My Name
Lhasa Lyrics


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Why don't you ask me
How long I've been waiting
Set down on the road
With the gunshots exploding
I'm waiting for you
In the gloom and the blazing
I'm waiting for you
I sing like a slave I know
I should know better
I've learned all my lessons
Right down to the letter
And still I go on like this
Year after year
Waiting for miracles
And shaking with fear

Why don't you answer
Why don't you come save me
Show me how to use
All these things
That you gave me
Turn me inside out
So my bones can save me
Turn me inside out

You've come this close
You can come even closer
The gunshots get louder
And the world spins faster
And things just get further
And further apart
The head from the hands
And the hands from the heart

One thing that's true
Is the way that I love him
The earth down below
And the sky up above him
And still I go on like this
Day after day
Still I go on like this

Now I've said this
I already feel stronger
I can't keep waiting for you
Any longer
I need you now
Not someday
When I'm ready
Come down on the road
Come down on the road

My name, my nam
Nothing is the same




I won't go back
The way I came

Overall Meaning

The song “My Name” by Lhasa de Sela is a beautiful composition that explores the themes of waiting, fear and love. The first verse of the song talks about waiting for someone. The anticipation is palpable as the gunshots explode in the background. The singer is waiting, shaking with fear, hoping for a miracle. The second verse talks about how the singer has learned all her lessons, but still goes on waiting for something better. She is hoping for someone to come and save her, to turn her inside out and show her how to use the things that have been given to her.


The chorus talks about the one thing that is true, and that is the way that she loves him. She goes on like this day after day, waiting for someone to come down on the road. The last few lines of the song suggest that the singer is ready for change, that she can't keep waiting any longer. She won't go back the way she came, and nothing is the same. The use of repetition in the song, particularly in the chorus, creates a sense of desperation and longing.


Overall, the song “My Name” is a poignant and powerful reflection on waiting, fear, and love. Lhasa de Sela's hauntingly beautiful voice and the simple, yet powerful lyrics make this song a masterpiece. The song captures the essence of human experience and reminds us that we all struggle with waiting and the fear of the unknown.


Line by Line Meaning

Why don't you ask me
I wish you would take the time to get to know me, to understand the pain I've been through.


How long I've been waiting
I have been waiting and hoping for change, for someone or something to come and make a difference to my life.


Set down on the road
My life has been full of trauma and danger, like walking along a road with gunshots ringing in my ears.


With the gunshots exploding
I am constantly under threat, feeling powerless and trapped by the violence around me.


I'm waiting for you
Despite everything, I still have hope that something good will come my way, that someone will come and rescue me.


In the gloom and the blazing
I am surrounded by darkness and fear, but also by the fierce light of my own spirit, which refuses to be extinguished.


I sing like a slave I know
I am aware that I am trapped, that my voice is not truly free, but I cannot help but sing out, to express the pain and hope that is within me.


I should know better
I am not naïve or foolish, but I still have faith that things can get better, that there is hope.


I've learned all my lessons
I have been through so much, and have gained wisdom and experience from every challenge and struggle.


Right down to the letter
I have taken every experience to heart, and have learned to embrace the lessons that life has taught me, however difficult they may have been.


And still I go on like this
Despite having been through so much, I still keep going, I refuse to give up on hope or on life.


Year after year
No matter how long I have to wait, I will keep hoping for change, for something better to come.


Waiting for miracles
I know that miracles may be unlikely, but I still hold onto the hope that something magical and unexpected will come and change everything.


And shaking with fear
Despite my hopeful spirit, I am still deeply afraid of what the future may hold, of the violence and danger that surrounds me.


Why don't you answer
I still wait for a sign, for some kind of answer to the questions that weigh on my heart and mind.


Why don't you come save me
I yearn for rescue, for someone to come and help me escape the violence and fear that have held me captive for so long.


Show me how to use
I have been given so many gifts, so many talents, but I need guidance on how to use them for good.


All these things
I know that I have been blessed with many talents and abilities, but I need help to unlock their full potential.


That you gave me
I know that there is something, someone out there who has given me my talents and my spirit, and I am grateful for them.


Turn me inside out
I am ready for a deep transformation, for something to come and change me from the inside out, to make me new again.


So my bones can save me
I need to be renewed, transformed, so that I can be strong and brave enough to save myself from the danger that threatens me.


You've come this close
There have been moments when I thought help was almost within reach, that change was coming, but it always seems to slip away.


You can come even closer
I still have hope that change will come, that rescue is on its way, that I will be saved from the violence and danger that surrounds me.


The gunshots get louder
Even as I wait for rescue, the violence and danger around me seem to escalate, to grow more intense and overwhelming.


And the world spins faster
As the violence and danger around me grows, it seems that time is speeding up, that the world is racing ahead, leaving me behind.


And things just get further
Despite my best efforts, it seems that the things I desire, the things that will bring me safety and rescue, are growing more distant and difficult to reach.


And further apart
I am growing more isolated and alone, cut off from the people and things that I need to thrive and survive.


The head from the hands
I am struggling to connect the intellectual and the physical, to understand my own motivations and desires and how to act on them.


And the hands from the heart
I am also struggling to connect my actions with my deepest emotions and values, to live in a way that is truly in line with my heart and soul.


One thing that's true
Despite all of the turmoil and confusion in my life, one thing is crystal clear: my deep and abiding love for someone special.


Is the way that I love him
My love for this person is a constant, unwavering source of hope and strength, even in the darkest times.


The earth down below
I feel deeply connected to the natural world around me, finding solace and renewal in the beauty of the earth itself.


And the sky up above him
Even as I am grounded by my love for this person and the earth beneath me, I am lifted up and inspired by the limitless beauty of the sky above.


Day after day
No matter what comes my way, I will still be here, still fighting for the hope and the love that I hold dear.


Now I've said this
By expressing my deepest thoughts and emotions, I have strengthened my resolve, and feel even more committed to my path of hope and love.


I already feel stronger
Despite the challenges I've been through, I am growing stronger and more resilient every day, thanks to my unshakable spirit and my deep love for others.


I can't keep waiting for you
I am done waiting for someone to rescue me or to change the world for me - I am ready to take action and make change happen myself.


Any longer
I know that time is of the essence, that I cannot afford to wait any longer before taking bold, decisive action to make my dreams come true.


I need you now
While I know that I must take action on my own, I also know that I need the support and love of others to make my dreams a reality.


Not someday
I cannot afford to wait for some distant, hypothetical future - I need change and transformation to occur now, in this very moment.


When I'm ready
I know that there will never be a perfect moment, a moment when I am completely 'ready' to take action - I must simply act, and trust that the rest will fall into place.


Come down on the road
I am calling out for others to join me on my journey of hope and love, to help me traverse the dangerous, gun-filled road of life and come out victorious on the other side.


My name, my name
I know who I am, and I know that I am capable of great things, of changing the world with my spirit and my love.


Nothing is the same
Every day is a new opportunity for change, for transformation, for love and hope to prevail - and I am ready to seize that opportunity with both hands.


I won't go back
There is no going back to the old ways of fear and hopelessness - I am committed to creating a new reality of love and hope, no matter what the cost.


The way I came
I will not be defeated by the violence and fear of my past - I will move forward with love and hope in my heart, creating a brighter future for myself and others.




Contributed by Nolan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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