You Don't Know My Name

Written as part of our work with Christians for Social Action, “You Don’t Know My Name” was created with Amanda Opelt of HopeWords. Inspired by the communities of Appalachia, it tells a story of extraction, resilience, and hope, insisting that places written off by the world still carry dignity, memory, and a future.

YOU DON’T KNOW MY NAME
Written by Amanda Opelt (ASCAP), Andre Henry (ASCAP), Vincent Charlow (BMI)
© 2026 Common Hymnal Publishing (ASCAP), Christians For Social Action (ASCAP), Ecclesiastes Publishing Company (ASCAP), Common Hymnal Digital (BMI), Soul Lore Creative (BMI) (admin by integratedrights.com)

VERSE 1
Gm
In the coal fields, back country
Came a briefcase down steel tracks
Mmm!
Talkin’ pretty,
Pretty, pretty
Bout a dream and a plan

CHORUS 1
Gm
Now the river‘s black as coal!
Mountain top exploding
Broken promises
Oh what we had is gone
Cm
Yeah you came and staked your claim
Gm
Now you don’t know my name

VERSE 2
Gm
Dared to call me dead and buried
Didn’t know I was a seed
There’s a grove of
Mighty chestnuts
Where a strip mine used to be

CHORUS 2
Gm
Ring the wedding bells
All you widowed places
There’s a future for us
No one can take it
Cm
Said we’re stuck in yesterday
Gm
But they don’t know our name