Name Game
Sharon Lois & Bram Lyrics
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Bo-ber-ley, bo-na-na fanna.
Fo-fer-ley. fee fi mo-mer-ley, Shirley!
Lincoln! Lincoln, Lincoln. bo-bin-coln,
Bo-na-na fanna, fo-fin-coln.
Fee fi mo-min-coln, Lincoln!
I betcha I can make a rhyme out of anybody's name.
The first letter of the name,
I treat it like it wasn't there,
But a "B" or an "F" or an "M" will appear;
And then I say "Bo" add a "B" then I say the name.
Then "Bo-na-na fanna" and "fo"
And then I say the name again with an ""f" very plain,
Then "fee fi" and a "mo"
And then I say the name again with an "M" this time.
And there isn't any name that I can't rhyme.
Arnold! Arnold, Arnold bo-bar-nold,
Bo-na-na, fanna fo-far-nold,
Fee fi m-mar-mold. Arnold!
But if the first two letters are ever the same,
Crop them both, then say the name.
Like Bob, Bob, drop the "B's", Bo-ob.
Or Fred, Fred, drop the "F's", Fo-red,
Or Mary, Mary, drop the "M's", Mo-ary.
That's the only rule that is contrary.
And then I say "Bo" add a "B" then I say the name.
Then "Bo-na-na fanna" and "fo"
And then I say the name again with an ""f" very plain,
Then "fee fi" and a "mo"
And then I say the name again with an "M" this time.
And there isn't any name that I can't rhyme.
Say Tony, Tony, bo-bo-ney,
Bo-na-na fanna, fo-fo-ney,
Fee fi mo-mo-ney, Tony!
Let's do Billy!
Billy, Billy, bo-gil-ly, bo-na-na
Fanna, fo-fil-ly,
Fee fi mo-mil-ly, Billy!
Let's do Marsha!
Marsha, Marsha, bo-bar-sha,
Bo-na-na fanna, fo-far-sha,
Fee fi mo-ar-sha, Marsha!
Little trick with Nick!
Nick, Nick, bo-bick, bo-na-na
Fanna fo fick, fee fi mo-mick. Nick!
The name game.
The Name Game is a children's song where the singer claims that they can create a rhyme out of anyone's name. The lyrics are meant to be fun and light-hearted, and encourage children to play along with the game. The singer takes the first letter of the name and treats it as though it doesn't exist. Then, to create a rhyme, they add “Bo” at the beginning of the name and “na-na fanna fo” before saying the name again, this time subbing in the first letter.
The chorus "the name game" is repeated after each name, emphasizing the point that the game is to create rhymes out of as many people's names as possible. The song includes a rule where if the first two letters of a name are the same, they are dropped before adding “Bo” and continuing the rhyming game. Sharon Lois & Bram's version of the song is unique in that it uses the names of the trio themselves as examples, showing the game can also be played with the names of the people singing the song.
Line by Line Meaning
The name game. Shirley! Shirley, Shirley.
Bo-ber-ley, bo-na-na fanna.
Fo-fer-ley. fee fi mo-mer-ley, Shirley!
Let's play the name game. Start with Shirley. Bo-ber-ley, bo-na-na fanna, Fo-fer-ley, fee fi mo-mer-ley, repeat Shirley using different rhyming patterns.
Lincoln! Lincoln, Lincoln. bo-bin-coln,
Bo-na-na fanna, fo-fin-coln.
Fee fi mo-min-coln, Lincoln!
Next is Lincoln. Bo-bin-coln, bo-na-na fanna, fo-fin-coln, Fee fi mo-min-coln, repeat Lincoln using different rhyming patterns.
Come on ev'rybody, I say now let's play a game.
I betcha I can make a rhyme out of anybody's name.
The first letter of the name,
I treat it like it wasn't there,
But a "B" or an "F" or an "M" will appear;
And then I say "Bo" add a "B" then I say the name.
Then "Bo-na-na fanna" and "fo"
And then I say the name again with an ""f" very plain,
Then "fee fi" and a "mo"
And then I say the name again with an "M" this time.
And there isn't any name that I can't rhyme.
Let's all play a game, where I bet I can come up with a rhyme for any name. Ignore the first letter, but add a B, F or an M. Then repeat the name using different rhyming patterns with Bo, fo, fee fi and mo.
Arnold! Arnold, Arnold bo-bar-nold,
Bo-na-na, fanna fo-far-nold,
Fee fi m-mar-mold. Arnold!
Next is Arnold. Bo-bar-nold, bo-na-na fanna, fo-far-nold, fee fi m-mar-mold, repeat Arnold using different rhyming patterns.
But if the first two letters are ever the same,
Crop them both, then say the name.
Like Bob, Bob, drop the "B's", Bo-ob.
Or Fred, Fred, drop the "F's", Fo-red,
Or Mary, Mary, drop the "M's", Mo-ary.
That's the only rule that is contrary.
If the first two letters are the same, drop them and proceed with the name. For example, Bob becomes Bo-ob, Fred becomes Fo-red, and Mary becomes Mo-ary. This is the only exception to the rule.
And then I say "Bo" add a "B" then I say the name.
Then "Bo-na-na fanna" and "fo"
And then I say the name again with an ""f" very plain,
Then "fee fi" and a "mo"
And then I say the name again with an "M" this time.
And there isn't any name that I can't rhyme.
Use the rules to repeat the name using different rhyming patterns with Bo, fo, fee fi and mo. Repeat this until there isn't a name that can't be rhymed.
Say Tony, Tony, bo-bo-ney,
Bo-na-na fanna, fo-fo-ney,
Fee fi mo-mo-ney, Tony!
Let's use Tony in the name game. Bo-bo-ney, bo-na-na fanna, fo-fo-ney, fee fi mo-mo-ney, repeat Tony using different rhyming patterns.
Let's do Billy!
Billy, Billy, bo-gil-ly, bo-na-na
Fanna, fo-fil-ly,
Fee fi mo-mil-ly, Billy!
Let's use Billy in the name game. Bo-gil-ly, bo-na-na fanna, fo-fil-ly, fee fi mo-mil-ly, repeat Billy using different rhyming patterns.
Let's do Marsha!
Marsha, Marsha, bo-bar-sha,
Bo-na-na fanna, fo-far-sha,
Fee fi mo-ar-sha, Marsha!
Let's use Marsha in the name game. Bo-bar-sha, bo-na-na fanna, fo-far-sha, fee fi mo-ar-sha, repeat Marsha using different rhyming patterns.
Little trick with Nick!
Nick, Nick, bo-bick, bo-na-na
Fanna fo fick, fee fi mo-mick. Nick!
A little trick with Nick in the name game. Bo-bick, bo-na-na fanna, fo fick, fee fi mo-mick, repeat Nick using different rhyming patterns.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lincoln Chase, Shirley Elliston
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind