Thanks for the swift responses. I agree with what has been said, but I guess I am still wondering why it seems so straightforward in the song. I wonder if there was a traditional ritual in the min-nineteenth century somewhere as part of baptisms, or some such. Perhaps as Azizi suggests, it is about being re-registered in the Book of life -- but wouldn't that be your real name, not a new name. The Saul-Paul shift -- I wonder if anyone made some ritual out of it somewhere. .

yours ever,

Peter T.