Ob La Di Ob La Da
Daniel O'Donnell Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Desmond has a barrow in the market place
Molly is the singer in a band
Desmond says to Molly "girl, I like your face"
And Molly says this as she takes him by the hand

Ob-la-di ob-la-da, life goes on bra
La la how the life goes on
Desmond take a trolley to the jewellers store
Buys a twenty carat golden ring
Takes I back to molly waiting at the door
And as he gives it to her she begins to sing

In a couple of years they have built
A home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard
Of Desmond and Molly Jones

Happy ever after in the market place
Desmond lets the children lend a hand
Molly stays at home and does her pretty face
And in the evening she still sings it with the band

Happy ever after in the market place
Molly lets the children lend a hand




Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face
And in the evening she's a singer with the band

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Daniel O'Donnell's song "Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da" narrate a love story about two characters, Desmond and Molly Jones, who meet in the market place where Desmond has a barrow. Desmond expresses his admiration towards Molly's face, and Molly reciprocates his feelings by taking him by the hand. The lyrics have a playful tone, and the chorus "Ob-la-di ob-la-da, life goes on bra, la la how the life goes on" reinforces the idea that life is unpredictable and eventful.


Desmond then buys a twenty-carat golden ring from the jeweller's store and gives it to Molly, who begins to sing. The couple builds a "home sweet home" and have children playing in the yard. Molly takes care of the children and sings in the band at night, while Desmond stays at home and takes care of his appearance. The lyrics create an image of a happy and contented family, where each partner contributes to the family's well-being while pursuing their interests. The song's theme is the realities of life, where happiness can be found in simple things like love, family, and music.


Line by Line Meaning

Desmond has a barrow in the market place
Desmond owns a cart in the marketplace, likely for selling goods or produce.


Molly is the singer in a band
Molly is the lead vocalist for a musical group.


Desmond says to Molly "girl, I like your face"
Desmond compliments Molly's appearance and expresses his attraction to her.


And Molly says this as she takes him by the hand
Molly responds positively to Desmond's compliment and takes his hand, which suggests a romantic connection.


Ob-la-di ob-la-da, life goes on bra
Life continues to unfold in unpredictable ways, no matter what happens.


La la how the life goes on
Life goes on, no matter what happens, and we must continue to move forward.


Desmond take a trolley to the jewellers store
Desmond goes to a jewelry store using a trolley, a form of transportation that moves on tracks.


Buys a twenty carat golden ring
Desmond purchases a wedding ring made of 20-carat gold, a valuable metal.


Takes I back to molly waiting at the door
Desmond brings the ring back to Molly, who is waiting for him at the door, likely a sign of their love and commitment.


And as he gives it to her she begins to sing
Molly is so overjoyed that Desmond has given her a ring that she bursts into song.


In a couple of years they have built
After a few years, they have constructed something, likely their home.


A home sweet home
They have created a happy and comfortable abode.


With a couple of kids running in the yard
They have two children running around and playing outside their home.


Of Desmond and Molly Jones
The children belong to Desmond and Molly, indicating a close family unit.


Happy ever after in the market place
Desmond and Molly, along with their kids, live contentedly among their community.


Desmond lets the children lend a hand
Desmond permits his children to assist him likely with his work or at the marketplace, creating a culture of helping.


Molly stays at home and does her pretty face
Molly remains at home to care for her children and herself, likely spending time on her appearance.


And in the evening she still sings it with the band
Despite being a mother and homemaker, Molly continues to perform songs with her band at night.


Happy ever after in the market place
Desmond, Molly, and their children continue to live happily within their community.


Molly lets the children lend a hand
Molly allows the children to assist in whatever capacity, likely reiterating the importance of teamwork.


Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face
Desmond stays at home to care for their children and himself, perhaps taking time with his appearance.


And in the evening she's a singer with the band
In the evenings, Molly continues to be a part of the band and performs music as a professional.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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