I look at her in that paper dress
I wonder why she won't burn
She's just a paperdoll, that's all
Just a paperdoll
I dress her up, she knocks me down
I dress her up, she knocks me down
They try her on for size
She fits nice, one size fits all
They try her on for size
She fits nice, one size fits all
Now her soul is dead
Now her body's raw
You can numb her pain
Watch the blood run down her face
But don't take notice
Watch the blood run down her arms
Please don't take notice
I know you have her soul
And I see it in your eyes
She knows you have her soul
And she sees it in your eyes
Now her soul is dead
Now her body's raw
You can numb her pain
She wants you to eat her pain
She wants you to eat her remains
She wants you to eat her pain
She wants you to eat her remains


Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by wbzy

Paperdoll song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

39 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is an great song. It's a 10 in my opinion.

    whisperingdevilon November 23, 2009   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I was watching a YouTube video from 1999 when Kittie performed in Grand Rapids when they were first getting started. Before they start "Paperdoll," Morgan says it's about a slut. This got me to thinking:

    "I look at her in that paper dress / I wonder why she won't burn" "She's just a paperdoll, that's all / Just a paperdoll"

    My new revelation about Kittie's 'paper doll' concept is that it refers to a girl who's very fragile (self-esteem or otherwise). A paper doll can be ripped apart really easily. 'I wonder why she won't burn' could mean they don't understand why the slut's not broken by her destructive behavior because she's so fragile.

    "I dress her up, she knocks me down"

    This could mean that the writer tries to change the slut and make her see that her behavior isn't healthy, but the slut knocks her down every time and the she won't heed any warnings.

    "They try her on for size, she fits nice / one size fits all"

    Since Morgan claimed it was about a slut, this part should be pretty obvious. All the men keep fucking her and they all like it.

    "Now her soul's dead / now her body's raw / you can numb her pain"

    The slut is destroying her soul BECAUSE she's a slut and her body's raw 'cause she's been fucked so much. But you can numb her pain somehow, maybe by fucking her again or showing her you truly care. OR ~ maybe the slut has finally met her fate of being raw or used up, and because she didn't heed the warnings she's in a huge amount of pain.

    "Watch the blood run down her face / but don't take notice" "And watch the blood run down her arms / please don't take notice"

    Now this is where I have problems interpreting this thing, lol. The blood running definitely says to me the slut is experiencing pain, but why not take notice? Maybe that's how she became a slut in the first place; she's lacking true, healthy male affection and she wants to please as many men as possible. But again, why instruct the listener to not take notice? OR ~ maybe the writer is instructing the SLUT not to notice because she didn't heed any warnings about the danger she was putting herself in by being the way she is. In "Do You THiNK i'M a WHoRe?" Morgan sings, "Like you / warned me" (I think) and we all know that song is about a whore.

    "I know you have her soul / and I see it in your eyes" "She knows you have her soul / and she sees it in your eyes"

    This totally stumps me. I'm guessing it could be something along the lines of the slut losing her soul because she's lost her "virginity" so many times. Maybe she's given away so much sex that she's, in fact, given away her soul. The men that have the slut's soul probably look at her a certain way too, figuratively and literally (hence, "see it in your eyes").

    "Now her soul's dead / now her body's raw / wash away her pain"

    Again, the slut is dealing with the pain of BEING a slut and she doesn't necessarily want it and it's becoming too much (hence, wash it away). OR ~ like I said before, the slut didn't heed any warnings about her destructive nature and now she's paying the price and learning the hard way.

    "She wants you to eat her pain, she wants you to eat her remains"

    This part is stumping me too. Maybe the slut wants someone to get rid of all of her, physically and emotionally. Remember in "RaVeN" how Morgan sings, "kill me now and burn my soul..." This implied to me that she wanted all traces of herself destroyed. Maybe it's the same thing here, I dunno, lol.

    "Paperdoll" is a complicated song, really. I'd love to interview Kittie someday and ask them about it, hahaha.

    lboogiegon September 14, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is about a girl who just lets everybody use her. And that she molds herself into whatever guys want her to be "one size fits all". And how she's being worn out and that everybody can see it "watch the blood run down her face, but don't take notice" and how "she wants you to eat her pain and remains" saying she wants to use her to get rid of her pain until she's nothing.

    JofaGuhton January 12, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    kittie's best song.

    in fact the only one i like.

    smells like girlon May 04, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song sounds like it's about suicide to me. "I wonder why she won't burn" could mean she's trying to hurt herself, but can't. She's just a paper doll...sounds like she's no one and no one notices her.

    evilangel09on May 05, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    paperdoll was written by tanya about a friend of hers, i'm not 100% certain it was all truthful. perhaps parts of it were somewhat of a joke, between them i mean.

    ifshecouldspeakon May 09, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    JofaGuht is right...because it says something like that when you put the limited edition CD of oracle in your computer....

    ferret_85on May 09, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    agreed, this song has a killer melody & instrumentals too ;)

    digitalstitcheson May 31, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is so cool to put on if you're ticked or you just need time to mellow or let out anger....it's great!! the acoustic is so much more meaningful and deeper though but for the most part it kicks!! SMILE! MWA

    duddettteon June 18, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i think this song is about self hatred, and slef harm and wanting ppl to ignore wat is happening, but at the same time wanting help "watch the blood run down her arms plz dont take notice!"

    slash_away_the_painon July 18, 2002   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.