Born Marjorie Chandler in Windsor, Ontario, Collins shot to fame as the lead vocalist on the long-running television series Your Hit Parade, on which she sang (and often acted out in costume) the popular songs of the day. Additional TV credits include The Steve Allen Show, the Bell Telephone Hour, The Hollywood Palace, and Candid Camera, as both a participant in the stunts and co-host with Allen Funt.
Collins was married to Raymond Scott from 1952 until their divorce in 1965. They had two daughters, Deborah and Elizabeth. With Scott she recorded many advertizing jingles and the 1957 album "At Home with Dorothy and Raymond". In 1966, she married actor/singer Ron Holgate, with whom she had a daughter, Melissa. The two eventually divorced.
In 1971, Collins made her Broadway debut in Stephen Sondheim's Follies, portraying a one-time Ziegfeld-style showgirl trapped in a disappointing marriage. Her dramatic rendition of "Losing My Mind" routinely stopped the show and was one of the production's highlights. Her performance won her a Tony Award nomination as Best Actress in a Musical, but she lost to co-star, fellow Canadian-born actress Alexis Smith; the two actresses died within a year of each other.
She died from respiratory distress as a result of a long-standing pulmonary disease (asthma) at her home in upstate Watervliet, New York ), survived by her three daughters.
My Boy Flat Top
Dorothy Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Young and strong
His top is flat
A crew haircut
Never wears a hat
I don't mean maybeHe's a real hep cat
My boy flat top
Big broad shoulders
Man, they're pips
Dreamy eyes with
A crazy lip
When he shouts, hey, baby
Well, the girls, they flip
My boy flat top
I'm telling you
That snazzy guy
Really sends me
My, oh, my
He's the most
The dreamer's goal
You ought to see him
Rock and roll
Got no dough
But just a nod
Will get the girls
Though it may seem odd
A real cool lover
In his old hot rod
My boy flat top
Young and strong
Top is flat
Got a crew haircut
No hat
I don't mean maybe
He's a real hep cat
Her lover boy flat top
Big broad shoulders
Man, they're pips
Got dreamy eyes
Crazy lips
When he shouts, hey, baby
The girls, they flip
Her lover boy flat top
I'm telling you
That snazzy guy
Really sends you
My, oh, my
He's the most
The dreamer's goal
You ought to see him
Rock and roll
Got no dough
But just a nod
Will get the girls
Though it may seem odd
A real cool lover
In his old hot rod
My boy (her boy)
Who's boy (your boy)
Oh, boy (boy, oh, boy)
Flat top
The song "My Boy Flat Top" by Dorothy Collins is a tribute to a young man with a unique hairstyle. The lyrics describe the boy as "young and strong" with an uncommonly flat hairstyle like a crew cut. The boy doesn't wear a hat because he doesn't need to. He's the epitome of cool in his look and his attitude. The song goes on to describe the boy's physical traits like broad shoulders and dreamy eyes. When he speaks, he's charismatic, and girls can't help but flip for him. The song calls him a "real hep cat," a term that means he's fashionable, skilled, and cool.
The song suggests that the boy doesn't have much money, but he doesn't need it. His nod is all it takes to get the girls, even though it may seem odd. He's a real cool lover, and he drives an old hot rod. The song is playful, and it's clear that the singer is smitten with the boy. The lyrics evoke the energy of the '50s when rock and roll was taking over the airwaves, and young people were embracing a new culture. "My Boy Flat Top" is a fun celebration of youth, style, and attitude.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, mister flat top
Addressing a young man with a flat haircut
Young and strong
He's a young and healthy person
His top is flat
His hair is cut straight across the forehead
A crew haircut
A military-style haircut, short on the sides and back with a longer strip on top
Never wears a hat
He doesn't need a hat because of his flat haircut
I don't mean maybe
Without a doubt
He's a real hep cat
He's really cool
My boy flat top
Referring to the young man with the flat haircut
Big broad shoulders
He has wide and strong shoulders
Man, they're pips
They're really great
Dreamy eyes with
His eyes are attractive and captivating
A crazy lip
His lips are considered attractive and seductive
When he shouts, hey, baby
When he calls out to women with confidence
Well, the girls, they flip
The girls become smitten and fall for him
I'm telling you
Believing something to be true
That snazzy guy
He's really stylish
Really sends me
He makes me feel excited and happy
My, oh, my
Expressing admiration or surprise
He's the most
He's the best
The dreamer's goal
Something to aspire to or dream about
You ought to see him
You should really see him for yourself
Rock and roll
He's a great dancer to rock and roll music
Got no dough
He doesn't have much money
But just a nod
But a simple gesture from him is enough to attract women
Will get the girls
He's very attractive to women
Though it may seem odd
Although it might be surprising
A real cool lover
A guy who's great at romance and attraction
In his old hot rod
He drives a cool old car
Her lover boy flat top
Referring to the young man with the flat haircut who is her lover
Who's boy (your boy)
Asking who the young man belongs to, implying that he's desirable
Oh, boy (boy, oh, boy)
Expressions of excitement or delight
Flat top
A name for the young man with the flat haircut
Contributed by Jonathan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@prepostmodern1032
Dorothy is so beautiful, in personality as well as looks. Her husband was a very lucky man.
@andysandel9325
Always Been A Real Hot Hepcat Song For Me Personally Ever Since My First ROCK 'N' ROLL CLUB Back In 1980 ~ Present
@stephenford2729
Cool daddy o.I remember this from the record hops in the 80s in Birmingham.Still sounds great.Thanks to the uploader for this classic
@1947musiclover
I was a little girl when this came out. Haven't heard it in years! Grew up with Your Hit Parade. Was listening to Julie London while playing poker and decided to see who else I could find from the 50s! Thank you very much! Muah!
@rubbing2001
wow!! the song is hopping, the bass is strong, and what natural talent!!
@grizzlycomrie
Havn't. heard this since 1979 when it was a big player at all the rockabilly clubs in Edinburgh. Im sure iv'e got it somewhere in the attic on a 45. Great to hear it again.
@Supremesfan1
This version should have been the original. This version got me on my feet and I was all over the floor at the sock hop when this first came on.
@pebey
Put this Flat Top cat in a back alley, invite Doris Day's Mr. Tap Toe, you got yourself a rumble.
@-thebigclatter-50sjzrr86
π₯³π«π
@wholesomesweetness86
Most welcome! I was the first to post this Dick Jacob's version.. now its everywhere on youtube it seems! Dorothy really rocked on this one! Thanks you viewing!