You Don't Know Me

by Ray Charles

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Lyrics

You (G)give your (C)hand to me

and then you say hel lo,

and (C7)I can (F)hard ly speak,

my heart is beat ing so.

And (F#dim7)an y (C)one could tell

you think you (Dm)know me well,

but you don’t (C)know me.

No, you don’t (C)know the one

who dreams of you at night

and (C7)longs to (F)kiss your lips

and longs to hold you tight.

To (F#dim7)you I’m (C)just a friend,

that’s all I’ve (Dm)ev er been,

but you don’t (C)know me.

For (F)I nev er knew the (C)art of mak ing (C#dim7)love, though my (Dm)heart ached with (G7)love for (C)you.

A (Am)fraid and shy, I (Em)let my chance go by, the (D7)chance you might have loved me (G7)too.

You give your (C)hand to me

and then you say good bye.

I (C7)watch you (F)walk a way

be side the luck y guy.

To (F#dim7)nev er, (C)nev er know

the one who (Dm)loves you so;

no, you don’t (C)know me.

You (G)give your (C)hand to me

and then you say hel lo,

and (C7)I can (F)hard ly speak,

my heart is beat ing so.

And (F#dim7)an y (C)one could tell

you think you (Dm)know me well,

but you don’t (C)know me.

No, you don’t (C)know the one

who dreams of you at night

and (C7)longs to (F)kiss your lips

and longs to hold you tight.

To (F#dim7)you I’m (C)just a friend,

that’s all I’ve (Dm)ev er been,

but you don’t (C)know me.

For (F)I nev er knew the (C)art of mak ing (C#dim7)love, though my (Dm)heart ached with (G7)love for (C)you.

A (Am)fraid and shy, I (Em)let my chance go by, the (D7)chance you might have loved me (G7)too.

You give your (C)hand to me

and then you say good bye.

I (C7)watch you (F)walk a way

be side the luck y guy.

To (F#dim7)nev er, (C)nev er know

the one who (Dm)loves you so;

no, you don’t (C)know me.

You (G)give your

You Don't Know Me by Ray Charles — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “You Don't Know Me” by Ray Charles in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of C at 84 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "You Don't Know Me" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "You Don't Know Me"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.