That’s Not My Name by The Ting Tings Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling Identity in a Label-Driven World
Lyrics
It’s a difficulty and I’m biting on my tongue
And I, I keep stalling, keeping me together
People around gotta find something to say now
Holding back, everyday the same
Don’t wanna be a loner
Listen to me, oh no
I never say anything at all
But with nothing to consider they forget my name (‘ame, ‘ame, ‘ame)
They call me, “Hell”
They call me, “Stacey”
They call me, “Her”
They call me, “Jane”
That’s not my name
That’s not my name
That’s not my name
That’s not my name
They call me, “Quiet girl”
But I’m a riot Mary, Jo, Lisa
Always the same
That’s not my name
That’s not my name
That’s not my name
That’s not my name
I miss the catch if they throw me the ball
I’m the last chick standing up against the wall
Keep up, falling, these heels they keep me boring
Getting glammed up and sitting on the fence now
So alone all the time at night
Lock myself away
Listen to me, I’m not
Although I’m dressed up, out and all
With everything considered they forget my name (‘ame, ‘ame, ‘ame)
They call me, “Hell” (this song was in my head)
They call me, “Stacey” (now it’s in my mind)
They call me, “Her” (call it, reach it, get some words and get some timing)
They call me “Jane”
That’s not my name (and though I realize I cannot emphasize)
That’s not my name (I’ll stick around but just don’t promise, nothing binding)
That’s not my name
That’s not my name
They call me, “Quiet girl” (and baby, can’t you see, that you’re so desperately)
But I’m a riot
Mary, Jo, Lisa (a standing joker like a vocal one-liner)
Always the same
That’s not my name (instead of sing-a-long)
That’s not my name (this song is monotone)
That’s not my name (I’ve gotta get some soul)
That’s not my name (I gotta get some feeling)
Are you calling me, darling?
Are you calling me bird?
They call me, “Hell” (are you calling me darling?)
They call me, “Stacey”
They call me, “Her”
They call me, “Jane”
That’s not my name
That’s not my name
That’s not my name
That’s not my name
They call me, “Quiet girl” (are you calling me bird?)
But I’m a riot
Mary, Jo, Lisa
Always the same
That’s not my name
That’s not my name
That’s not my name
That’s not my name
They call me, “Hell” (this song was in my head)
They call me, “Stacey” (now it’s in my mind)
They call me, “Her” (call it, reach it, get some words and get some timing)
They call me, “Jane”
That’s not my name (and though I realize)
That’s not my name (I cannot emphasize)
That’s not my name (I’ll stick around but just don’t promise, nothing binding)
That’s not my name (so alone all the time and I lock myself away)
They call me, “Quiet girl” (and baby, can’t you see, that you’re so desperately)
But I’m a riot
Mary, Jo, Lisa (a standing joker like a vocal one-liner)
Always the same
That’s not my name (instead of sing-a-long)
That’s not my name (this song is monotone)
That’s not my name (I’ve gotta get some soul)
That’s not my name (I gotta get some feeling)
They call me, “Hell” (this song was in my head)
They call me, “Stacey” (now it’s in my mind)
They call me, “Her” (call it, reach it, get some words and get some timing)
They call me, “Jane”
That’s not my name (and though I realize)
That’s not my name (I cannot emphasize)
That’s not my name (I’ll stick around but just don’t promise, nothing binding)
That’s not my name (so alone all the time and I lock myself away)
They call me, “Quiet girl” (and baby, can’t you see, that you’re so desperately)
But I’m a riot
Mary, Jo, Lisa (a standing joker like a vocal one-liner)
Always the same
That’s not my name (instead of sing-a-long)
That’s not my name (this song is monotone)
That’s not my name (I’ve gotta get some soul)
That’s not my name (I gotta get some feeling)
They call me, “Hell” (this song was in my head)
They call me, “Stacey” (now it’s in my mind)
They call me, “Her” (call it, reach it, get some words and get some timing)
They call me, “Jane”
That’s not my name (and though I realize)
That’s not my name (I cannot emphasize)
That’s not my name (I’ll stick around but just don’t promise, nothing binding)
That’s not my name (so alone all the time and I lock myself away)
They call me, “Quiet girl” (and baby, can’t you see, that you’re so desperately)
But I’m a riot
Mary, Jo, Lisa
Always the same (though I’m dressed up)
That’s not my name (out and all, with everything considered)
That’s not my name (they forget my name)
That’s not my name (I’ve gotta get some soul)
That’s not my name (I gotta get some feeling)
This song was in my head
Now it’s in my mind
Call it, reach it, get some words and get some timing
And though I realize
I cannot emphasize
I’ll stick around but just don’t promise, nothing binding
And baby, can’t you see
That you’re so desperately
A standing joker like a vocal one-liner
Instead of sing-a-long
This song is monotone
I’ve gotta get some soul, I gotta get some feeling
When The Ting Tings released ‘That’s Not My Name’ in 2008, listeners around the globe found themselves tapping their feet to the relentless beat and anthemic chorus. Yet beneath the infectious clapping and the shout-it-out-loud hooks, this song packs a potent message about personal identity and the struggle to be seen as more than just a label or a face in the crowd.
In a world quick to assign names and roles, ‘That’s Not My Name’ serves as a battle cry against the boxes society tries to place us in. It’s a colorful fusion of indie pop and new wave defiance, a tune that makes you dance, but also, upon closer inspection, one that makes you think. Let’s peel back the layers of this catchy hit to discover the depth behind its pop veneer.
The Chorus: A Rallying Cry for the Misnamed
The titular chorus of ‘That’s Not My Name’ is as straightforward as it gets, and yet it’s brimming with implications. Every repetition of ‘That’s not my name’ is a refusal to accept the monikers carelessly thrown at the singer. From ‘Quiet girl’ to ‘Mary, Jo, Lisa,’ each name symbolizes a stereotype or expectation she does not identify with.
This mantra becomes an anthem for anyone who has been typecast, misunderstood, or underestimated. It’s a sonic refusal to be anyone other than oneself, and it resonates with the universality of that struggle.
Miscommunication and the Weight of Silence
The song opens with a sense of frustration, depicting the difficulty of articulation and the bitterness of biting one’s tongue. This sets the stage for a narrative about voicing one’s identity in a way that feels genuine, without the restraint of societal pressures or the fear of being silenced.
By extension, the verse comments on the broader trend of how so often, people listen without hearing, imposing their thoughts or names onto others without understanding the true self that’s struggling to come forward.
Diving into the Song’s Hidden Meaning of Existential Rebellion
Strip away the playful melody and what surfaces is an existential rebellion. It’s about rejecting the cookie-cutter identities—the ‘Hell,’ ‘Stacey,’ ‘Her,’ and ‘Jane’—that box us in. It underlines a deep-seated desire to be acknowledged for authentic selfhood rather than through labels that carry no meaning for the person they’re ascribed to.
The insistence upon the singer’s own name, which is ironically never disclosed, turns the focus inward, hinting at a search for self that is fiercely personal and unique to each individual, a key element in understanding who we are when stripped of external labels.
The Unforgettable Lines That Echo Our Core Quest for Identity
One cannot help but be struck by lines like ‘They call me ‘Quiet girl’ / But I’m a riot.’ It’s a succinct encapsulation of someone being seen for their exterior quietness while their inner world is roaring with life and noise. It echoes a common human desire to be recognized for the complex individuals we are, rather than reduced to a single perceived trait.
Lines like ‘I miss the catch if they throw me the ball’ speak to feelings of inadequacy and missed connections, underlying how often we might fail to meet others’ expectations, or how often others miss the essence of who we truly are.
The Anthem of Misfits and the Beauty of Non-Conformity
Ultimately, ‘That’s Not My Name’ stands as an anthem for the misfits, for those who never quite fit the mold. It’s not just about the struggle for identity, but also about the beauty found in non-conformity. It calls on us to embrace our distinctiveness, rather than allow ourselves to be subdued into generic forms.
As such, the song invites us to empathize with those who feel unseen or unknown, and it serves as a reminder that sometimes, the most radical act of rebellion is to simply insist on being seen as we truly are.
