Recordings:
* Leprechauns Are Upon Me (1959 as Dory Langdon)
* On My Way to Where (1970) - United Artists
* Reflections in a Mud Puddle/Taps Tremors and Time Steps (1971) - United Artists
* Mythical Kings and Iguanas (1971) - United Artists
* Mary C. Brown and the Hollywood Sign (1972) - United Artists
* Dory Previn (1974) - Warner Bros
* We're Children of Coincidence and Harpo Marx (1976) - Warner Bros
* "Dory & Andre Previn (1983)
* "Planet Blue" - (2002)
Yada Yada la Scala
Dory Previn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let's top talking talking talking
Wasting precious time
Just a lot of empty noise
Words of wonder
Words of whether
Should we shouldn't we
Be together
Yada yada yada yada yada yada
Let's top talking talking talking
Taking up out lives
Saying things that don't make sense
Hoping help arrives
Curse my questions
Damn your qualms
Tomorrow they could be
Dropping bombs
And we go yada yada yada yada yada
So we sit
At a restaurant table
Discussing reasons
We're unable to commit
That's not it
All i want
Is to please and enjoy you
What makes you think
I'll be out to destroy you
If you commit
That's not it
Is it something you sense
Underneath my defenses
That makes me a threat
That's not it
And yet
Suppose that's it
Ow wow wow i don't want to
Think about that now
Let's top talking talking talking
Every lame excuse
Justifying alibying
Listen what's the use
The sparrow chirps
The chipmunk chatters
And we go on as mad as a hatter
And nothing at all gets said
Talk to me please
In bed
Where it matters
Yada yada yada yada yada
In Dory Previn's song "Yada Yada La Scala," the singer expresses frustration over the repetitiveness and futility of a conversation about their relationship. The phrase "yada yada" is used repeatedly to suggest that words are being wasted and are meaningless. The singer longs for more substantial communication, particularly in the intimate setting of their bed, where they hope to have a more honest and vulnerable conversation.
The lyrics also touch on fear and the difficulty of commitment. The singer questions whether they should be together and whether commitment would ultimately lead to destruction. They wonder if there is something threatening or intimidating about themselves that makes commitment difficult, or if it is simply a lack of willingness.
Ultimately, the song is a critique of conversation that fails to achieve anything meaningful, and a plea for more honest, open, and vulnerable communication.
Line by Line Meaning
Yada yada yada yada yada
Repetition of empty words and phrases, leading to futility.
Let's top talking talking talking
Stop the meaningless chatter and focus on what truly matters.
Wasting precious time
Time is valuable and we are wasting it with pointless conversation.
Just a lot of empty noise
The words being spoken have no true substance.
That isn't worth a dime
The words have no value whatsoever.
Words of wonder
Words that evoke curiosity or awe.
Words of whether
Words that provoke indecision, doubt, or uncertainty.
Should we shouldn't we
We are questioning whether or not we should do something.
Be together
The thing we are contemplating is being in a relationship with one another.
Taking up out lives
These conversations are consuming our lives and our time.
Saying things that don't make sense
The things being discussed have no logical coherence.
Hoping help arrives
We are hoping that someone or something will come to help us make sense of the situation.
Curse my questions
I am frustrated with my own questioning.
Damn your qualms
I am frustrated with your hesitation and reservations.
Tomorrow they could be
There is a possibility that these issues could become much larger problems tomorrow.
Dropping bombs
The potential problems that could arise may be devastating to our relationship.
So we sit
We are stagnant and inactive in our relationship.
At a restaurant table
We are discussing our relationship over a meal at a public location.
Discussing reasons
We are talking about the reasons why we are unable to commit to one another.
We're unable to commit
Neither of us is willing to fully commit to a relationship with the other for various reasons.
That's not it
The reasons we are discussing are not the real issue at hand.
All i want
My only desire in this relationship is to please and enjoy you.
What makes you think
I am curious as to why you would ever think that my intentions are to harm you.
I'll be out to destroy you
You seem to believe that I have ulterior motives that will cause harm to you.
If you commit
If you fully commit to a relationship with me.
Is it something you sense
Do you feel that I am hiding something from you, or could potentially harm you somehow?
Underneath my defenses
Behind the walls I have erected to protect myself.
That makes me a threat
Is there something about me that is threatening to you?
And yet
Despite my denial, there may be some truth to your concerns.
Suppose that's it
Perhaps my hidden intentions are what is holding us back from committing to a relationship.
Ow wow wow i don't want to
I am overwhelmed and do not want to consider the possibility of harming you in any way.
Think about that now
I do not want to dwell on this possibility at this moment in time.
Every lame excuse
All of our previous justifications for not committing to each other are foolish and invalid.
Justifying alibying
We make excuses for our hesitation and reservations in order to justify not committing to one another.
Listen what's the use
There is no point in continuing to make excuses for our lack of commitment.
The sparrow chirps
Nature continues on, regardless of our personal struggles.
The chipmunk chatters
The world around us is constantly noisy and busy, even if our own lives are stagnant.
And we go on as mad as a hatter
Despite our internal struggles, we continue to behave as if everything is normal and are losing our minds in the process.
And nothing at all gets said
Despite all of our talking, we have yet to address the real issues at hand.
Talk to me please
Let us communicate honestly and openly with one another.
In bed
Let us have this conversation in a more intimate setting that fosters deeper communication.
Where it matters
The intimacy of this setting allows us to truly address the heart of the issue.
Contributed by Thomas T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lastrada52
Yes and no. You're right that her solo career & songwriting during this period is somewhat overlooked or obscure today.
But, Dory herself is well known in the motion picture/theatrical musical industry where she wrote several hits with her then-husband Andre Previn.
They won Oscars for their songs. They are well-known for songs performed by many famous singers -- Sammy Davis, Jr., Judy Garland, Bobby Darin, Carmen McRae, Dionne Warwick, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Jack Jones, The Sandpipers & countless others. Like "Come Saturday Morning," 5 songs for "Valley of the Dolls," "You're Gonna Hear From Me," (Sinatra) & many others.
Dory tried to be a little more hip (and she was a good lyricist) with those angst-ridden songs she recorded. That Mary C. Brown tune was about a girl (Peg Entwhistle) who jumped from the H (I think) in the Hollywood sign. "Stone for Bessie Smith," was about Janis Joplin contributing to the purchase of Smith's tombstone. Not many upbeat topics. That may have been her failing.
Some musicians who recorded with her were Elvis Presley musicians -- Ronnie Tutt (drums) on more than one album & some who later played with Steely Dan & Joni Mitchell.
@diannemaclean9835
I discovered Dory at 13 years old. I am 63 years old..Thank you for the most amazing memories
@JBinOtown
Discovering Dory Previn is like discovering treasure.
@jeffp4104
possibly the most unfairly overlooked singer songwriter of all time.
@gilliancockroft562
Until now💖
@lastrada52
Yes and no. You're right that her solo career & songwriting during this period is somewhat overlooked or obscure today.
But, Dory herself is well known in the motion picture/theatrical musical industry where she wrote several hits with her then-husband Andre Previn.
They won Oscars for their songs. They are well-known for songs performed by many famous singers -- Sammy Davis, Jr., Judy Garland, Bobby Darin, Carmen McRae, Dionne Warwick, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Jack Jones, The Sandpipers & countless others. Like "Come Saturday Morning," 5 songs for "Valley of the Dolls," "You're Gonna Hear From Me," (Sinatra) & many others.
Dory tried to be a little more hip (and she was a good lyricist) with those angst-ridden songs she recorded. That Mary C. Brown tune was about a girl (Peg Entwhistle) who jumped from the H (I think) in the Hollywood sign. "Stone for Bessie Smith," was about Janis Joplin contributing to the purchase of Smith's tombstone. Not many upbeat topics. That may have been her failing.
Some musicians who recorded with her were Elvis Presley musicians -- Ronnie Tutt (drums) on more than one album & some who later played with Steely Dan & Joni Mitchell.
@dinahfromkabalor
So many great songs. It's sad how few people know her work. I'm amazed how few backers the current project to make a documentary about her has so far.
@josephsequeira5535
Dory previn lyrics have a message in every song.hats of to her
@stefanels4049
A true poet.
@stucknda60s
Thanks to Marianne for reminding me of this song in 2019...
@iwaisman
Parole, parole.