About the song
The Name
The Name is probably the closest thing to a traditional studio recording on the album. Dave Cleveland, Dan Needham, and Jacob Lowery got together at Dan's home studio in Nashville to lay down the drums and bass while I watched - and occasionally weighed in - from a video feed in Cleveland. In a later remote session, Dave continued building the guitar parts before the track went to Barny Robertson for keyboards and then to Phil Keaggy for lead guitar. Lynn Nichols and Phil added the beautiful "Moody Blues" backing vocal harmonies.
I recorded my lead vocal, and sent the finished tracks off to Matt Wallace for mixing and then Richard Dodd for mastering.
I originally wrote The Name in the early 1980s and later performed it live with my band, Sketch, in the late '90s. The basic structure and rock foundation of the song have remained remarkably close to the original. What changed the character of this recording considerably was Barny Robertson's keyboard work and the addition of those layered backing vocals. They brought a warmth and dimension to the song that simply couldn't exist in the earlier versions.
It's satisfying to have a song written over forty years ago remain essentially true to its original form while taking on an entirely new life in the hands of talented musicians and the technical gurus who helped shape the final recording.
Instrumentation
Classic rock foundation, Moody-Blues-style layered backing vocals, piano, B3 organ, and Phil Keaggy's signature lead guitar.
Lyrics
The Name
Everywhere I go, everywhere I turn, everywhere I look, it's the same Written on the walls, whispered in the halls, always on my mind, it's that name Can you hear it, can you feel it? Like a song, it remains, it's that name Comes like a call, comes when I fall, every single time it's the same And every time I ask, in every simple task, it's ever and always the same Can you hear it, can you feel it? like a song it remains It's that name, it's that name, the name, the name that I love. It's that name Can't get away, can't get around, without the sound of that name bouncing off the walls that I have built to keep it out, I shout it out, it tears them down and finds me out, makes me want to see the face, face behind the name, it's only a matter of time and space It's your name, it's your name, your name, the name that I love It's your name, it's your name, your name, the name that I love Oh, it's your name, it's your name, it's your name, the name that I love It's your name, the name that I love I love your name, I sing it out, I shout it out, I cry it out loud
Words & music: © James Michael Scaparotti, early 1980s
Ideal for sync licensing
Available for film, TV, advertising, and content licensing. Suggested placements:
One-Stop | 100% Master + Publishing
- Period pieces and nostalgic coming-of-age scenes
- Faith-adjacent inspirational programming
- Anthemic trailer and promo placements
- Drama montages about conviction and persistence
- Documentary segments about music history and songwriting
BPM
81
Genre
- Rock
- Singer-songwriter
- Classic rock
Mood
- Earnest
- Anthemic
- Lush
- Timeless
- Devotional
Themes
- The name that can't be shaken
- A song written over forty years ago
- Faith that keeps surfacing
- Love that remains like a song