"That's Not My Name" went to number one in the UK Singles Chart on 18 May 2008, seeing off competition from well-established acts like Rihanna, Madonna and will.i.am.[6] The following week, however, the single was replaced by Rihanna's single "Take a Bow" at number one.[7] The song was a sleeper hit in North America for about five months before finally becoming a Top 40 hit on the charts. The single has sold over a million digital copies.
Thats Not My Name
The Ting Tings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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) (this song is monotone)
That's not my name
That's not my name (I've gotta get some soul, I gotta get some feeling)
That's not my name
Are you calling me darling?
Are you calling me bird?
Are you calling me darling?
Are you calling me bird?
They call me "Hell"
They call me "Stacey" (Are you calling me darling?)
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 (Are you calling me bird?)
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 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) (this song is monotone)
That's not my name
That's not my name (I've gotta get some soul, I gotta get some feeling)
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 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) (this song is monotone)
That's not my name
That's not my name (I've gotta get some soul, I gotta get some feeling)
That's not my name
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
"That Is Not My Name" by The Ting Tings is a song that talks about the frustration of being mistaken for someone else or being misunderstood. In the song's first verse, the lead singer expresses the difficulty of being silent and trying to keep things together while people are trying to label her with names that do not belong to her. She's frustrated that she's always wrongly identified and is unable to change that.
The chorus repeats over and over again the sentence "that's not my name," which emphasizes the singer's displeasure with being falsely identified. Interestingly, instead of identifying herself, she uses other names as examples of the false identities she's given. The second verse talks about the singer feeling left out and lonely because she's isolated in her own thoughts and feelings.
Overall, the song is about the desire to be recognised for who you are, rather than what others perceive of you. It's a protest against being mislabeled, a sign of how somebody is struggling to define oneself and be heard.
Line by Line Meaning
Four letter word just to get me along
I use a simple word to hold myself together
It's a difficulty and I'm biting on my tongue
It's a challenge to keep my true self hidden
And I keep stalling, keeping me together
I keep going, even when it's hard
People around gotta find something to say now
Others feel the need to label and judge me
Holding back, everyday the same
I'm constantly suppressing my true identity
Don't wanna be a loner
I don't want to be isolated from others
Listen to me, oh no I never say anything at all
I keep my thoughts and feelings to myself
But with nothing to consider they forget my name (ame, ame, ame)
My identity is overlooked when there's nothing else to think about
They call me "Hell"
They give me a negative label
They call me "Stacey"
They give me a generic name to label me with
They call me "her"
They refer to me in a vague and impersonal manner
They call me "Jane"
They give me a common name to label me with
That's not my name
My true identity is not reflected in these labels
They call me "quiet girl"
They label me as shy and reserved
But I'm a riot Mary, Jo, Lisa
I have a vibrant and lively personality, despite their judgments
Always the same
They keep trying to label me based on their limited perception
I miss the catch if they throw me the ball
I struggle to connect with others due to their preconceived notions of me
I'm the last chick standing up against the wall
I feel alone and isolated in social situations
Keep up, falling, these heels they keep me boring
I feel trapped by societal expectations and standards
Getting glammed up and sitting on the fence now
I conform to societal expectations, but feel disconnected from myself
So alone all the time at night
I feel isolated and disconnected from others, even in private moments
Lock myself away
I retreat from social situations to avoid the judgments of others
Are you calling me darling?
I question if they are addressing me with affection
Are you calling me bird?
I question if they are addressing me with a derogatory term
This song was in my head
The message of this song resonates with me
Now it's in my mind
I can't stop thinking about this message
Call it, reach it, get some words and get some timing
I need to take action and assert my true identity
And though I realize I cannot emphasize
I understand that others may not fully grasp my true identity
I'll stick around but just don't promise, nothing binding
I will continue to be myself, but cannot guarantee others will accept me
And baby, can't you see that you're so desperately
They are searching for a way to connect with me
A standing joker like a vocal one-liner
I use humor and wit to deflect from their judgments
Instead of sing-a-long
I am not conforming to their expectations
This song is monotone
Their judgments of me are one-dimensional and limited
I've gotta get some soul, I gotta get some feeling
I need to embrace my true identity and live authentically
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Katie White, Jules De Martino
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@beepIL
If you are interested at what the drummer sings in the background at 2:56, here are the lyrics:
This song was in my head, now it's in my mind,
Call it, reach it, get some words and get some timing,
Though I realize, I cannot emphasize,
I'll stick around, but just a promise, nothing binding,
However can't you see, that you're so desperately,
A standing joker like a vocal one-liner,
Instead of sing-along, this song is monotone,
I gotta get some soul, gotta get some feeling....
@RhiButler
This song was in my head
And now it's in my mind
Call it reach it get some words and get some timing
And though I realize
I can't emphasize
I'll stick around, but just don't promise, nothing binding
But, 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
@5StarMashups
For those wondering what the guy was singing along in the chorus:
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
@richybrummy8036
She would save us a lot of time by just telling us her name.
@LogicControl
😂🤣😂🤣
@johndclegg38
It's not Tina???
@doggolovescheese1310
Haaah
@CalridRobnor123srs
@@doggolovescheese1310 Katie White but I think you're missing the point... :P
@doggolovescheese1310
@@CalridRobnor123srs why are you tagging me...and she was making a joke
@ramosa999
I'm 63 and heard this song for the first time on one of my SiriusXM stations two days ago. It's pretty catchy, so I added it to my playlist, which includes songs from the 1950's, all the way up to the past couple of years. Good music is always being made.
@Nuj-rx8wk
This is 14 years old mate. You were still in your 40s when this got out.
@lchoi9955
Absolutely agree!
@ramosa999
@@Nuj-rx8wk I said "I added it to my playlist, which includes songs for the 1950's, all they way up to the past couple of years". I didn't say this song was from the past couple of years.