Say My Name

Lyrics

[Verse 1] I crossed with one blue suitcase And my mother’s folded coat Learned the names of every bus line Kept my papers in my throat At the office, they spoke slowly Like a child could understand Then they counted us like cattle With a number in each hand [Pre-Chorus] They said, “Be grateful for the shelter Keep your head down, know your place” But a person doesn’t vanish When you turn away your face [Chorus] I am not your animal Not the label on your file I have carried whole tomorrows Through the miles and mile on mile You can take the words you gave me You can lock the gates you own But you cannot make me less than human I was human all along [Verse 2] My daughter draws our old house With the fig tree by the door She asks why the men in uniforms Make us wait outside once more I tell her, “Keep your name, child Say it plainly, say it proud” She says it like a morning bell And I say it with her loud [Pre-Chorus] They can stamp us into columns They can teach the crowd to sneer But a thousand hands remember Every neighbor, every tear [Chorus] I am not your animal Not the label on your file I have carried whole tomorrows Through the miles and mile on mile You can take the words you gave me You can lock the gates you own But you cannot make me less than human I was human all along [Bridge] We were cooks and nurses, builders Students, fathers, friends No border makes a body Worth less than it begins So look at me and say my name Not the number you assigned The country that can hear us Has a chance to change its mind [Final Chorus] We are not your animals Not the labels on your files We have carried whole tomorrows Through the miles and mile on mile You can take the words you gave us You can lock the gates you own But you cannot make us less than human We were human all along [Outro] Say my name Say it right I am here I am alive