Say My Name Lyrics
Beetlejuice, Lydia, Barbara and AdamSay My Name
[Beetlejuice:]You could use a buddy
Don't you want a pal?
(Yes I do! Yes I do!)
Girl, the way I see it
Your daddy should be leavin'
And you should stick around!
[Beetlejuice:]
(And kill him!)
[Lydia:]
What?
[Beetlejuice:]
Nothing
[Beetlejuice, sung:]
So, Lydia, don't end yourself
Defend yourself
Daddy is the one you should maim
Together we'll exterminate, assassinate
[Lydia:]
No!
[Beetlejuice:]
The finer points can wait
But first you gotta say my name!
Go ahead and jump but that won't stop him
Here you got a solid plan B option
I can bring your daddy so much pain
All you gotta do is say my name!
Girl, just say it three times in a row
Then you won't believe how far I'll go
I'm on the bench, but coach
Just put me in the game
All you gotta do is say my name
[Lydia:]
I don't know your name
[Beetlejuice:]
Well, I can't SAY it
[Lydia:]
How 'bout a game of charades?
[Beetlejuice:]
Yes, let's play it
[Lydia:]
Two words
[Beetlejuice:]
Right
[Lydia:]
Second word
[Beetlejuice:]
Uh-huh
[Lydia:]
Drink?
[Beetlejuice:]
No
[Lydia:]
Beverage?
[Beetlejuice:]
No
[Lydia:]
Wine?
[Beetlejuice:]
No
[Lydia:]
Juice?
[Beetlejuice:]
Yes!
[Lydia:]
Okay
First word
[Beetlejuice:]
Okay
[Lydia:]
Bug?
[Beetlejuice:]
No
[Lydia:]
Ant?
[Beetlejuice:]
Close, but no
[Lydia:]
Beetle?
[Beetlejuice:]
Yes!
[Lydia:]
Beetlejuice?
[Beetlejuice:]
Wow, I'm impressed
And all you gotta do is say my name three times
Three times in a row it must be spoken
Unbroken
Ready?
[Lydia:]
Yeah
[Beetlejuice:]
Okay, go...
[Lydia:]
Beetlejuice...
[Beetlejuice:]
Yes
[Lydia:]
Beetlejuice...
[Beetlejuice:]
Yes
[Lydia:]
Beeeeeeeeeeeeee—
[Beetlejuice:]
Oh, oh, this is gonna be so good
[Lydia:]
—cause
[Beetlejuice:]
What?
[Lydia:]
You're so smart
A stand-up bro
I'll think about your offer
Let you know
But I prefer my chances down below
Beetlejuice
[Beetlejuice:]
Yes!
[Lydia:]
Beetlejuice
[Beetlejuice:]
Yes!
[Lydia:]
Being young and female doesn't mean that I'm an easy mark
I've been swimming with piranhas
I don't need a shark
Yes, life sucks
But not that much
OK, Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice
Be a doll and spare the lecture
[Beetlejuice:]
I'm offering you a full-time spectre
[Lydia:]
Are you any good?
[Beetlejuice:]
You bet you
Trust me, baby!
[Lydia:]
I just met ya
Really it's a flattering offer
[Beetlejuice:]
Don't you wanna see dad suffer?
[Lydia:]
I think I'd rather just jump off
[Beetlejuice:]
No!
[Lydia:]
I may be suicidal
But Beetlejuice, it's not as if I've lost my mind
[Beetlejuice:]
So, playing hardball, huh?
You are tougher than you look
[Lydia:]
Just wanna make sure I know who I'm working with
Got any references?
[Barbara:]
Lydia, there you are!
[Adam:]
Are you alright?
[Beetlejuice:]
A-Dog, B-Town, my old pals!
[Adam:]
Get away from her!
Lydia, this is a dangerously unstable individual
[Beetlejuice possesses Barbara and Adam]
[Barbara:]
Beetlejuice is sexy!
[Adam:]
Beetlejuice is smart!
[Barbara & Adam:]
BJ is a graduate of Juilliard!
He can help
We found him on Yelp
Our troubles all ended on the day that we befriended him
Every word is the truth
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!
[Barbara:]
What the heck was that?
[Adam:]
So violating!
[Beetlejuice:]
There you go, kid
Couple of five-star reviews
[Lydia:]
What was that?
[Beetlejuice:]
That was possession
Any ghost can do that in less than one lesson
[Lydia:]
Any ghost?
[Beetlejuice:]
Pretty much, any ghost'll do sure
[Lydia:]
Then, Beetlejuice, who do I need you for?
[Beetlejuice:]
Whoa, whoa, whoa whoa whoa!
Hold up- hold up, girl, I'm your pal
They're sweet, but I'm a demon straight from Hell
I know, I went a little hard on the sell
But we're BF-F-F-F's forever!
[Beetlejuice gets pushed off the roof of the house by Lydia]
Agh!
[Adam and Barbara:]
Lydia!
[Lydia:]
What? He was already dead
And you heard what he said, any ghost can do that possession stuff
[Lydia, sung:]
We don't need that demon
The three of us alone can wreck dad's evening
Together we can make a grown man weep
Guys got a dinner date to keep
[Adam:]
Okay, so what's the plan?
[Lydia (with Adam & Barbara):]
Teach dad a lesson
He's gonna freak when we possess him
So he wants the perfect daughter
I'll lead that lamb to slaughter
Yeah, I got game!
I'm gonna make him say my name
(Make him say your name)
I'll make him say my name
(Make him say your name)
I'll make him say my name
(Make him say your name)
Not running away!
I'll make him say my name!
Song Overview
Song Credits
- Producer: Matt Stine
- Writer: Eddie Perfect
- Album: Beetlejuice (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
- Release Date: 2019-04-05
- Genre: Broadway, Musical Theater
- Label: Ghostlight Records
- Track Number: 10
- Language: English
- Mood: Dark Comedy, Satirical, Spirited
- Length: Approx. 4 minutes
Song Meaning and Annotations
Theatrical Intrigue Meets Adolescent Angst
This isn’t your garden-variety musical number — "Say My Name" is a flamboyant exorcism of suburban normalcy wrapped in deadpan comedy and graveyard wit. As Betelgeuse slithers into Lydia’s fractured world, the number explodes into a musical chess match filled with trickery, trauma, and some jazz hands for good measure. Set on a rooftop where Lydia is caught teetering between despair and defiance, the song launches with Betelgeuse’s twisted sales pitch:You could use a buddy / Don’t you want a pal?He isn't offering a hug. He’s selling vengeance with a splash of slapstick, coaxing Lydia to unleash him on her unsuspecting father — but she isn’t buying. Not entirely.
A Ghost in Need of a Shout-Out
Betelgeuse's condition is as classic as a genie in a bottle — he needs his name said three times to return to the land of the living. But Lydia flips the script, initiating a cheeky game of charades:[LYDIA, spoken] Juice? … Beetle? … Beetlejuice?The brilliance lies in the balance: Eddie Perfect’s wordplay dances between gallows humor and empowerment. The joke runs alongside a deeper current — Lydia may be grieving, but she’s nobody’s puppet.
Reversals and Possessions
When Betelgeuse possessively flips Barbara and Adam into cheerleaders for his dark talents, the line between ally and enemy blurs. There’s a spectacular theatrical irony when Lydia confronts him not with fear, but with logic:Then, Betelgeuse... what do I need you for?By the end, Lydia reclaims the power, turning Betelgeuse’s mantra back at her dad. It’s clever role reversal, where the daughter becomes the ghostwriter of justice:
I’ll make him say my name!
Similar Songs
- "Cell Block Tango" – Chicago (Original Broadway Cast)
Both tracks turn macabre scenarios into musical spectacle. Where “Say My Name” uses a ghost’s pitch for freedom, “Cell Block Tango” transforms confessions of murder into cabaret. The overlap? Women reclaiming power through showmanship and sarcasm. - "Defying Gravity" – Wicked
While “Say My Name” dances in death and demonic deals, “Defying Gravity” soars with personal liberation. Lydia and Elphaba share that crucial pivot: choosing not to let someone else dictate their destiny. Same Broadway drama, different broomsticks. - "Poor Unfortunate Souls" – The Little Mermaid
Betelgeuse is Ursula’s spiritual cousin — both wheeling and dealing with vulnerable young women, offering "help" with loaded consequences. It's villainy dressed in vaudeville. The humor makes it palatable, but the power dynamics are sharp as ever.
Questions and Answers
- What is the central conflict in “Say My Name”?
- It’s a battle of wills between Betelgeuse’s desire to return to life and Lydia’s need for control in a world where she feels invisible. He wants freedom, she wants agency — and their needs clash on a darkly comedic stage.
- Why does Lydia refuse to say Betelgeuse’s name initially?
- She’s skeptical and smart. Despite her grief, Lydia sees through Betelgeuse’s manipulations. Her hesitation isn’t fear — it’s discernment, a refusal to hand over power to someone she doesn’t trust.
- What is the significance of the name repetition?
- It’s both plot device and folklore wink. Saying a name three times evokes rituals of summoning — from Bloody Mary to Candyman. Here, it’s a test of will, a magical gatekeeping trick laced with theatrical suspense.
- How does the song blend comedy with dark themes?
- Through camp and contradiction. Lines about suicide are met with slapstick humor and absurdity. It’s tonal whiplash, but intentional — mirroring how trauma often masks itself in performative lightness.
- How does “Say My Name” advance the plot of Beetlejuice?
- It’s the inflection point. Lydia learns that ghosts can be tools, not terrors, and Betelgeuse starts plotting his return. It’s the musical’s twisted equivalent of a hero-villain meet-cute — setting chaos in motion.
Awards and Chart Positions
- While not a mainstream chart-topper, "Say My Name" became one of the most iconic numbers from Beetlejuice: The Musical, helping the show earn multiple Tony nominations including Best Musical and Best Actor (Alex Brightman).
Fan and Media Reactions
"Sophia’s delivery is insanely good – she goes toe to toe with Brightman and nails it!"@BroadwayJunkie
"This song is chaotic, hilarious, and somehow deeply touching. Only Beetlejuice could pull that off."@MusicalMeanderer
"Lydia’s line 'Doesn’t mean I’m an easy mark' gave me chills. What a moment of power."@StageCraftQueen
"Betelgeuse’s Yelp joke actually made me laugh out loud. Eddie Perfect’s writing is criminally underrated."@CriticNick
"You know a song’s good when your kid and your grandma both sing it differently but love it the same."@SingAlongSam Alex Brightman once joked in an interview, “It’s the only job where yelling ‘I’m a demon from Hell!’ gets applause.” And honestly? That sums it up.