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, 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