Like the pine trees lining the winding road,
I got a name, I got a name;
Like the singing bird and the croaking toad,
I got a name, I got a name.

And I carry it with me like my daddy did
But I'm living the dream that he kept hid.

Moving me down the highway, rolling me down the highway
Moving ahead so life won't pass me by.

Like the north wind whistlin' down the sky,
I got a song; I got a song.
Like the whippoorwill and the baby's cry,
I got a song; I got a song,

And I carry it with me and I sing it loud;
If it gets me nowhere, I'll go there proud.

Moving me down the highway, rolling me down the highway
Moving ahead so life won't pass me by.

And I'm gonna go there free

Like the fool I am and I'll always be,
I got a dream, I got a dream.
They can change their minds but the can't change me,
I got a dream, I got a dream;

Oh, I know I could share it if you'd want me to;
If you're goin' my way, I'll go with you.

Movin' me down the highway, rollin' me down the highway
Movin' ahead so life won't pass me by.



Lyrics submitted by kevin

Track duration: 03:10

"I Got a Name" as written by Charles/gimbel Fox

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


I Got A Name song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:The song is from the 1973 movie "The Last American Hero" which is based on the story of NASCAR driver Junior Johnson. He started as a bootlegger running moonshine if I recall (been a long time since I've seen it), which may explain the reference about living the dream that his father "kept hid".
    Flag DougH1on February 10, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:BTW this is one of the few songs Croce sang that he didn't write - it was written by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel, the same pair that wrote "Killing me softly with his song".

    Totally suits Jim though - subject theme, melody, changes and arrangement
    Flag MJT81on July 01, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I love this song too. It expresses pride, not in the sense of a feeling of superiority, but in terms of self-respect. I think this song also recognizes that we owe a debt to our ancestors, and that it expresses gratitude for the opportunities that they didn't have. ("I've got a name, I've got a name/And I carry it with me like my daddy did/But I'm livin' the dream that he kept hid") I think that this lyric also has an interesting ambiguity. "I'm livin the dream that he kept hid" suggests not only Croce's gratitude for the chance to live his dream, but also a challenge to himself - to not be inhibited and lower expectations for himself as his father did.

    There is also an interesting progression from name to song to dream. It symbolizes identity, expression and fulfillment. At the same time it seems to mark a life progression from childhood, to maturity, and completion with a soulmate.

    Like nearly all of Croce's work, this song is thought-provoking, written artfully, yet clearly and undertstandably, and prompts an emotional response. A great song.
    Flag lyricthinkeron May 31, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:When he says the pine trees have a name...I took that to mean that to us, a tree is a tree, but to the tree, it is an individual, and they have names just like we do. Same for the bird and toad - they're all the same to us, but not to themselves. Think about what humans would look like to a bird -- we're all the same as far as they can tell!
    Flag Cannikinon April 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:to me, this song is about finding yourself on life's journey, and maintaing your individuality along the way. staying true to your own beliefs, and not caring what others may say about you.
    Flag bigred090on January 27, 2008   Link
  • -2
    General Comment:is this song saying that pine trees have names? that makes NO SENSE!!!
    Flagged sirsquilliumon November 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song to me is about a father and a son and i got a name means i am a me
    Flag joe walsh ruleson June 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Agree with montyosis. This song sounds like it could be Johnny Appleseed's theme song.
    Flag Abq_physon May 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:oh, and it is "that he kept hid"
    Flag montyosoison August 10, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:this song, to me, is about finding or creating individualism in a monotonous society. for example:
    "Like the singin' bird and the croakin' toad"
    the bird or toad aren't particularly special when viewed with other birds and/or toads*, but there song is what sets them apart from one another; just as peoples' actions are one of the things that can be distinguished. not to get to Martin Luther King Jr.-like, or anything.
    i'm fully aware that many bird songs sound alike, but we as people often rally together for particular causes. but i'm rambling.
    this is an outstanding song, just for croce's skilled guitar work.
    "Movin' ahead so life won't pass me by"
    don't get hung up on things, life goes on, we should too.
    *i suppose i should add frogs to the mix, toads and frogs look alot alike.
    Flag montyosoison August 10, 2005   Link

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