There was nothing you could do but turn away
They told the fathers to hide all the girls away
It's just a name, a name, a name, a name, what's in a name?

And you were sleeping by the time I found you there
I said, "It's a shame we gotta cut off all that hair..."

But it's alright, I just hope it's nothing bad
You can call me if you're sad, I don't care what your father said

We were running through the halls of the middle school
Writing our names on the side of the public pool
Like two ghosts in flight on a sleepless night, we were alive

And you told me you were scared of suicide
On the night that your best friend's brother died

But it's alright, I just hope it's nothing bad
You can call me if you're sad, I don't care what your father said

I was lost in you dancing around in your living room
And you said your mother's in the back on Valium
And she sleeps so hard that you wonder if she's alive

And so I parked my bike outside your house
You said, "There's nothing you can do to make me come out!"
Because your daddy said I was the worst one yet, it was a lie, a lie, a lie, a lie
Because I always loved the way you looked in that (?) light
Just dancing around in some old sweater of mine

But it's alright, I just hope it's nothing bad
Just promise me you won't get mad, I don't care what your father said

This is not a game, it would be a crying shame
Honestly, what's in a name? Tell me, what's in a name, a name, a name...

Oh we were so young, we were so wrong.

We were so wrong.


Lyrics submitted by Ch90322, edited by shadrach51

What's in a Name? Lyrics as written by Mikel Frans Jollett

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

What's in a Name song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

2 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love how this song reminds me so much of Bruce Springsteen. I think this song is mostly influenced by his style.

    elysia05on December 15, 2013   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Jesse with the long hair....
Robert Earl Keen, Jr.
Classic love story true to his western tx roots. One of my favorites as a story, but I think there are alot of songs that are amazing not even listed on this site. I guess I should figure out how to add them, because I have about 8 REK cd's.
Album art
Siberian Kiss
Glassjaw
its amazing how far music can come.. 24 years after it released and its one of the most heartfelt songs ive heard
Album art
Grand Theft Auto
Insane Ian
The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate
Album art
Techno Ted
Audioslave
Techno Ted may be a person who caused Chris incredible emotional pain & trepidation as well as moments of peace & happiness but now is removed and awaiting his fate. Darling may be a different person who is also free of him and can live her life free of Ted's tyranny. "In between all the laughing, and daydreams ... lies: a desert of truth" Lies are like a desert or the omission of Truth: Where there were Lies then Truth was absent. The song, "Techno Ted", may be a cathartic celebration of the downfall of this person.
Album art
Fortnight
Taylor Swift
The song 'Fortnight' by Taylor Swift and Post Malone tells a story about strong feelings, complicated relationships, and secret wishes. It talks about love, betrayal, and wanting someone who doesn't feel the same. The word 'fortnight' shows short-lived happiness and guilty pleasures, leading to sadness. It shows how messy relationships can be and the results of hiding emotions. “I was supposed to be sent away / But they forgot to come and get me,” she kickstarts the song in the first verse with lines suggesting an admission to a hospital for people with mental illnesses. She goes in the verse admitting her lover is the reason why she is like this. In the chorus, she sings about their time in love and reflects on how he has now settled with someone else. “I took the miracle move-on drug, the effects were temporary / And I love you, it’s ruining my life,” on the second verse she details her struggles to forget about him and the negative effects of her failure. “Thought of callin’ ya, but you won’t pick up / ‘Nother fortnight lost in America,” Post Malone sings in the outro.