(No One Knows Me) Like The Piano

Album: Process (2017)
Charted: 92
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Over a bare piano, Sampha delivers an emotional vocal, in which he reflects on his childhood. The song pays homage to an old piano in his mom's house, which his father had purchased from an elderly neighbor when the singer was aged three. It was intended to provide an alternative to television and the young Sampha quickly learned to play the instrument.
  • The song was originally titled "Mother's Home" and was written in late 2014 after Sampha moved back to his old Morden, South London home to care for his cancer-stricken mother. She passed away a few months later. He sings about his mom's death on the second verse.
  • Process won the 2017 Mercury Music Prize. Sampha performed this song during the ceremony.
  • Q Magazine commented to Sampa that "(No One Knows Me) Like The Piano" felt like the song that that people really connected to on the Process album. He replied:

    "For me, it's the central song (on the record). I really felt the need to express myself in that way. It was quite challenging because I'm not really one to talk about that kind of stuff even though I wrote the song. I'm happy that I have that song as a document of my relationship with my mother. It's like a photograph."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Kip Winger

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.