The Name Game

Shirley Ellis, Gene Simmons

About The Name Game

"The Name Game" is an American pop song written and performed by Shirley Ellis as a rhyming game that creates variations on a person's name.


Year:
2015
2:31
107 
#1

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I just moved in my new house today
Movin' was hot but I got squared away
Bells started ringin and chains rattled loud
I knew I'd moved in a haunted house

Still I made up in my mind to stay
Nothin' was a gonna drive me away
When I seen somethin' that gave me the creep
Had a one big eye and two big feet

I stood right still and I did the freeze
And he did the stroll right up to me
Made a sound with his feet like a drum
Sayin' you'll be here when the mornin' comes

Say yes I'll be here when the mornin' comes
I'll be right here and I ain't gonna run
I bought this house now you know I'm boss
Ain't no haint gonna run me off

In the kitchen my stove was a blazin' hot
The coffee was a boilin' in the pot
The grease had melted in my pan
I had a hunk of meet in my hand

From out of space there sat a man
On a hot stove was pots and pans
Say that's hot I began to shout
He drank a hot coffee from the spout

He ate the raw meat right from my hand
Drank the hot grease from the fryin' pan
He said to me now you better run
And don't be here when the mornin' comes

Say yes I'll be here when the mornin' comes
I'll be right here and I ain't gonna run
I bought this house now you know I'm boss...

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Shirley Ellis

Shirley Ellis (born 1941) is an American soul music singer and songwriter of West Indian origin. She is best known for her novelty hits "The Nitty Gritty" (1963) (US #8), "The Name Game" (1964) (US #3) and "The Clapping Song" (1965) (US #8/UK #6). "The Clapping Song" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. more »

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Written by: LINCOLN CHASE, SHIRLEY ELLISTON

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Release Date
"The Name Game" was released by Shirley Ellis in late 1964.
Ranking Success
The song reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 4 on the magazine's R&B charts in 1965.
Genre
The song belongs to the pop music genre. It's often classified as R&B or novelty music due to the playfully entertaining lyrics.
Songwriter
Both Shirley Ellis and her manager, Lincoln Chase, are credited for writing the song.
Unique Concept
The song uses a simple rhyming game, also known as The Name Game, where you drop the first initial of a name and add a common suffix. The song popularized the game.
Signature Song
Despite having other hits, "The Name Game" is Shirley Ellis's most iconic song, thus it has largely defined her music career.
Film and Television
The song has been featured in several well-known films and television shows, including "American Horror Story: Asylum," "The Parent Trap," and "The Help."
Cover Versions
Many artists, including Laura Branigan and The Simpsons, have covered "The Name Game."
Language Barrier
The game as presented in the song does not work well with names that start with vowel sounds, or when translated into languages other than English.
Induction
In 2013, the song was inducted into the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress. This honor is reserved for songs that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
Musical Arrangement
It features a brassy, upbeat sound typical of the pop music of the mid-1960s, though the song’s memorable written structure overshadows its musical composition.
Dance Craze
Along with the name game, Shirley Ellis also came up with a dance routine that listeners could perform while singing the song.
Musical Legacy
Even though it's been more than 50 years since the song's release, "The Name Game" is still widely recognized and often used in various media formats.

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    "The Name Game Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/31812527/Shirley+Ellis/The+Name+Game>.

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    The Name Game

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1965

    Billboard #3


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