The 3rd

They wrote it on a piece of paper, August 1989

From my grandad to my father, on that day, they made it mine

It's been on the back of some jerseys

Beneath the lights on a marquee

Yeah, I'm proud of what they named me

But some days I wonder why

Is the third time always a charm?

Yeah, sometimes I'm not sure

'Cause I got tattoos on my arms

And I barely go to church

I'm still trying to live up to the men I know they were

'Cause they could've named me anything

But I'm James Mitchell Tenpenny

The 3rd

Did they settle on it early, or did they choose it in the room?

Would my brother have been named it if my blanket was pink instead of blue?

And if I ever have a boy, do I even have a choice?

Will he be asking these same questions if he's got my name too?

Is the third time always a charm?

Yeah, sometimes I'm not sure

'Cause I got tattoos on my arms

And I barely go to church

I'm still trying to live up to the men I know they were

'Cause they could've named me anything

But I'm James Mitchell Tenpenny

The 3rd

Will I do it justice by the time I'm gone?

Will it end with me, or will it carry on?

On, on

Will it carry on?

On

Mmm, I don't know

Is the third time always a charm?

Yeah, sometimes I'm not sure

'Cause I got tattoos on my arms

And I barely go to church

I'm still trying to live up to the men I know they were

'Cause they could've named me anything

But I'm James Mitchell Tenpenny

The 3rd

Yeah, I'm proud of what they named me

But some days I wonder why