Video hit Simply Red

Simply Red - If You Don't Know Me By Now

If You Don't Know Me by Now is a song written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and recorded by the Philly soul musical group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, which became their first hit after being released as a single in 1972 topping the R&B chart and peaking at number three on the Pop chart.

The song was originally written for Labelle (a trio led by Patti LaBelle) but they never recorded it. Much like the issue with "I Miss You" and The Dells passing on it, the song's composers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff gave the song to Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, which featured Teddy Pendergrass as lead vocalist. In addition to the single release, the song was included on their eponymous debut album.

Patti LaBelle later made the song as part of her concert repertoire in 1982. A live version appears on her 1985 album, Patti.

It was later covered by the English pop/soul band Simply Red, also becoming their best-known hit after reaching number one on the U.S. Hot 100 on July 15, 1989 and at number thirty-eight on the Hot Black Singles chart. It peaked at number two in the UK Singles Chart. It also topped the Canadian Singles Chart. Seal recorded the song for his 2008 album Soul, and, in April 2009, it became his first top-ten Adult Contemporary hit since "Love's Divine" in 2004; the song was subsequently nominated for the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance Grammy.

Rod Stewart also included this song on his 2009 album Soulbook.

The song was chosen as one of the Songs of the Century by the RIAA. It was featured at the end of Michael Apted's movie Class Action.

The lyrics:

If you don't know me by now

You will never never never know me

All the things

That we've been through

You should understand me

Like I understand you

Now girl I know the difference

Between right and wrong

I ain't gonna do nothing

To break up our happy home

Don't get so excited

When I come home

A little late at night

Cos we only act like children

When we argue fuss and fight

If you don't know me by now

You will never never never know me

We've all got our

Own funny moods

I've got mine,

Woman you've got yours too

Just trust in me like I trust in you

As long as we've been together

It should be so easy to do

Just get yourself together

Or we might as well say goodbye

What good is a love affair

When you can't see eye to eye

If you don't know me by now

You will never

Never never know me