You Don't Know
Natalie Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd let you lead your life
Didn't you know
I'm not here to be some foolish man's wife
Didn't you know
I just want you to want me
The way I want you, it ain't that hard to see
I'd never interfere
In the things that you do
The things that you hold dear
But the love that you give
It ain't the kind I need
You just like the idea
The 'idea of loving me'
You don't know anything 'bout me
Anything, anything 'bout me...
Oh no, oh no
Didn't you know
I'm not that hard to please
Didn't you know
A little call will have me on my knees
Didn't you know
I ain't after your cash
Like other girls
Who would be over you just like a rash
Didn't you know
I have my ups and downs
And when I'm low
How nice of you to maybe come around
Didn't you know
What I want in a man
Is just one glance
And know he really truly understands
Chorus
Maybe you will never learn
Maybe my love you'll never earn
At night you'll just lie next to me
While I'm wondering what could've been
Sometimes when you refuse my touch
I feel maybe I give too much
But I can't help the way I am
I wish you knew what it takes to be my man
You don't know anything bout me
No you don't know anything...
Chorus
The lyrics of Natalie Williams's song You Don't Know explore the frustration of a woman who is in love with an emotionally detached man who cannot reciprocate her affection. The song opens with the singer stating that she had never attempted to interfere in her lover's life but emphasizes that she is not interested in being his subservient "foolish man's wife." Instead, her desire is to be loved and wanted by him in the same way she wants him. She explains that while she recognizes that her man gives love, he doesn't give the type of love that she needs. She feels like he is in love with the idea of loving her rather than who she really is.
The singer then goes on to explain that she is not after his money but is merely looking for some attention and love. She is not difficult to please and would be satisfied with just a call from him. When she has moments of sadness, she would appreciate if he could be there for her. The song ends with the singer admitting that she may be giving too much, but she cannot help the way she is, and she wishes that her lover understood what it takes to be her man.
Overall, the lyrics depict the struggle of a woman who has found herself in an unrequited love situation. She adores her man, but she cannot continue to be with someone who cannot love her the way she needs to be loved.
Line by Line Meaning
Didn't you know
I'd let you lead your life
Didn't you know
I'm not here to be some foolish man's wife
Didn't you know
I just want you to want me
The way I want you, it ain't that hard to see
You might not have noticed this about me, but I'm not looking to control you or be a dependent wife. I really just want you to love me in the same way that I love you.
Didn't you know
I'd never interfere
In the things that you do
The things that you hold dear
But the love that you give
It ain't the kind I need
You just like the idea
The 'idea of loving me'
I don't want to micromanage your life, and I respect the things you care about. But the love you're offering me isn't what I really crave. It feels like you're more in love with the idea of being in love with me than you are with me as a person.
You don't know anything 'bout me
Anything, anything 'bout me...
Oh no, oh no
You really don't understand me at all, despite all the time we've spent together. It's disappointing and frustrating.
Didn't you know
I'm not that hard to please
Didn't you know
A little call will have me on my knees
Didn't you know
I ain't after your cash
Like other girls
Who would be over you just like a rash
I don't require a lot of material things or grand gestures--just a little attention and affection from you would make me very happy. I'm not like other women who are only after your money.
Didn't you know
I have my ups and downs
And when I'm low
How nice of you to maybe come around
Didn't you know
What I want in a man
Is just one glance
And know he really truly understands
I'm not always going to be happy and upbeat--I have my own struggles and emotions. I would really appreciate it if you could be there for me during those times. What I really need in a partner is someone who can truly empathize with me and understand my perspective just by looking at me.
Maybe you will never learn
Maybe my love you'll never earn
At night you'll just lie next to me
While I'm wondering what could've been
Sometimes when you refuse my touch
I feel maybe I give too much
But I can't help the way I am
I wish you knew what it takes to be my man
I'm worried that you'll never truly understand what I need from you, and that you won't ever really earn my love. Sometimes I feel like I'm putting more effort into this relationship than you are. I can't change who I am or what I need, but I wish you could meet me halfway and be the partner that I deserve.
Chorus
This is the repeating chorus of the song--it reflects the idea that you really don't know anything about me, despite our relationship.
Contributed by Sophia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@PanyingPilot
No horsing around, this cut gets the song said with power and expression. Other mixes are self absorbed by comparison.
@aliasdanger
Natalie Williams is best :-)
@cadburykid141
It ain't boring. Nu Tone v Natalie Williams is awesome but you got to have different strings to your bow, as a listener as well as an artist...if you can't hear the funk and the soul in this, you've formed your opinion before you've listened!
@master-kq3nw
good
@cahtwoman
the collabs with nu:tone are much better than this one.
@RichardDuinmayer
boring...