You Don't Know Me

"You Don't Know Me" is a powerful anthem of self-assertion, independence, and the establishment of personal boundaries. The lyrics, delivered with a confident and sassy tone by vocalist RAYE, articulate a clear message to anyone who presumes a level of intimacy that doesn't exist. The central theme is a rejection of superficial relationships and the false familiarity often encountered in social scenes or amplified by fame. The recurring lines, "Don't act like you know me" and "I am not your homie," serve as the song's unwavering thesis, a direct refusal to be defined or claimed by others. The song champions the idea of protecting one's own space, vibe, and time, as emphasized in the verse, "Time is money so don't fuck with mine." It's about valuing one's own company and chosen circle, and not feeling obligated to entertain or engage with those who try to impose themselves. The lyrics also touch upon themes of ambition and enjoying the fruits of one's labor, suggesting that this assertive stance is part of a focused and driven personality who is unapologetic about their success and how they choose to enjoy it.

The song opens with a direct and assertive challenge, establishing a clear boundary. The narrator, through the voice of singer RAYE, immediately dismisses any pretense of familiarity from another person with the catchy, repetitive hook, "Ooh, na na yeah, Don't act like you know me." This core message is reinforced by the equally blunt statement, "I am not your homie," making it clear that a casual or superficial acquaintance does not grant access to their inner world.

The first verse paints a vivid picture of the narrator's mindset. They are out with their friends, focused on having a good time and valuing their own time and energy, stating, "Time is money so don't fuck with mine." They demand that others step back and not interrupt their vibe with meaningless "chit-chat." This introduces a theme of protecting one's personal space and energy from unwanted intrusions.

The narrative continues by expressing a philosophy of enjoying life's finer things without apology. The line, "See, I can't get too much of a good thing, s'why me a dressed up in the finest things," showcases a confident and unapologetic embrace of success and pleasure. This attitude is coupled with a sharp dismissal of public scrutiny. The narrator observes the "iPhone camera flashin'" and tells the onlooker to step back for "crampin'" their style. This part of the story highlights a modern form of social currency and the narrator's refusal to perform for others' validation or documentation.

The interaction with the presumptuous individual is detailed through a short, imagined dialogue. To questions like "You here for long?" and "Do you wanna drink?," the narrator gives curt, dismissive answers: "Oh no, I'm just passin'" and "Nah, thanks for askin'." This exchange powerfully illustrates the central theme: the narrator is not seeking new connections or validation and is perfectly content in their own company and with their chosen circle.

A later verse expands on this idea of selective association. The narrator concedes, "I mean, we can throw shapes together," acknowledging a willingness to share a casual, fun moment like dancing in a club. However, this is immediately qualified with the crucial line, "but it doesn't mean you're in my circle." This distinction between casual interaction and genuine intimacy is central to the song's story. The narrator reinforces their ambition and focus with lines like, "'Cause money look better when I see it all stacked up," connecting their personal boundaries to their drive for success. The song concludes by reiterating the main refrain, leaving no doubt about the narrator's self-possessed and independent stance.

"You Don't Know Me" was written by Jax Jones (Timucin Lam), RAYE (Rachel Keen), Uzoechi Emenike (MNEK), Janee 'Jin Jin' Bennett, and the writers of the sampled track. It was released on December 9, 2016, through Polydor Records. Jax Jones explained that the track came together quite simply during a fun and productive studio session with RAYE and Jin Jin. He said the initial day of writing resulted in just a bassline and the basic song structure. The vocal performance was inspired by "bashment and general bravado" as they were feeling good in the studio. The song's iconic bassline is an interpolation of the 2005 house track "Body Language" by M.A.N.D.Y. vs. Booka Shade. Jones, a long-time fan of the track, initially experimented with other basslines but found they didn't work. He then tried the "Body Language" riff, and it fit perfectly. He sought and received approval from the original artists, expressing his honor in bringing their "classic techno sound to our new house setting." RAYE later revealed that the record label initially wanted another, more established artist to sing the vocals, but she fought to keep her performance on the track she had co-written. The song was produced by Jax Jones, with additional production and mixing by Mark Ralph. MNEK and Jin Jin also provided additional vocals.

The song follows a simple, effective rhyme scheme that enhances its catchiness. In the verses, a loose AABB-like structure can be found, for example: "don't fuck with mine / have a good time" and "a good thing / finest things." This straightforward rhyming makes the lyrics easy to follow and sing along to. The rhythm is a driving force, characterized by a standard 4/4 time signature and a tempo typical of house and dance-pop music. The lyrical rhythm, particularly in RAYE's delivery, is syncopated and playful, interacting dynamically with the steady pulse of the beat. Her phrasing often anticipates or lags just behind the beat, adding to the song's nonchalant, cool feel. The chorus and main hook, "Ooh, na na yeah / Don't act like you know me, like you know me, na na yeah," use a highly rhythmic, repetitive cadence that makes it the song's most memorable element, functioning almost as a percussive instrument itself.

Musically, the song's most prominent technique is its use of sampling, specifically the replayed bassline from M.A.N.D.Y. vs. Booka Shade's "Body Language." This grounds the track in classic house music while Jax Jones builds a modern dance-pop structure around it. The production is intentionally simple, a choice Jones made because he felt the track "works better for not throwing the kitchen sink at it." The arrangement is built around a driving four-on-the-floor beat, the hypnotic bassline, and punchy piano chords, creating an infectious, club-ready groove. RAYE's vocal delivery is a key stylistic element; it's rhythmically sharp and filled with a confident, almost conversational swagger that perfectly embodies the song's assertive lyrical content. Lyrically, the song employs direct address ("Don't act like you know me") and rhetorical questions presented as quotes from an unseen character ("You here for long?", "Do you wanna drink?") to create a vivid narrative scenario. The repetition of the hook "Ooh, na na yeah" functions as a memorable, almost taunting melodic motif that reinforces the song's dismissive attitude.

"You Don't Know Me" was a major commercial success for Jax Jones, becoming his breakout hit as a lead artist. It peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and performed well internationally, reaching the top ten in several European countries including Germany, France, and Ireland. The song's success was propelled by its infectious hook and the iconic bassline sampled from M.A.N.D.Y. vs. Booka Shade's "Body Language," introducing the 2005 house classic to a new generation of listeners. The official music video, featuring a young girl dancing energetically through a house and cameos from Jax Jones and RAYE, became very popular. The song solidified Jax Jones's position as a prominent UK dance-pop producer and significantly raised the profile of the featured vocalist, RAYE, who was named to the BBC's Sound of 2017 list shortly after its release. "You Don't Know Me" became a staple in DJ sets and on radio, and remains one of Jax Jones's most recognizable and popular tracks.

While not heavily laden with complex metaphors, the song uses direct, symbolic language to convey its message. The act of someone's "iPhone camera flashin'" symbolizes the modern, often intrusive, nature of public attention and the way people try to capture and possess a moment or a person for social currency. The narrator's reaction—"Please step back, it's my style you're crampin'"—is a literal and symbolic reclaiming of personal space and identity against this unsolicited documentation. The distinction between "throwing shapes together" and being "in my circle" is a powerful metaphor for the difference between superficial social interaction (like dancing in a club) and genuine, meaningful connection. It highlights the narrator's carefully curated social boundaries. The phrase "Time is money" is used not just in its literal economic sense but as a metaphor for the value of one's personal life and energy, suggesting that wasting it on insincere interactions is a significant loss.

The most significant recurring motif is the lyrical phrase "You Don't Know Me," which acts as the song's title and central thesis. It's repeated insistently throughout the chorus and outro, hammering home the core message of the track. The accompanying vocal hook, "Ooh, na na yeah," is an infectious musical motif that is instantly recognizable and contributes significantly to the song's chart success and memorability. Another key recurring phrase is "Don't act like you know me," which serves as a direct command and a clear boundary-setting statement. The quoted dialogue from an anonymous person trying to chat up the narrator ("You here for long?" / "Do you wanna drink?") is another recurring element that frames the narrative and provides a concrete example of the unwanted advances the singer is rejecting. Musically, the sampled bassline from "Body Language" is the foundational recurring motif, looping throughout the entire track and providing its signature hypnotic groove.