"I Don’t Know My Name is about finding yourself ‘cause I’ve been through every phase possible, and I am probably still going to be. I do these crazy phases! That’s what it was about, trying to find out who you are and what you want to do. I want to be like an artist, a photographer, a director, a businesswoman; I went through [all those phases]". (Interview with Blythe Thomas, uploaded Dec. 17, 2016 – see the brief behind the song clip below)

“… I’ve gone through so many different phases and styles and friendships, and it’s about how now, I think that this is who I want to be, and this is what I want my life path to be.’” (Interview with Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, June 9, 2016) “I had realized that I now know that this (music) is something that I want my life to be.” (David Sikorski for the Daily Beast, Jun. 10, 2016)

“I wrote down ‘I don’t know my name while I was doing math homework. And I just came up with the tune, and then I put words to it. And then I came up with the plot of it, and then that made it easier for lines, and then it was just born!” (Andrew Gelwicks for Teen Vogue Aug. 22, 2016)
"I had only written that one song for America’s Got Talent. It was the first song that I actually decided to write down. Everything else was – I pretended to be in a movie, because I was a very dramatic little girl, and on the show, they said – now you do original songs, now that is your shtick, so I was writing them before each performance, and I only had those.” (Interview for the Anti Social Producers Club podcast, 2023)

In an interview with Scott Lipps in August 2022, Grace claimed that she wrote IDKMN a few days before her AGT audition in New York on 14th November 2015. Shortly after her broadcast audition was aired, Grace gave an interview with the local Suffern media LOHUD. In this interview, her mom also said the song was written in the winter of 2015. (The video we link to is on Facebook.)

“It started out when I was just playing the ukulele, and I was actually – if you went through the chords, it’s the same chords as ‘House of Gold’ by Twenty-One Pilots, ‘cause I was actually playing that song, and then I came up with that ‘I don’t know my name, and I was like ‘what is that? That makes no sense. Then it started to make itself and get its own topic. … I remember I was super self-conscious about it when I first played it for my sister and my mom ‘cause they were like, ‘you’ve got to change the words Grace; that makes no sense. Why don’t you know your name?’ And I remember I ran upstairs, and I was like [sobbing], ‘I worked so hard on that song’”. (Interview with Mario Lopez at ON With Mario Lopez Sep. 20, 2016)

“I Don’t Know My Name took like 20 minutes [to write], and then to perfect it, it took like 2 hours because I was really, really stuck on the second line. My sister helped me on the second line.” (Interview on KiddNation April 18, 2017). From the interview, it is not quite clear if she actually means the second line; she says that it may have been “I am lost, trying to get found,” which is the first line of the bridge.

She almost auditioned with something else entirely. In the mix of considerations were Elle King’s “Ex’s and Oh’s,” Vance Joy’s “Riptide,” and the top contender, Florence + the Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over.” (Andrew Gelwicks for Teen Vogue Aug. 22, 2016)

In an Interview with Nile Rodgers for Mission Magazine in 2024, Rodgers praised the song, but Grace argued that it did not start of as anything deep at all: ”I don’t want to shoot this down for you. I love what you’re saying so much [but] you are really just giving me way too much credit for in-depth thinking. I wrote this song when I was 11 years old, and I basically was just filling up the stanzas and syllables. I actually started writing that song as a jingle in my room. It was never supposed to be a structured-out entire song. I didn’t know anything about that. I had a small subliminal skeleton of a song just from listening to music my whole life.”

The song's original title was ”Lost Girl” (Source: Mike Kertok's Timeline page).

Since then, Grace has been asked several times if she still likes the song. She has said that the song is a part of her and her story and that she is fine with it. But she felt that she had to sing it to satisfy her audience. In a TikTok live in April 2021, she said, "I used to like pressure myself to, for example, always sing I Don’t Know My Name for like every concert that I did - I do like that song by the way. That’s actually; I’d say it’s my most liked song out of all the old ones, which is funny. But I would always feel like everyone would be disappointed if I didn’t sing that. I would always think everyone is only there for that, for like that moment. I even felt during the concert that everyone was just waiting for it."

2015.07.13	Studio Two Open Mic (Bean Runner Cafe)	Open Mic	Possibly first performance, but info uncertain
2016.02.05	At home
2016.06.07	AGT First audition (Pasadena Civic Auditorium)	AGT incl. Planet Hollywood	AGT removed the original video in early 2023 after it had garnered 120 million views. But either they put it up again, or it never disappeared, but was made hidden. In 2025, the video was taken down again, only to reapear in 2026. A fan group on YouTube has a copy (if the orginal is taken down again): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJVH0EvFIeg Here is another, shorter copy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4Myo6Lj4xg, and if all else fails, there is a copy to be found at the Wayback Machine https://web.archive.org/web/20160608020644/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNxO9MpQ2vA
2016.06.11	Strawberry Festival (Bergen Highlands United Methodist Church)		.
2016.07.01	At her grandparents		Vide no longer available
2016.07.08	Ramapo Summer Concert (Palisades Credit Union Park )
2016.07.20	At home
2016.07.20	At home		Song starts at 0:53 (Timestamps not allowed)
2016.07.30	Free Concert (Lafayette Theatre)
2016.08.07	At home		Part of (33s) composed of two YouNow clips
2016.09.14	AGT Finals (Dolby Theatre)	AGT incl. Planet Hollywood
2016.09.15	Access Hollywood Live (Terrace Studios)		The song is at 13:03 in the "Full video" above
2016.09.15	Interview with Mario Lopez, at "Extra", Live on Facebook (Unversal Studios)
2016.09.17	Celebrity Fan Festival Pre-Emmys party (Hollywood American Legion Post)
2016.09.21	The Ellen Show (Warner Bros. Studios)
2016.10.27	AGT Live Concert (The PH Showroom at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino)	AGT incl. Planet Hollywood	Including singalong at the end
2016.10.28	AGT Live Concert (The PH Showroom at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino)	AGT incl. Planet Hollywood
2016.10.29	AGT Live Concert (The PH Showroom at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino)	AGT incl. Planet Hollywood
2016.10.30	AGT Live Concert (The PH Showroom at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino)	AGT incl. Planet Hollywood
2016.11.24	Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (The GoldieBlox float Macy's Thanksgiving parade)
2016.11.28	The Today Show (NBC Studios)		Song at 1:30
2016.11.29	South Street Seaport Christmas tree lighting (South Street Seaport)
2016.12.02	The Wendy Williams Show (Chelsea Television Studios)
2016.12.03	Cyndi Lauper & friends Home for the Holidays. (Beacon Theatre)		Performed in the middle of the concert - no media
2016.12.08	CBS's The Talk (Studio City)		Song starts at 2:31 (source does not support timestamps)
2016.12.09	Z100 Jingle Ball (IHeartRadio) (Madison Square Garden)
2016.12.14	Horizon Media Holiday Party (Hammerstein Ballroom)		Part of (1:15m) Video is a strange splitscreen format
2017.01.16	Live with Kelly (ABC Studios)
2017.01.23	Paste Magazine Live (Paste Magazine)
2017.01.24	Elvis Duran Show (Z 100 studios)
2017.02.07	iHeartRadio Live Sessions (Honda Stage, Brooklyn Art Library )
2017.02.13	Lighting tower and singing for 13 engaged couples (Empire State Building)		at 2:31 (A Facebook Video that does not accept timestamps)
2017.02.28	US99 Contry Station Today Show (US99 Chicago)
2017.02.28	Leo Burnett Artist-in-Residence programme (Leo Burnett Building)		Part of (45s)
2017.03.01	WE Day (Allstate Arena)
2017.03.22	Duke of Uke
2017.03.24	Special Olympics World Winter Games 2017 Closing ceremony (Stadium Graz)
2017.04.18	Kidd Kraddick Morning Show (Studios at Las Colinas Blvd)
2017.04.20	Amazon Music, private performance (Amazon HQ)		Part of (1m)
2017.04.21	WE Day (Key Arena )		The "official" recording
2017.04.29	Radio Disney Music Awards (Microsoft Theatre)		Official Disney recording (from a Chinese website)
2017.05.10	Astronauts Wanted And Rumble Yard Joint 2017 NewFront Presentation (Sony Square)		Fragment (24s) in color
2017.05.21	Valley Hospital Benefit Concert (Ramapo High School)
2017.06.15	Sony Music Labels 2017 Newcomer Convention (Private event) (Zepp Hall)		Fragment (13a)
2017.06.15	Sony Music Labels 2017 Newcomer Convention (Private event) (Zepp Hall)		Part of (52s)
2017.06.17	Spotify ''Kimono'' Event (Spotify offices)
2017.06.17	Perfectly Imperfect release event (Tower Records)		Fragment (14s)
2017.06.19	Sukkiri TV Show (Nippon TV)
2017.06.21	YouTube Vidcon (Anaheim Convention Centre)
2017.07.06	Shops At Nanuet Concert Series (Shops At Nanuet )		Almost complete (1:20 min)
2017.07.20	Moonlight video release Party (Sony Square)
2017.08.25	AMP Radio's Switch Party (AMP Radio Detroit)		Fragment (15s)
2017.08.29	Interview & Performance Q102 Philly (Q102 Philly)
2017.09.20	WE Day (The Theatre at Madison Square Garden)		Taken from front and center
2017.09.22	107.5 The River (107.5 The River WRVW-FM)
2017.10.07	Austin City Limits (Week 1) (Zilker Park)		Official recording
2017.10.14	Austin City Limits (week 2) (Zilker Park)
2017.11.05	The Troubadour	Just the Beginning Tour
2017.11.08	Mall of America
2017.11.13	Irving Plaza	Just the Beginning Tour
2017.11.15	Park West	Just the Beginning Tour
2017.11.26	HMW and Books Miniconcert (HMV and Books)
2017.12.05	FLY 92.3 Not So Silent Night (Palace Theatre)
2017.12.07	98.5 KRZ Let it Show 2017 (F.M. Kirby Centre for the Performing Arts)
2017.12.09	K104’s Not So Silent Night (The Chance Theatre)		At 16:58 in this Facebook video (so no timestamps)
2018.01.20	Private Acoustic Concert (Bean Runner Cafe)
2018.02.05	The Sinclair	Just the Beginning Tour
2018.02.05	Honda Stage, Brooklyn Art Library
2018.02.07	9:30 Club	Just the Beginning Tour
2018.02.09	Cannery Ballroom	Just the Beginning Tour	Fragment (25s)
2018.02.10	Terminal West	Just the Beginning Tour	Beginning is missing
2018.02.12	Warehouse Live	Just the Beginning Tour	Part of (45s)
2018.02.13	Trees	Just the Beginning Tour
2018.02.15	Interview & Performance Children's Hospital (Childrens Hospital Colorado, Seacrest Studios)
2018.02.16	Bluebird Theatre	Just the Beginning Tour
2018.02.20	Slim's	Just the Beginning Tour	Two short posts on Instagram
2018.02.22	Hawthorn Theatre	Just the Beginning Tour
2018.02.23	Neumos	Just the Beginning Tour
2018.04.21	MVCC Cultural Series (Mohawk Valley Community College)	Just the Beginning Tour
2018.06.05	Xfinity Theatre	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.06.06	Xfinity Centre	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.06.08	Darling's Waterfront Pavillion	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	Part of (55s)
2018.06.09	PNC Bank Arts Centre	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	Part of (55s)
2018.06.11	St. Josephs's Health Amphitheater	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.06.13	Budwesier Stage	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.06.14	Budwesier Stage	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	Fragment (10s)
2018.06.16	Hershey Park Stadium	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.06.17	Blossom Music Centre	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	Fragment (15s)
2018.06.19	Madison Square Garden	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.06.21	DT Energy Music Centre	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	Fragment (15s)
2018.06.22	Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Centre	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.06.24	Century Link Centre	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.06.26	Denny Sanford Premier Centre	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.06.27	Summerfest (American Family Insurrance Amphitheater)	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.06.29	Saratoga Performing Arts Centre	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	Part of (1m11s)
2018.07.02	Jiffy Lube Live	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	360 degree view from far away, you can hear but not see Grace
2018.07.03	Veterans United Home Loan Amphitheater	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.07.05	Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creck	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.07.07	Colonial Life Arena	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	Fragment (9s)
2018.07.08	Brandon Amphitheater	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.07.10	Bridgestone Arena	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	Fragment (15s)
2018.07.11	Hollywood Casino Amphitheater	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	Fragment (22s)
2018.07.13	Hollywood Casino Amphitheater	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	Fragment (20s)
2018.07.14	Sprint Centre	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	Part of (1 minute) Starts 2 minutes into video (on Facebook - so no timestamps)
2018.07.16	Red Rocks Amphitheater	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.07.18	Isleta Amphitheater	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	Fragment (29s)
2018.07.21	The Forum	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.07.22	The Forum	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.07.24	Concord Pavillion	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	Fragment (19s)
2018.07.26	Bobcat Stadium	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.07.28	Loveloud - Concert (Rice-Eccles Stadium)	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.07.30	INTRUST Bank Arena	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	Fragment (57s)
2018.08.01	BOK Centre	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.08.02	Austin 360 Amphitheater	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2018.08.04	Cynthia Woods Mitchel Pavillion	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	Part of (38s)
2018.08.05	Smoothie King Centre	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	Fragment (15s)
2018.08.07	The Wharf Amphitheater	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	Fragment (25s)
2018.08.09	Coral Sky Amphitheater	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)	Part of (51s)
2018.08.10	MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater	Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons)
2019.02.21	Stray Release Event (The Slipper Room)
2019.05.02	YouTube Brandcast (Radio City Music Hall)
2019.05.31	CAL Polytech "Spring Fever" Sunset Concert (California Polytech University, University Union Plaza)
2019.06.05	Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creck	High as Hope Tour (Florence & The Machine)
2019.06.06	Ameris Bank (formerly Verizon) Amphitheater	High as Hope Tour (Florence & The Machine)
2019.06.08	Amway Centre	High as Hope Tour (Florence & The Machine)	Part of 2m9s)
2019.06.09	American Airlines Arena	High as Hope Tour (Florence & The Machine)
2019.08.10	Railbird Festival (The grounds of Keeneland Racetrack)	Ur so Beautiful Tour
2019.08.11	Orange Peel	Ur so Beautiful Tour
2019.08.13	Cannery Ballroom	Ur so Beautiful Tour	Fragment (51s)
2019.08.14	Variety Playhouse	Ur so Beautiful Tour	Fragment (34s)
2019.08.16	Granada Theatre	Ur so Beautiful Tour
2019.08.17	Emo's	Ur so Beautiful Tour
2019.08.18	Warehouse Live	Ur so Beautiful Tour	Part of (42s)
2019.08.21	The van Buren	Ur so Beautiful Tour
2019.08.22	El Rey Theatre	Ur so Beautiful Tour
2019.08.25	The Observatory	Ur so Beautiful Tour
2019.08.27	El Rey Theatre	Ur so Beautiful Tour
2019.08.28	El Rey Theatre	Ur so Beautiful Tour
2019.08.29	The Fillmore	Ur so Beautiful Tour
2019.09.01	The Depot	Ur so Beautiful Tour	Part of (1m)
2019.09.02	Washington's	Ur so Beautiful Tour	Part of (55s)
2019.09.03	Bluebird Theatre	Ur so Beautiful Tour	Fragment (13s)
2019.09.06	Varsity Theatre	Ur so Beautiful Tour
2019.09.07	Park West	Ur so Beautiful Tour
2019.09.09	Saint Andrews Hall	Ur so Beautiful Tour
2019.09.11	The Opera House	Ur so Beautiful Tour
2019.09.13	Royale	Ur so Beautiful Tour	Part of (1m)
2019.09.14	College Street Music Hall	Ur so Beautiful Tour
2019.09.16	Theatre of Living Arts	Ur so Beautiful Tour	Part of (1 min) from 5:32 in video (Facebook so no timestamps)
2019.09.17	Webster Hall	Ur so Beautiful Tour
2019.09.19	The National	Ur so Beautiful Tour	Part of (1:14min)
2019.09.20	9:30 Club	Ur so Beautiful Tour
2019.09.21	Rams Head Live!	Ur so Beautiful Tour

Type	Comment	Link
Official lyric video	Official Lyrics Video
Behind the song	A brief clip of Grace providing some background to the song
Reaction to song	Iamsymphony Reacts to AGT first audition
Reaction to song	Reaction from vocal coach Valerie White Williams
Song related content	Grace heras IDKMN on the radio for the first time
Song related content	Covers of IDKMN on Kids tallent shows (+ one cover of Clay)

Release Date	Record	Type	Track
2016-11-18	I Don't Know My Name	Single	1
2016-12-02	Perfectly Imperfect	EP	1
2016-12-02	Perfectly Imperfect (Walmart Version)	EP	1
2017-05-24	Perfectly Imperfect (Japanese version)	EP	1
2017-11-10	Just the Beginning (Japanese version)	LP	14

I don't know my name
I don't play by the rules of the game
So you say I'm just trying, just trying

So I heard you are my sister's friend
You get along quite nicely
You ask me why I cut my hair
And changed myself completely

I don't know my name
I don't play by the rules of the game
So you say I'm just trying, just trying

I went from bland and popular
To joining the marching band
I made the closest friends
I'll ever have in my lifetime

I am lost, trying to get found
In an ocean of people
Please don't ask me any questions
There won't be a valid answer
I'll just say

That I don't know my name
I don't play by the rules of the game
So you say I'm just trying, just trying

I now know my name
I don't play by the rules of the game
So you say I'm not trying
But I'm trying to find my way

Type	Comment	Link