In July of 1996, under Roadshow Music, the duo released their debut single I Want You. The single was a hit in Australia and became the year's highest-selling by an Australian artist. The success of the single garnered much interest from many U.S. record labels and in September, Columbia Records won the bidding war to sign the band. In November a second single, To The Moon And Back, was released and was another chart hit—reaching No. 1 in January of the following year.
"I Want You" was released in the United States in February 1997, where it peaked at No. 4 and quickly achieved gold status. Truly Madly Deeply, the band's third Australian single, was released in March and reached No. 1 just before "I Want You" was released across Europe in April. The duo’s debut album, Savage Garden, entered the Australian charts at No. 1 in March and remained at that peak for 17 weeks—it was released around the world two weeks later. At the end of May, “To The Moon And Back” became the most played song on U.S. radio.
In June 1997, a fourth single, Break Me, Shake Me was released in Australia as the band's debut album sat at No. 3 on the U.S. charts and was certified gold by the ARIA. By the end of August, the album was seven-times platinum in Australia, triple-platinum in Canada, and double-platinum in New Zealand and Singapore. At the end of August, Savage Garden received a record 13 ARIA awards nominations. The 10 ARIAs won by them in September was also a record, and one that still stands today. Riding this massive wave of popularity was the release of their fifth Australian single, Universe. By November that year, "Truly Madly Deeply" became their third U.S. release, shooting up the charts to blow Elton John’s "Candle In The Wind 1997" out of its 14-week run at the number-one spot. By the end of 1997, Darren and Daniel had become international stars.
In January 1998, All Around Me, a sixth single, was released just as the band kicked off their worldwide tour in Cairns, Australia. By the end of the year, "Truly Madly Deeply" was the most-played song on U.S. radio and the only one-sided single to spend a full year in the Top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100.
The Animal Song (featured in the Disney film The Other Sister), the first single from the follow-up album Affirmation was released in February 1999 and became a hit in Australia and the US. That September saw the release of a new single previewing their forthcoming album; the smooth, romantic ballad, I Knew I Loved You.
The duo's second album, Affirmation, was released in November 1999 globally. It took a month for it to go platinum in the US, largely due to the success of the single "I Knew I Loved You," which hit #1 on the charts, eventually going platinum and becoming the most-played single on US radio for the year.
Affirmation saw a new turn for Savage Garden; their looks had more similarities to that of mainstream pop and some of their new songs possessed a more adult contemporary sound.
The group finished out the year by winning two Billboard Music Awards: Adult Contemporary Single of the Year and Hot 100 Singles Airplay of the Year.
In February 2000, as Crash and Burn became the third single from their second album, 1997's "Truly Madly Deeply" was amazingly still on the Monitor/Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay Chart, breaking the record for length of time of any single on that chart. It would finally drop off the chart after 123 weeks.
In June, Darren Hayes performed O Sole Mio at Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti's annual charitable benefit concert Pavarotti and Friends. Savage Garden's great success was reflected once again at the Billboard Music Awards, where they won Best Adult Contemporary Video and No. 1 Adult Contemporary Song of the Year, for "I Knew I Loved You", and No. 1 Adult Contemporary Artist of the Year. "I Knew I Loved You" stayed on the Monitor/Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay Chart for 124 weeks – overtaking the duo's own record previously set by "Truly Madly Deeply".
In October 2001, the band split and Darren Hayes went on to enjoy further success with albums Spin (2002), The Tension And The Spark (2004) and This Delicate Thing We've Made (2007).
As of 2005, the band’s debut album had been certified 12-times platinum in Australia, six-times platinum in the United States, and double-platinum in the United Kingdom.
I Don't Know You Anymore
Savage Garden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get away and out of this city
Maybe I shouldn't have called but
Someone had to be the first to break
We can go sit on your back porch
Relax
Talk about anything
It don't matter
That you've forgiven me
Because I don't know you anymore
I don't recognize this place
The picture frames have changed
And so has your name
We don't talk much anymore
We keep running from the pain
But what I wouldn't give to see your face again
Springtime in the city
Always such a relief from winter freeze
The snow was more lonely than cold if you know what I mean
Everyone's got an agenda
Don't stop keep that chin up you'll be alright
Can you believe what a year it's been
Are you still the same?
Has your opinion changed?
Because I don't know you anymore
I don't recognize this place
The picture frames have changed
And so has your name
We don't talk much anymore
We keep running from the pain
But what I wouldn't give to see your face again
I know I let you down
Again and again
I know I never really treated you right
I've paid the price
I'm still paying for it every day
So maybe I shouldn't have called
Was it too soon to tell?
Oh what the hell
It doesn't really matter
How do you redefine something that never really had a name?
Has your opinion changed?
Because I don't know you anymore
I don't recognize this place
The picture frames have changed
And so has your name
We don't talk much anymore
We keep running from the pain
But what I wouldn't give to see your face again
I see your face
I see your face
The song "I Don't Know You Anymore" by Savage Garden tells the story of two people who used to be close but have grown distant. The singer wants to visit the other person and rekindle their relationship but acknowledges that things have changed. The opening lines express a desire to escape the city and spend time with the other person. The singer notes that they may have made a mistake in reaching out, but someone had to take the first step.
The following lines describe a potential reunion, with the two sitting on a porch and discussing anything. The singer admits to their own flaws and hopes that the other person can forgive them. The chorus repeats the idea that things are different now and that the two have grown apart, but the singer still longs to see the other person's face again.
The second verse paints a picture of spring in the city but notes that everyone is busy and has their own concerns. The singer wonders if the other person is the same and if their opinions have changed. The bridge of the song expresses the difficulty of trying to reconnect when the relationship didn't have a specific name or definition. The final chorus repeats the longing to see the other person's face, and the song ends with the line "I see your face."
Overall, "I Don't Know You Anymore" is a melancholy song about realizing that a relationship has changed, but still holding onto the hope of rekindling it.
Line by Line Meaning
I would like to visit you for a while
I want to spend time with you away from this city.
Get away and out of this city
Leave this city for some time.
Maybe I shouldn't have called but
Perhaps calling you was not a good idea.
Someone had to be the first to break
I took the initiative to end the silence between us.
We can go sit on your back porch
Let us spend time relaxing outside on your porch.
Relax
Take it easy.
Talk about anything
We can discuss any topic.
It don't matter
It doesn't have to be anything specific.
I'll be courageous if you can pretend
I will be open if you can act like you have forgiven me.
That you've forgiven me
Assuming that you have forgiven me.
Because I don't know you anymore
You have changed so much that I no longer recognize you.
I don't recognize this place
This place has changed so much, I don't even recognize it.
The picture frames have changed
Even the picture frames have been replaced with new ones.
And so has your name
You have changed your name.
We don't talk much anymore
We barely communicate anymore.
We keep running from the pain
We are both avoiding the hurt we feel.
But what I wouldn't give to see your face again
I miss seeing your face so much.
Springtime in the city
The warmer weather in the city is so pleasant.
Always such a relief from winter freeze
It's such a welcome change from the frigid winter.
The snow was more lonely than cold if you know what I mean
The snow made me so lonely.
Everyone's got an agenda
Everyone is looking out for themselves.
Don't stop keep that chin up you'll be alright
Stay strong, you'll be okay.
Can you believe what a year it's been
Can you believe how long it's been since we last talked?
Are you still the same?
Have you changed at all?
Has your opinion changed?
Do you still hold the same beliefs and views?
I know I let you down
I acknowledge that I have disappointed you.
Again and again
I did it repeatedly.
I know I never really treated you right
I realize I did not treat you well.
I've paid the price
I have suffered the consequences of my actions.
I'm still paying for it every day
I am still suffering the consequences of my actions.
Was it too soon to tell?
Did I call you too soon?
Oh what the hell
I might as well take my chances.
It doesn't really matter
It is not that important.
How do you redefine something that never really had a name?
How do we fix something that was never defined?
I see your face
At least I can see your face in my mind.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DANIEL JONES, DARREN HAYES, DARREN STANLEY HAYES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind