The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I fell into the street, poison in my veins
Clamber to my feet and into the night again
Back to my home, back to my owner
Who screams at my tardiness
Put his hands to the sky
And says, what can I do with a girl
If she refuses to be mine?
In his bed I am queen, unobtainable me
Sexual being, human with feelings
The two are not me
The two will not be mine
And what can you do with a girl
If she refuses to be mine?
Put his hand on my shirt
Hand on my face
Head to the wall
When you've broken your only doll
And what will you do with a girl
If she refuses to be alive?
And you've broken your only doll
And what will you do with a girl
If she's refusing to be alive?
there's a house across the river
But alas I cannot swim
And a garden of such beauty
That the flower seem to grin
there's a house across the river
But alas I cannot swim
I live my life regretting
That I never jumped in
there's a boy across the river
With short black curly hair
He wants to be my lover
And I want to be his peer
there's a boy across the river
But alas I cannot swim
Now I never will get to put
My arms around him
There's a life across the river
That was meant for me
Instead I live my life in constant misery
There's a life across the river
But I do not see
Why I should please those
Who will never be pleased
There is gold across the river
But I don't want none
There is gold across the river
But I don't want none
Gold is fleeting, gold is fickle
Gold is fun
Gold is fleeting, gold is fickle
Gold is fun
There is gold across the river
But I don't want none
I would rather be tried
Than held up by a golden gun
Saying work more, earn more
Live more, have more fun
Saying work more, earn more
Live more, have more fun
Saying work more, earn more
Live more, have more fun
Clamber to my feet and into the night again
Back to my home, back to my owner
Who screams at my tardiness
Put his hands to the sky
And says, what can I do with a girl
If she refuses to be mine?
In his bed I am queen, unobtainable me
Sexual being, human with feelings
The two are not me
The two will not be mine
And what can you do with a girl
If she refuses to be mine?
Put his hand on my shirt
Hand on my face
Head to the wall
When you've broken your only doll
And what will you do with a girl
If she refuses to be alive?
And you've broken your only doll
And what will you do with a girl
If she's refusing to be alive?
there's a house across the river
But alas I cannot swim
And a garden of such beauty
That the flower seem to grin
there's a house across the river
But alas I cannot swim
I live my life regretting
That I never jumped in
there's a boy across the river
With short black curly hair
He wants to be my lover
And I want to be his peer
there's a boy across the river
But alas I cannot swim
Now I never will get to put
My arms around him
There's a life across the river
That was meant for me
Instead I live my life in constant misery
There's a life across the river
But I do not see
Why I should please those
Who will never be pleased
There is gold across the river
But I don't want none
There is gold across the river
But I don't want none
Gold is fleeting, gold is fickle
Gold is fun
Gold is fleeting, gold is fickle
Gold is fun
There is gold across the river
But I don't want none
I would rather be tried
Than held up by a golden gun
Saying work more, earn more
Live more, have more fun
Saying work more, earn more
Live more, have more fun
Saying work more, earn more
Live more, have more fun
Lyrics submitted by Velocity_Girl, edited by T_D_Phoenix
Your Only Doll (Dora) Lyrics as written by Laura Beatrice Marling
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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To me it suggests something to do with drugs or alcohol 'I fell into the street Poison in my veins'. And the boys saying she refuses to be loved. She's 'refusing to be alive', destroying herself. But I'm not sure about 'broken your only doll' whether it means he drove her too it, or her apathy and destructive behaviour has lead him to violence.