Sign Your Name
T.T.D'arby Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Fortunately you have got
Someone who relies on you
We started out as friends
But the thought of you just caves me in
The symptoms are so deep
It is much too late to turn away
We started out as friends
Sign you name across my heart
I want you to be my baby
Sign your name across my heart
I want you to be my lady

Time I'm sure will bring
Disappointments in so many things
It seems to be the way
When your gambling cards on love you play
I'd rather be in Hell
With you baby than in cool Heaven
It seems to be the way

Sign you name across my heart
I want you to be my baby
Sign your name across my heart
I want you to be my lady

Birds never look into the sun
Before the day is done
Oh the light shines brighter
On a peaceful day
Stranger blue leave us alone
We don't want to deal with you
We'll shed our stains showering
In the room that makes the rain

All alone with you
Makes the butterflies in me arise
Slowly we make love
And the earth rotates
To our dictates
Slowly we make love

Hey
Sign your name across my heart (sign your name)
I want you to be my baby (be my baby)
Sign your name across my heart
I want you to be my lady
(Sign your name, sign your name)

Sign you name across my heart
I want you to be my baby
Sign your name across my heart
I want you to be my lady

Sign you name across my heart




I want you to be my baby
Sign your name across my heart

Overall Meaning

In this song, T.T.D'arby speaks about the deep and intense feelings he has for someone he initially started out as friends with. He highlights the fact that he now relies on them, and that the thought of them consumes him. He expresses that the symptoms of his love for this person run deep, and as such it is much too late to turn away from his feelings. D'arby mentions that time is sure to bring disappointments in love, but he is willing to take the gamble with this person. He would rather be in a difficult situation with them than in a comfortable one without them. He makes the analogy of birds not looking into the sun before the day is done, implying that he is willing to take a risk on love without knowing the outcome, so he can live in the moment. The song ends on a happy note, with his request for the person to sign their name across his heart, showing his commitment and willingness to make a bold move towards a future with them.


One interesting fact about the song is that it was released in 1987, and despite its initial slow start on the charts, it went on to become a hit, reaching number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 as well as making the Top 10 in numerous countries. Another fact is that the song was written and produced solely by T.T.D'arby himself. It was also the lead single off his debut album, "Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby", which went on to win a Grammy award for Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male in 1989. The music video for the song featured D'arby performing with his band surrounded by stage dancers in black bodysuits. The backdrop was a set of circles that would light up and change colors throughout the video.


Furthermore, the song has been covered and sampled by many artists, including rapper Mos Def in his song "Ms. Fat Booty" and singer Jill Scott in her song "Exclusively". The song has also been featured in films and TV shows such as Beverly Hills 90210, Friends, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Another interesting fact about the song is that it was voted number 208 in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list in 2021.


The chords for the song are:
Verse: Gm7, F, Cm, F
Chorus: Bb, Bb, Gm, F


Bridge: Eb, F, Bb, Gm, Eb, F, Bb


Overall, "Sign Your Name" is a timeless love song that showcases T.T.D'arby's vocal and songwriting abilities, and has remained a beloved classic for decades.


Line by Line Meaning

Fortunately you have got
Luckily, you have someone who depends on you.


Someone who relies on you
Someone who trusts and depends on you.


We started out as friends
Our relationship began as a friendship.


But the thought of you just caves me in
The mere thought of you has a powerful effect on me.


The symptoms are so deep
The emotions I am feeling are intense and profound.


It is much too late to turn away
I am too deeply invested in this relationship to walk away now.


Sign you name across my heart
Symbolically mark my heart as yours by signing your name.


I want you to be my baby
I want you to be the most important person in my life.


I want you to be my lady
I want you to be my romantic partner and companion.


Time I'm sure will bring
I am certain that time will bring disappointments.


Disappointments in so many things
I expect to experience letdowns in various areas of my life.


It seems to be the way
This seems to be the pattern for how things work out.


When your gambling cards on love you play
When you take a chance on love, you are gambling with your heart.


I'd rather be in Hell
I would rather endure hardship and pain than lose you.


With you baby than in cool Heaven
I would rather be with you even if it meant being in a difficult situation.


Birds never look into the sun
Birds are smart enough to not look directly into the sun.


Before the day is done
Before the day is over.


Oh the light shines brighter
The light appears brighter.


On a peaceful day
On a calm and tranquil day.


Stranger blue leave us alone
Unwanted feelings, please stop bothering us.


We don't want to deal with you
We do not wish to engage with these feelings or situations.


We'll shed our stains showering
We will cleanse our minds and bodies.


In the room that makes the rain
In a space where water washes away dirt and impurities.


All alone with you
Being alone with you is all I need.


Makes the butterflies in me arise
Being near you creates a feeling of excitement and anticipation within me.


Slowly we make love
We take our time expressing our affection for each other.


And the earth rotates
The world around us keeps moving.


To our dictates
We are in control of our relationship and the pace at which it moves.


Hey sign your name across my heart (sign your name)
Please make a lasting impression on my heart by symbolically signing your name.


Sign your name across my heart
Mark my heart as yours with your signature.


Sign your name across my heart (sign your name)
Take a symbolical action to show that you belong to me.


I want you to be my baby
You are the most important person in my life.


Sign your name across my heart
Promise me that you will always be mine.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Terence Trent D'Arby

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@annenbertelinlindgren9710

This song brings back so many memories! I was 17 years old in 1987. I was working at a place where we where all young, between 16 and 22, and two or three nights a week after work we went to a bar near our workplace. In Sweden you have to be 18 to drink alcohol at bars, but I guess I looked older than my age 'cause I never had any problems ordering drinks.
We were a group of 15-20 people going to this bar, and every night we played this song on the jukebox, over and over again. We all loved it!

Then came the day when I turned 18, March 16:th, 1988. Of course it was a birthday to celebrate, and of course we went to our favorite bar to celebrate. The owner of the bar noticed we where celebrating, and asked me what the occasion was. I said "It's my 18:th birthday!" and he was at first mad. "What?!" he yelled. "You've been drinking here for months, and you weren't 18?! We could have lost our permit to sell alcohol if anyone would have found out!" (The laws for selling alcohol at restaurants and bars where, and are, strict in Sweden).

I felt a bit ashamed, I hadn't been thinking about that, all I cared about was partying and drinking with my friends. Luckily, the owner soon calmed down. Maybe he realized how much money me and my friends had spent there during the past six months or so... ;-) He actually came and congratulated me, and then he said that me and my friends could get free drinks for the rest of the night!

It was a memorable night - although some things are a bit "foggy" for some reason - that night almost 33 years ago. Terence trent D'Arby, Sign Your Name, good friends, party, turning 18, my whole life ahead of me...

Sorry for "Wall of text"!



@pult1836

Fortunately you have got
Someone who relies on you
We started out as friends
But the thought of you just caves me in
The symptoms are so deep
It is much too late to turn away
We started out as friends
Sign you name across my heart
I want you to be my baby
Sign your name across my heart
I want you to be my lady
Time I'm sure will bring
Disappointments in so many things
It seems to be the way
When your gambling cards on love you play
I'd rather be in Hell
With you baby than in cool Heaven
It seems to be the way
Sign you name across my heart
I want you to be my baby
Sign your name across my heart
I want you to be my lady
Birds never look into the sun
Before the day is done
Oh the light shines brighter
On a peaceful day
Stranger blue leave us alone
We don't want to deal with you
We'll shed our stains showering
In the room that makes the rain
All alone with you
Makes the butterflies in me arise
Slowly we make love
And the earth rotates
To our dictates
Slowly we make love
Hey
Sign your name across my heart (sign your name)
I want you to be my baby (be my baby)
Sign your name across my heart
I want you to be my lady
(Sign your name, sign your name)
Sign you name across my heart
I want you to be my baby
Sign your name across my heart
I want you to be my lady
Sign you name across my heart
I want you to be my baby
Sign your name across my heart...NoWar...



All comments from YouTube:

@josephlowry4320

35 years later, this soothing classic still soothe our souls today, the 80s are awesome.

@karendegeyter2937

Yes the best music ever. Not like today's music for sure.

@nicholegolden1056

Realizing it's been 35 years since I first listened to TTD just made me feel old..

@christopherlongwith2811

​@@karendegeyter2937 my

@christopherlongwith2811

​@@karendegeyter2937 o

@christopherlongwith2811

​@@karendegeyter2937 w we

3 More Replies...

@tarshagreene4661

Still listening to in 2024❤

@G_Olum

🔥

@Lanae8199

I was 7 years old in 1988 when this song came out. I still love it to this day at 42. The world made more since back then. I don’t care too much for our current society.

@viviannalove8994

That’s the year I graduated from high school

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