How do you put on my coat every morning
When I don’t know your name
You rake the leaves while I am sleeping
When I don’t know your name
I don’t know who you are but
Please don’t leave me alone here
‘Cause I’m coming undone
Oh, tell me you’ll stay
When I don’t even know your name
I know you tried to be quiet
But I heard you weeping for me
You wear a smile, act like it’s nothing
But I know there’s more
You, I don’t know who you are but
There’s a picture
In the middle of the living room table in black and white
The scene looks familiar
but I just don’t remember this man and his wife
So will you play your guitar
And sing me a love song
When I don’t know your name
When I don’t know your name
The song Man and His Wife tells a story of someone not being able to remember their significant other. The reason being old age, sickness, disease. [Alzheimer’s disease] In my point of view, it is a woman speaking to her husband, but not being able to recognize who he really is. She understands that they have a connection, but she doesn't know his name. The woman and man were a happily married couple. Obviously, the disease caused a lack of communication between the two and put the marriage at risk. The most meaningful line in the song is "Please don't leave me alone here, 'cause I'm coming undone." The woman is telling her husband that she cannot continue living without him by her side. The whole image of the text is a sad, despairing view. The message, however, is that no matter what comes in between to destroy something, love is more powerful and can overcome the problem. Jason Min is the artist and author of the song, but he is not speaking in the text. Jason personifies himself to be the woman diseased with Alzheimer's, and he portrays her feelings very well. The paradox of the whole song is the stranger part. When you don't know someone's name, they are most likely a stranger to you. People stay away from strangers rather than feel close to them. The exact text of this song says "you are a stranger, but don't ever leave me". The reason this song speaks to me is that it's very realistic, and many people struggle because of the same situation. Jason Min dedicates this song to all the marriages and families in the world that do not remember their close ones, not because they want them to go away, but because they simply aren't able to.
