Diana Krall was born into a musical family in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Ca… Read Full Bio ↴Diana Krall was born into a musical family in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada (on November 16, 1964). She began learning the piano at the age of four. In high school, she started playing in a small jazz group. At the age of fifteen, she started playing regularly in several Nanaimo restaurants. She also spent some time in Toronto studying with Canadian Jazz great, Don Thompson (Bass/Piano) and with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts she moved to the U.S to continue studies and develop her career.

Her playing attracted the attention of bass player Ray Brown, who brought her into touch with influential teachers and producers. At the age of seventeen, she won a scholarship from the Vancouver Jazz Festival to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. After three terms she moved to Los Angeles to study with Jimmy Rowles, with whom she also began to sing. In 1990, Krall relocated to New York. She is married to British musician Elvis Costello.

Glad Rag Doll
Diana Krall Lyrics

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All dolled up in your glad rags,
But tomorrow may turn to sad rags,
And they call you glad rag doll!

I know that you're admired,
I know that you're desired
But only by the fellows who soon grow tired,
My poor little glad rag doll!

You're just a pretty little toy the boys like to play with,
You're not the kind that they choose to grow old and grey with!

Now don't you make this, this the end dear,
It's never too late to make amends dear,
My poor little glad rag doll!

You're just a pretty little toy the boys like to play with,
You're not the kind
They have on their mind,
You're just a toy for them today,
So listen to the things I say!

Now don't you make this, this the end dear,

It's never too late to make amends dear,
My poor little glad rag doll!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Diana Krall's "Glad Rag Doll" tell the story of a woman who is glamorous and attractive in the present moment, but the singer warns that her current status as a "glad rag doll" may not last. The lyrics contain a sense of caution about the fleeting nature of the woman's beauty, and suggest that she is only admired by men who will soon tire of her. The singer suggests that the woman is a "pretty little toy" for the boys to play with, rather than someone they truly desire to be with in the long-term. Despite the woman's status as a temporary plaything, the singer urges her not to give up hope or see this as the end of her story.

Overall, the lyrics of "Glad Rag Doll" convey a sense of sadness or melancholy, as well as a critical perspective on the way that women's beauty is often exploited or overlooked by men who are not interested in genuinely committing to a relationship. However, the singer's reassurance at the end of the song suggests that there is still hope for the "glad rag doll" to find a more fulfilling future.

Line by Line Meaning

All dolled up in your glad rags,
You're dressed in your best clothes,

But tomorrow may turn to sad rags,
But your circumstances could change for the worse tomorrow,

And they call you glad rag doll!
And they see you as a pretty but disposable thing.

I know that you're admired,
I know that many people like you,

I know that you're desired
I know that many people want you,

But only by the fellows who soon grow tired,
But usually only by men who are fickle and soon lose interest,

My poor little glad rag doll!
You're someone to be pitied because of this.

You're just a pretty little toy the boys like to play with,
You're seen as an object to be used for someone else's pleasure,

You're not the kind that they choose to grow old and grey with!
And you're not the sort of person they would want to spend the rest of their lives with.

Now don't you make this, this the end dear,
But don't despair - this doesn't have to be the end of the story,

It's never too late to make amends dear,
It's always possible to make things right and find happiness,

My poor little glad rag doll!
You're still someone who deserves love and respect.

You're just a pretty little toy the boys like to play with,
You're still seen as an object to be used,

You're not the kind
And you're still not the type of person

They have on their mind,
That men envision a future with.

You're just a toy for them today,
You're only useful to them at the present moment,

So listen to the things I say!
So pay attention to my advice and guidance.

Now don't you make this, this the end dear,
Once again, don't give up hope,

It's never too late to make amends dear,
It's always possible to find a way to be happy,

My poor little glad rag doll!
You're someone who deserves love and respect.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAN DOUGHERTY, JACK YELLEN, MILTON AGER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind