Say My Name
The Cardigans vs. Destiny's Child Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Say my name, say my name
If no one is around you
Say baby I love you
If you ain't runnin' game
Say my name, say my name
You actin' kinda shady
Ain't callin' me baby
Why the sudden change
Say my name, say my name
If no one is around you
Say baby I love you
If you ain't runnin' game
Say my name, say my name
You actin' kinda shady
Ain't callin' me baby
Better say my name

Any other day
I would call and you would say
Baby how's your day
But today, it ain't the same
Every other word
Is "uh-huh" yeah "okay"
Could it be that you
Are at the crib with another lady
If you took it there
First of all, let me say
I am not the one
To sit around, and be played
So prove yourself to me
I am the girl that you claim
Why don't you say the thangs
That you said to me yesterday

I know you say that I am assuming things
Something's going down that's the way it seems
Shouldn't be the reason why you're acting strange
If nobody's holding you back from me
'Cause I know how you usually do
When you say everything to me times two
Why can't you just tell the truth
If somebody's there then tell me who

Say my name, say my name
If no one is around you
Say baby I love you
If you ain't runnin' game
Say my name, say my name
You actin' kinda shady
Ain't callin' me baby
Why the sudden change
Say my name, say my name
If no one is around you
Say baby I love you
If you ain't runnin' game
Say my name, say my name
You actin' kinda shady
Ain't callin' me baby
Better say my name

What is up with this
Tell the truth,who you with
How would you like it if
I came over with my clique
Don't try to change it now
See you gotta bounce
When two seconds ago
You said you just got in the house
It's hard to believe that you
Are at home, by yourself
When I just heard the voice
Heard the voice of someone else
Just this question why
Do you feel you gotta lie
Gettin' caught up in your game
When you can not say my name

I know you say that I am assuming things
Something's going down that's the way it seems
Shouldn't be the reason why you're acting strange
If nobody's holding you back from me
'Cause I know how you usually do
When you say everything to me times two
Why can't you just tell the truth
If somebody's there then tell me who

Say my name, say my name
If no one is around you
Say baby I love you
If you ain't runnin' game
Say my name, say my name
You actin' kinda shady
Ain't callin' me baby
Why the sudden change
Say my name, say my name
If no one is around you
Say baby I love you
If you ain't runnin' game
Say my name, say my name
You actin' kinda shady
Ain't callin' me baby
Better say my name

I know you say that I am assuming things
Something's going down that's the way it seems
Shouldn't be the reason why you're acting strange
If nobody's holding you back from me
'Cause I know how you usually do
When you say everything to me times two
Why can't you just tell the truth
If somebody's there then tell me who

Say my name, say my name
If no one is around you
Say baby I love you
If you ain't runnin' game
Say my name, say my name
You actin' kinda shady
Ain't callin' me baby
Why the sudden change
Say my name, say my name
If no one is around you
Say baby I love you
If you ain't runnin' game
Say my name, say my name
You actin' kinda shady
Ain't callin' me baby

Baby say my name, say my name, say my name
If no one is around you
Say baby I love you
If you ain't runnin' game
Say my name, say my name
You actin' kinda shady
Ain't callin' me baby
Why the sudden change
Say my name, say my name
If no one is around you
Say baby I love you
If you ain't runnin' game
Say my name, say my name
You actin' kinda shady




Ain't callin' me baby
Baby say my name

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Say My Name" by Destiny's Child are about a woman who suspects her partner is cheating on her. The woman is asking her partner to say her name and to declare his love for her to prove his faithfulness. The song is about a lack of trust and the need for reassurance in a relationship. The lyrics also show the woman's frustration with her partner's behavior and a desire for honesty and transparency.


The lyrics are relatable to many people who have experienced doubts in a relationship or who have been cheated on. The song's message highlights the importance of open and honest communication between partners to build trust and maintain a healthy relationship.


Line by Line Meaning

Say my name, say my name
Addressing someone to call out their name


If no one is around you
If they are alone and not surrounded by people


Say baby I love you
Requesting for their love and affection to be expressed


If you ain't runnin' game
If they aren't playing games


You actin' kinda shady
Their behavior is suspicious


Ain't callin' me baby
Not calling them baby or a term of endearment


Why the sudden change
Questioning the sudden change in behavior


Better say my name
Demanding for their name to be called out


Any other day
On any regular day


I would call and you would say
Have a regular conversation with them


Baby how's your day
Asking how their day went


But today, it ain't the same
Today it's different


Every other word
The majority of their words


Is 'uh-huh' yeah 'okay'
Their response is generally 'uh-huh' or 'yeah okay'


Could it be that you
Asking if it's possible


Are at the crib with another lady
If they are at home with another woman


If you took it there
If they went there


First of all, let me say
To begin with, I want to say


I am not the one
They aren't the one to be played


To sit around, and be played
To just sit and be taken advantage of


So prove yourself to me
Asking for proof of loyalty


I am the girl that you claim
The girl they claim to be in a relationship with


Why don't you say the thangs
Asking why they won't say those things


That you said to me yesterday
What they said to them the day before


I know you say that I am assuming things
They know it seems like they're assuming things


Something's going down that's the way it seems
It seems like something is happening


Shouldn't be the reason why you're acting strange
Being suspicious isn't a good reason for strange behavior


If nobody's holding you back from me
If no one is keeping them from being together


'Cause I know how you usually do
Because they know their usual behavior


When you say everything to me times two
When they repeat everything to them twice


Why can't you just tell the truth
Asking why they can't be honest


If somebody's there then tell me who
Asking them to tell them who's there with them


What is up with this
Asking what is happening


Tell the truth,who you with
Asking them to tell the truth about who they're with


How would you like it if
Asking how they would feel if


I came over with my clique
If they showed up with their group of friends


Don't try to change it now
Asking them not to try to change the topic or situation now


See you gotta bounce
See that they have to leave


When two seconds ago
Just a moment ago


You said you just got in the house
They claimed to have just arrived home


It's hard to believe that you
It's difficult to believe that


Are at home, by yourself
That they would be home alone


When I just heard the voice
When they heard another person's voice


Heard the voice of someone else
They heard another person's voice


Just this question why
Asking why this is happening


Do you feel you gotta lie
Asking if they feel they need to lie


Gettin' caught up in your game
They're caught up in their deception


When you can not say my name
When they won't say their name


Baby say my name, say my name, say my name
Repeating the request for their name to be said




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Fred Jerkins Iii, Kelendria Rowland, Lashawn Ameen Daniels, Rodney Jerkins, Beyonce Knowles, Latavia Roberson, Letoya Luckett

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@haphazardpanda5364

Fantastic mash-up!

@gewoontimm

no comments yet.. this song really kicks ass... i wish the songs alone where as good as your mix is... love it

@JervisGermane

I finally found this song again! And it's been uploaded for 11 years?! I've definitely searched for it in that time. Is YouTube burying this or something?

@bernardothecat

I don't know about this song but the fanmade video for the mash-up was deleted... I can't find