Rolling
Dr. Oscillator Lyrics


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Hahaha, I don't believe it
Da, da, ah, ah don't touch me
Hey ray, hey sugar, tell them who we are

Well, we're big rock singers
We got golden fingers
And we're loved everywhere we go ("That sounds like us")
We sing about beauty and we sing about truth
At ten thousand dollars a show (right)
We take all kinds of pills that give us all kind of thrills
But the thrill we've never known
Is the thrill that'll getcha when you get your picture
On the cover of the Rollin' Stone

(Rollin' stone) wanna see my picture on the cover
(Stone) wanna buy five copies for my mother (yes)
(Stone) wanna see my smilin' face
On the cover of the Rollin' stone ("That's a very, very good idea")

I got a freaky ole lady name a Cocaine Katy
Who embroiders on my jeans
I got my poor ole grey haired daddy
Drivin' my limousine
Now it's all designed to blow our minds
But our minds won't really be blown
Like the blow that'll getcha when you get your picture
On the cover of the Rollin' Stone

(Rollin' stone) wanna see our pictures on the cover
(Stone) wanna buy five copies for our mothers (yeah)
(Stone) wanna see my smilin face
On the cover of the Rollin' stone

Hey, I know how (sure enough)
Rock and roll

"Ah, that's beautiful"

We got a lot of little teenage blue eyed groupies
Who do anything we say
We got a genuine indian guru
He's teaching us a better way
We got all the friends that money can buy
So we never have to be alone
And we keep gettin' richer but we can't get our picture
On the cover of the Rollin' stone

(Rollin' stone) wanna see my picture on the cover
(Stone) wanna buy five copies for my mother ("I want one")
(Stone) wanna see my smilin' face
On the cover of the Rollin' stone
On the cover of the Rollin'
(Stone) gonna see my picture on the cover
"I don't know why we ain't on the cover, baby"
(Stone) wanna buy five copies for my mother
"We're beautiful fellas"
(Stone) wanna see my smilin' face
"I ain't kiddin' ya, oh, we would make a beautiful cover"
On the cover of the Rollin' stone
"A fresh shot, right up front, man
I can see it now, we'll be on the front




Smilin', man
Ahh, beautiful"

Overall Meaning

The song "The Cover of Rolling Stone" by Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show is a satire on the music industry and the desire for fame and recognition. The song's lyrics describe a group of rock singers with golden fingers who are loved everywhere they go and sing about beauty and truth for ten thousand dollars a show. However, the thrill that they have never known is the thrill that'll get them when they get their picture on the cover of the Rolling Stone magazine. The song showcases the absurdity of the desire for fame and recognition and the drugs, groupies, and material possessions that come along with it.


The verses also describe the members of the band, their lifestyle, and their possessions. One member has a freaky lady named Cocaine Katy who embroiders on his jeans and another member's daddy drives his limousine. They have teenage groupies who do anything they say and an Indian guru teaching them a better way. They have all the friends and money they need but can't seem to get on the cover of the Rolling Stone.


Overall, the song serves as a commentary on the music industry's shallow focus on fame and recognition over true artistic expression and the consequences that come along with it.


Line by Line Meaning

Hahaha, I don't believe it
Dr. Oscillator is feeling joyfully incredulous


Da, da, ah, ah don't touch me
Dr. Oscillator is commanding someone not to touch him


Hey ray, hey sugar, tell them who we are
Dr. Oscillator is asking Ray and Sugar to introduce him as a big rock singer


Well, we're big rock singers
Dr. Oscillator is stating that he is a big rock singer


We got golden fingers
Dr. Oscillator is bragging about his and his band's instrumental prowess


And we're loved everywhere we go ("That sounds like us")
Dr. Oscillator is affirming that people love his band wherever they perform


We sing about beauty and we sing about truth
Dr. Oscillator is declaring that his band's music tackles themes of beauty and truth


At ten thousand dollars a show (right)
Dr. Oscillator is confirming that his band's performances cost $10,000 each


We take all kinds of pills that give us all kind of thrills
Dr. Oscillator is revealing that his band takes a lot of stimulating drugs


But the thrill we've never known
Dr. Oscillator is admitting that he and his bandmates haven't experienced a certain kind of thrill


Is the thrill that'll getcha when you get your picture
Dr. Oscillator is saying that the one thrill they haven't experienced is getting their photo on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine


On the cover of the Rollin' Stone
Dr. Oscillator is emphasizing the coveted status of being on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine


(Rollin' stone) wanna see my picture on the cover
Dr. Oscillator wants his picture on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine


(Stone) wanna buy five copies for my mother (yes)
Dr. Oscillator will buy five copies for his mother if he makes the cover


(Stone) wanna see my smilin' face
Dr. Oscillator wants a photo of himself smiling on the cover


On the cover of the Rollin' stone ("That's a very, very good idea")
Dr. Oscillator agrees that being on the cover is an excellent idea


I got a freaky ole lady name a Cocaine Katy
Dr. Oscillator is telling listeners about a woman named Cocaine Katy


Who embroiders on my jeans
Dr. Oscillator is saying that Cocaine Katy customizes his jeans


I got my poor ole grey haired daddy
Dr. Oscillator's father is old and has grey hair


Drivin' my limousine
Dr. Oscillator's father drives his limousine


Now it's all designed to blow our minds
Dr. Oscillator is conceding that their extravagant lifestyle is meant to impress and surprise them


But our minds won't really be blown
Dr. Oscillator is suggesting that he and his bandmates are jaded and can't be surprised that easily


Like the blow that'll getcha when you get your picture
Dr. Oscillator is referencing a euphoric high that can be experienced if one makes it onto Rolling Stone's cover


(Rollin' stone) wanna see our pictures on the cover
Dr. Oscillator and his bandmates want their picture collectively on the cover


(Stone) wanna buy five copies for our mothers (yeah)
Dr. Oscillator will obligingly purchase copies for each member's mother if they make it on the cover


(Stone) wanna see my smilin face
Dr. Oscillator reiterates that he wants his smiling face on the cover


Hey, I know how (sure enough) Rock and roll
Dr. Oscillator confirms that he knows how to play rock and roll music


"Ah, that's beautiful"
Dr. Oscillator is expressing approval or admiration


We got a lot of little teenage blue eyed groupies
Dr. Oscillator is describing the young female fans who admire and follow his band


Who do anything we say
Dr. Oscillator asserts that he and his bandmates have a degree of control over their female fans


We got a genuine indian guru
Dr. Oscillator and his band have a real Indian guru


He's teaching us a better way
Dr. Oscillator's guru is instructing them on how to live better lives


We got all the friends that money can buy
Since they can afford anything, Dr. Oscillator and his band have many wealthy friends


So we never have to be alone
Dr. Oscillator and the band are never lonely, because they always have each other and their entourage


And we keep gettin' richer but we can't get our picture
Dr. Oscillator and his bandmates continue to amass wealth, but still can't seem to land on the cover of Rolling Stone


On the cover of the Rollin' Stone
Dr. Oscillator reminds us once more about the desirability of being featured on Rolling Stone's cover


On the cover of the Rollin'
Another reminder from Dr. Oscillator about the prominence the cover would give him and his band


(Stone) gonna see my picture on the cover
Dr. Oscillator predicts that he will eventually make it to the cover


"I don't know why we ain't on the cover, baby"
Dr. Oscillator is openly wondering why they're not on the cover


(Stone) wanna buy five copies for my mother
Dr. Oscillator still promises to buy copies of the magazine for all of the mothers


"We're beautiful fellas"
Dr. Oscillator is denoting his band as having pleasing appearance


(Stone) wanna see my smilin' face
Dr. Oscillator again insists on having his picture as a happy one


"I ain't kiddin' ya, oh, we would make a beautiful cover"
Dr. Oscillator is confident that they would have a stellar appearance on the cover


A fresh shot, right up front, man
Dr. Oscillator is picturing a perfect photo on the front page of the magazine


I can see it now, we'll be on the front
Dr. Oscillator is imagining his band being in the Magazine's most prominent spot


Smilin', man
Dr. Oscillator is still insistent on his picture to showcase him smiling


Ahh, beautiful"
Dr. Oscillator is expressing appreciation and possibly admiration again




Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Shel Silverstein

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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