About the song
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Words from the artist’s archive
In Name Only lyrics
Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.
Read the lyric sheet
Verse 1
Your name's up on the highway, ten feet tall beside the grain You shook my hand at the county fair, said you'd carry on the flame So I sat down with the record, Sunday coffee going cold And line by line the ledger wandered off the road your posters sold
Chorus
Say it plain, say it slow Did you leave the party, or did the party let you go? I can live with honest changing if you show me Just don't wear the name in name only In name only
Verse 2
Was it conscience in the chamber when the leadership leaned in? Was it donors at the dinner, or a primary to win? Did the old coat quit its fitting while your compass slowly swung? Were you tired of all the fighting? Were you guarding what you'd won? I can hold a dozen reasons, each one human, each one real It's the not-knowing in the middle that no handshake's gonna heal
Chorus
Say it plain, say it slow Did you leave the party, or did the party let you go? let you go I can live with honest changing if you show me Just don't wear the name in name only
Bridge
One side says, that's backbone, holding conscience over colors One side says, that's a costume, wearing red to beat the others Me, I can't see through a ribcage, and I won't pretend I can So I'll leave the verdict open, put the ballot in your hand
Verse 3
Come November I'll be standing with a pencil and the roll Reading how you raised your hand against the yard signs that you sold If you stood up plain and told us that the old creed doesn't fit I might even pull the lever for the nerve it took to admit A turned heart isn't treason if you turn it in the sun It's the shadow-play that loses me before the count is done
Chorus
Say it plain, say it slow Did you leave the party, or did the party let you go? I can live with honest changing if you show me Just don't wear the name in name only
Outro
Say it plain, say it slow Whatever name you carry, let it carry you back home
Inside the recording
Your name's up on the highway, ten feet tall beside the grain You shook my hand at the county fair, said you'd carry on the flame
Say it plain, say it slow Did you leave the party, or did the party let you go?
Say it plain, say it slow Whatever name you carry, let it carry you back home
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.