Your Only Doll (Dora) Lyrics
This is after the posted lyrics in the song:
There's a house across the river But alas I cannot swim and a garden full of beauty That the flowers 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 me to be his lover and I want to be his peer
There's a boy across the river But alas I cannot swim Now I will never 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 fickly Gold is fun Gold is fickle, gold is fleeting 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
I would agree with the comments about the abusive relationship. I took it to mean that it's an abusive relationship and the drugs / alcohol ('poison in my veins') is her coping mechanism to deal with it. Of course, stumbling in late at night only serves to exacerbate the situation, eventually leader to her death by his hand.
I find the second verse particularly interesting though. It's as if his bed is the only place where she has any power in the relationship. 'In his bed I am queen, unobtainable me' suggests that she won't let him have what he wants. The next lines (Sexual being, human with feelings, the two are not me, the two will not be mine) suggest to me that she doesn't feel she can ever become these things with him. The last line is almost saying that she doesn't feel in control of herself - perhaps to the point that she does not have the control or the confidence to leave the abusive relationship?
Either way, this is just what I took from this amazing song. I think it's both beautiful and immensely sad at the same time. Very moving whichever way you look at it.
My thoughts exactly!
My thoughts exactly!
It seems to me like this song is about an abusive relationship. He sees this girl as his "doll," thinks of himself as her "owner." The slightly scary part is that she sees him the same way.
In the end, I think he kills her by hitting her head against a wall. At least, that's what it sounds like to me.
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.
I think it's not about an abusive relationship at all. I think the girl is on drugs (poison in my veins, clamber to my feet) and the man is trying to save her. To get her off the drugs. And he snaps one day and trys to shake her out of it (head to the wall) and he kills her. that's just what i get from it.
the 2nd verse suggests that despite how he treats her, he's still loving in bed? but i'm still not completely sure.
It's a reference to Ibeson's drama Doll House. Dora, the main character, is undermined in her marriage. She is a little play toy for her husband while she really sacrifices a lot to save his life. When she compromises his appearance to society, he flips, and she realizes that she has not a wife to him, but a possession.
Look it up. :)
I like the idea, maybe you're right, but the character's name's Nora, not Dora I'm afraid.
I like the idea, maybe you're right, but the character's name's Nora, not Dora I'm afraid.
I see that you been me with the <i>A Doll's House</i> reference. I think this song really captures the feelings at the end of the play.
beat*, not been. Grr.
beat*, not been. Grr.
i love the line, "and what will you do with a girl if she's refusing to be alive?" it sort of relates to the first half of the song, "when you've broken your only doll" i think it's hinting that she's tried to kill herself before, "poison in my veins, clamber to my feet", to get out of the abusive relationship. very sad.
does anyone know the lyrics at the end of this song?