Yes, I know.
I am aware of this fact.
And shoot me on down
Continue to attack me with harsh words and actions.
Don't you think this isn't killing me?
Do you not understand the emotional pain and suffering I am experiencing?
But it's no more than I deserve.
However, I believe that I deserve this pain and punishment.
I don't care what you call me.
I am not affected by the names or labels you use to refer to me.
Because it won't hurt any more.
Because I am numb to the pain caused by your words.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVID FORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dee Workflow
How can such an epic song have so little views!? Love this song
Sean King
Every once in awhile you discover a song that describes a mood your in or a time in your life. This song is that song for me. It describes my childhood. David Ford is an excellent performer and I look forward to hearing more of his music in the years to come.
Dawid Książek
dawno nic mnie tak nie poruszylo...niesamowity glos...trafia w sam środek duszy...niesamowity
Wundermuyy
WOW.. This guy deserves way more exposure to the masses..
visigothic67
Pure genius Mr ford.Beautiful song once again and a unique video in the best use of the word. I went from almost tearing up halfway through to just about laughing out loud when the camera pans out to the que.
Cole Catlin
Man I come back here like once every few years to feel the feels
Ikespoor
Great stuff. You're an amazing songwriter. Thanks for the song and the vid.
AJ Street
I love this video, to me it is about guilt and the desire to receive punishment from the people you've hurt. I think most people really want to atone for the wrongs that they've done, to pay for everything that you owe, to make your conscience debt free, so to speak, would be a wonderfully liberating feeling.
Soundman103
Excellent artist and it's a great song
kinghoho2
Wundermuyy got it right when he said this guy needs more exposure , i stumbled on him only thanks to you tube posting one of his songs on main page from thier i was hooked had to listen to everything he has done !! how he mastered the instumental loops is also unreal .he knows how to put on a show .