Hear You Say My Name

I believe I’ve seen a ghost

I believe he’s in my skin

and I can’t leave until I get him out and find myself again

But I don’t have the proper knives

To perform an apparitionectomy

These things are drawn out with a voice

That sings the things that I expect of me

So I need to hear you say my name

I need to hear it from your chest

I need it pounding on the drums

Where all these demons try to rest

I still believe you haven’t left

But sometimes your silence shakes my faith

And my eyes are made from cavern walls

So I’m no good at these charades

So when I’m dancing in the dark

It probably looks more like I’m flailing

Or placing hands around my throat

And wondering why my breath is failing

So I need to hear you say my name

I need to hear it from your chest

I need it pounding on the drums

Where all these demons try to rest

And I, I feel so entitled to be heard

Demand you interpret every word

(I’m so American)

And I, oh I need more faith, I guess

I swear if you tell me how to get it

I’ll do anything

Sometimes I’m angry, I’ll admit

When it seems I’m guessing with no clues

Like there’s one secret way to win

And sixty million ways to lose

So if there’s something I should know

Some secret message to decode

I’m admitting I can’t find it and this ghost is taking hold

So I need to hear you say my name

I need to hear it from your chest

I need it pounding on the drums

Where all these demons try to rest