A stunning vocalist, Hannigan regularly performed live with Rice from early 2001 until March 2007 when Rice's official website announced that his professional relationship with Hannigan had "run its creative course". During 2005 Hannigan and Rice co-wrote Unplayed Piano which was released to support the Free Aung San Suu Kyi 60th Birthday Campaign. Hannigan also appeared on backing vocals on Mic Christopher's album Skylarkin, as well as the soundtrack to "Goldfish Memory".
In 2006 Hannigan featured as part of The Cake Sale, a collective of mostly Irish, but featuring some international artists, formed by Brian Crosby of Bell X1. On 3rd November 2006 they released a self-titled album in Ireland to raise money for Oxfam and the Irish Make Trade Fair campaign. The album was so successful that it was given an international release the following year; released 10th September 2007 in the UK and 16th October 2007 in the US.
Hannigan has since gone on to pursue her own solo career, releasing her first album Sea Sew in Ireland on September 12th 2008, debuting at number 4 and earning her a Choice Music Prize nomination, two Meteor Music Award nominations and has been shortlisted for the Mercury Prize 2009. The album's first single was Lille followed by I Don't Know.
Sea Sew got an official US release on February 3rd 2009 and a UK release on May 4th 2009. On 21 July 2009, two days after a triumphant performance in torrential rain at the Latitude Festival, it was announced that Sea Sew had been nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize in the UK.
The O Sleep Songfacts reports that Hannigan began writing for her second album in late 2009 and only completed it in March 2011. However, she and producer Joe Henry spent a mere week laying down the tracks in Wales. Passenger was released in the US and Canada on September 20, 2011 and in the Republic of Ireland on October 7, 2011.
http://www.lisahannigan.ie/
http://www.myspace.com/lisahannigan
I Dont Know
Lisa Hannigan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or what countries you've been to
If you speak any other languages other than your own
I'd like to meet you
I don't know if you drive
If you love the ground beneath you
I don't know if you write letters or you panic on the phone
All the same, if you want to
I am game
I don't know if you can swim
If the sea has any draw for you
If you're better in the morning or when the sun goes down
I'd like to call you
I don't know if you can dance
If the thought ever occurred to you
If you eat what you've been given or you push it 'round your plate
I'd like to cook for you
All the same, I would want to
I am game
If you walk my way
I could keep my head
We could creep away
In the dark or maybe not
We could shoot it down anyway
I don't know if you read novels or the magazines
If you love the hand that feeds you
I assume that your heart's been bruised
I'd like to know you
You don't know if I can draw at all
Or what records I am into
If I sleep like a spoon or rarely at all
Or maybe you would do
Or maybe you would do
If you walk my way
I will keep my head we will feel our way
Through the dark
Though I don't know you I think that I would do
I don't fall easy at all
Ah at all (oh oh)
Ah at all (oh oh)
Ah at all (oh oh)
Ah at all (oh oh)
If you walk my way
I will keep my head
We will feel our way through the dark
Though I don't know you I think that I would do
I don't fall easy at all
The song “I Don’t Know” by Lisa Hannigan is a ballad about a desire to know and connect with someone on a deeper level. Hannigan begins each verse by stating that she doesn’t know certain things about this person, but she expresses that she would like to know them nonetheless. Through these lyrics, it is apparent that Hannigan is not solely interested in the surface-level characteristics of this person such as where they’ve traveled or what languages they speak, but rather she wants to know their tendencies and personality traits as well. In the chorus, Hannigan explains that even though she doesn't know this person yet, she’s willing to take the risk and give the relationship a chance. This is a universal theme that many can relate to: the fear of the unknown and the willingness to take a chance in order to find connection and love.
The phrase “I am game” throughout the song represents Hannigan’s willingness to take a chance despite her uncertainties. The phrase “creep away in the dark or maybe not” represents the idea of taking a chance without the outcome being certain. The lines “though I don’t know you, I think that I would do, I don’t fall easy at all” suggest that Hannigan is a guarded person who doesn’t often let her walls down, but for this person, she would be willing to try.
Overall, the song is about the vulnerability that comes with starting a new relationship and how sometimes the fear of not knowing someone can be outweighed by the potential for a deep connection. It’s about taking a chance with someone and hoping that they will take a chance with you in return.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know what you smoke
I am curious about your habits and interests that I have not yet discovered
Or what countries you've been to
I wonder where you have traveled and what experiences you have had
If you speak any other languages other than your own
I am interested in learning about the languages you speak beyond your mother tongue
I'd like to meet you
I want to connect with you and get to know you
I don't know if you drive
I am unaware of your driving skills or preference
If you love the ground beneath you
I am curious about whether you feel connected to the earth
I don't know if you write letters or you panic on the phone
I do not know how you communicate in different situations
I'd like to call you
I am interested in making a connection with you through communication
All the same, if you want to
Despite my curiosity, I respect your preferences and boundaries
I am game
I am open to exploring a relationship if you are interested
I don't know if you can swim
I am not aware of your swimming skills
If the sea has any draw for you
I am interested in knowing whether you are attracted to the ocean
If you're better in the morning or when the sun goes down
I am interested in understanding when you feel your best
I don't know if you can dance
I am unaware of your dancing abilities
If the thought ever occurred to you
I am curious if dancing is something you enjoy or have thought about
If you eat what you've been given or you push it 'round your plate
I wonder if you have any particular food preferences or habits
I'd like to cook for you
I am interested in sharing my cooking skills with you
If you walk my way
If you choose to pursue a connection with me
I could keep my head
I will remain calm and level-headed in the relationship
We could creep away
We could explore the relationship discreetly
In the dark or maybe not
We could take things slowly, or we could be bold and open with our feelings
We could shoot it down anyway
Even if our relationship didn't work out, it would still be worth trying
If you read novels or the magazines
I am curious about your reading preferences
If you love the hand that feeds you
I want to know if you appreciate and value those who support you
I assume that your heart's been bruised
I suspect that you have experienced emotional pain
I'd like to know you
I want to get to know you more deeply
You don't know if I can draw at all
There are things about me that you do not yet know
Or what records I am into
You are unaware of my music preferences
If I sleep like a spoon or rarely at all
You do not know about my sleeping habits
Or maybe you would do
You may have sleeping habits that are different from mine
If you walk my way
If you choose to pursue a connection with me
We will feel our way through the dark
We will figure things out as we go and learn more about each other
Though I don't know you I think that I would do
Despite not knowing everything about you, I feel a connection and would like to explore it
I don't fall easy at all
I am not one to easily dive into relationships
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LISA MARGARET HANNIGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@frankenviews4069
Possibly the most underrated YouTube music video of all time. Several years on and still the coolest "indie" thing that I revisit that never did eventually become mainstream. A diamond in the rough.
@treborsirrah7916
Blue diamond
@indiefab
The view count is getting impressive, even though a couple million of those are mine.
@naiyomotion
@Ryan Norman nearly 4 million views but only 24K likes suggested that indeed a lot of those views are the same crowd coming back to watch it for the umpteenth time 😂. I wish I could give it an extra like every time I come here!
@stefancurran9380
Laaaaads. My bestie just reminded me that I used to play this song back in University College Cork. Many many years ago. What a delight and joy.
@alecmclaughlin7594
I’m on my at least 500th view. 😂 1:50
@antonymification212
This is without a doubt, the absolutely best thing in the world... You have won the internet. Not just for the song and musicianship, the nonchalant drum kit, adorable kids and wonderful barman, it sounds great and is well shot...The fact that your all playing in a cupboard is perfect... This is where I come when I need to smile. Thank you all.
@bid84
They are playing in a part of the Irish pub known as the “snug” traditionally this is where the women would drink together and chat.
@forced-into-Google-Handle
First saw this video years ago and loved it. Just rewatched. It's like the definition of "authentic". Lisa & her band are amazing... But I guess the coolest thing of this video is to know that real old fashion Pubs may still exist. Makes you want to visit ☺️🇮🇪
@CP-ll6qg
and the way her beanie slides off because she's feeling it so much, and the way one of the guys says "rock n' roll" joking at the end...yeah, this video is magic.