For other uses, see Don't Know Why (disambiguation).
Don't Know Why
single
CoverDon't Know Why (Norah Jones single - cover art).jpg
ArtistNorah Jones
AlbumCome Away with Me
B-side
  • "Lonestar"
  • "Peace"
  • "Cold Cold Heart"
  • "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"
  • "Crazy" (live)
ReleasedJanuary 28, 2002
Studio
Genre
Length3:06
LabelBlue Note
WriterJesse Harris
Producer
Next year2002

"Don't Know Why" is a song written and composed by American singer-songwriter Jesse Harris that originally appeared on his 1999 album, Jesse Harris & the Ferdinandos. A cover of the song later appeared on Norah Jones' debut studio album, Come Away with Me (2002), and was released as her debut single on January 28, 2002.

Jones' version of "Don't Know Why" peaked at number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was a critical success, winning three Grammy Awards in 2003 for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards. "Don't Know Why" was also successful abroad, reaching number five in Australia, number six in Croatia, and number 24 in New Zealand. The song was ranked number 459 in Blender magazine's "500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born".[2]

Jones' piano-playing has been compared to that of Floyd Cramer, having a "style and grace, a musical maturity not found in many keyboard players today."[3][4][5]

Music video

A music video directed by Anastasia Simone and Ian Spencer was filmed in February 2002 and released later that year.[6] It features Norah Jones performing the song on a gray beach at sunrise, on a rocky pier, and at a beach rental stand accompanied by a wooden piano while undersea images are projected onto the walls.

Track listings

UK CD single[7]

  1. "Don't Know Why" – 3:05
  2. "Lonestar" – 3:05
  3. "Peace" – 3:51

Dutch CD single[8]

  1. "Don't Know Why" – 3:05
  2. "Cold Cold Heart" – 3:38

French CD single[9]

  1. "Don't Know Why" – 3:05
  2. "Lonestar" – 3:07

Australian CD single[10]

  1. "Don't Know Why"
  2. "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"
  3. "Lonestar"
  4. "Peace"

UK CD single (2003)[11]

  1. "Don't Know Why" – 3:05
  2. "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" – 3:16
  3. "Crazy" (live) – 3:29

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Come Away with Me album booklet.[12]

Recording

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2002–2003)Peak
position
Croatia (HRT)[13]6
Chart (2022)Peak
position
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[14]20

Year-end charts

Chart (2002)Position
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[15]38
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[16]25
US Triple-A (Billboard)[17]5
Chart (2003)Position
Australia (ARIA)[18]77
US Billboard Hot 100[19]97
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[20]7
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[21]25
Chart (2012)Position
South Korea Foreign (Circle)[22]98
Chart (2013)Position
South Korea Foreign (Circle)[23]80

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Don't Know Why"
RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United StatesJanuary 28, 2002Triple A radioBlue Note[24]
United KingdomMay 13, 2002CDParlophone[25]
United StatesJune 24, 2002Hot adult contemporary radioBlue Note[26]
August 5, 2002Contemporary hit radio[27]
AustraliaFebruary 24, 2003CDParlophone[28]
United Kingdom (re-release)September 1, 2003[29]

References

  1. ^ Mason, Stewart. "Norah Jones – Don't Know Why". AllMusic. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  2. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born: 51-100 Article on Blender :: The Ultimate Guide to Music and More". March 6, 2009. Archived from the original on March 6, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  3. ^ "'Norah Jones' Articles at know your music". know your music
  4. ^ "Come Away With Me Has Never Sounded Better". Analog Planet. January 17, 2003.
  5. ^ "Who's Floyd Cramer?". Magnolia Banner-News. November 28, 2017.
  6. ^ "CMJ New Music Report". CMJ Network, Inc. February 18, 2002. Retrieved June 6, 2025. – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Don't Know Why (UK CD single liner notes). Parlophone. 2002. CDCL 836, 7243 5 50933 2 5.
  8. ^ Don't Know Why (Dutch CD single liner notes). EMI Records. 2002. 7243 5506322 9.
  9. ^ Don't Know Why (French CD single liner notes). Blue Note Records, Capitol Records. 2002. 7243 551342 2 6.
  10. ^ Don't Know Why (Australian CD single liner notes). Parlophone. 2003. 7243 5 52027 2 7.
  11. ^ Don't Know Why / I'll Be Your Baby Tonight (UK CD single liner notes). Parlophone. 2003. CDCL 848, 7243 5 52938 2 4.
  12. ^ Come Away with Me (US CD album booklet). Blue Note Records. 2002. 7243 5 32088 2 0.
  13. ^ "HR Top 20 Lista". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on April 24, 2003. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  14. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas: October 19, 2022" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  15. ^ "Most-Played AC Songs of 2002". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 19.
  16. ^ "Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2002". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 16.
  17. ^ "The 2002 Allstars: Most-Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 52.
  18. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2003". ARIA. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  19. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2003". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  20. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 52. December 27, 2003. p. YE-80. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  21. ^ "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 22.
  22. ^ "South Korea Foreign Digital Chart: Year-End 2012". Circle Chart. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  23. ^ "South Korea Foreign Digital Chart: Year-End 2013". Circle Chart. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  24. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1437. January 25, 2002. p. 31. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  25. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 13 May 2002: Singles". Music Week. May 11, 2002. p. 27. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  26. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1458. June 21, 2002. p. 33. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  27. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1464. August 2, 2002. p. 31. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  28. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 24th February 2003". ARIA. February 24, 2003. p. 24. Archived from the original on March 6, 2003. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  29. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. August 30, 2003. p. 23. Retrieved September 8, 2021.