Their self-titled album was an underground sensation, particularly with smooth 70s easy listening ruling the airwaves back then. Chrissie Hynde once commented that every punk band ("And I knew them all") had both New York Dolls albums, illustrating the Dolls' influence. Still, the original line-up experienced many problems, particularly with the mainstream record industry that didn't know what to do with the wild group. Upon their break-up, frontman David Johansen had a moderately successful solo career.
In 2004, the three surviving members reunited for some sporadic touring. In 2006, now down to two surviving members, the band released a new album, 'One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This'. Two albums followed after this: 'Cause I Sez So', in 2009, followed up by a revamped lineup for 2011's 'Dancing Backward in High Heels'.
Sylvain Sylvain died on January 13, 2021. He was 69 years old.
Final lineup
* David Johansen - vocals, harmonica (1971-1977, 2004-2011)
* Sylvain Sylvain - guitar, bass, piano (1971-1977, 2004-2011; died 2021)
* Claton Pitcher - guitar (2011)
* Kenny Aaronson - bass (2021)
* Brian Delaney - drums (2005-2011)
Past members
* Johnny Thunders (deceased) - guitar, vocals (1971-1975)
* Rick Rivets - guitar (1971)
* Arthur Kane (deceased) - bass guitar (1971-1975, 2004)
* Billy Murcia (deceased) - drums (1971-1972)
* Jerry Nolan (deceased) - drums (1972-1976)
* Blackie Lawless - guitar (1975)
* Peter Jordan - bass (1975-1977)
* Chris Robison - keyboards (1975-1977)
* Tony Machine - drums (1976-1977)
* Gary Powell - drums (2004)
* Steve Conte - guitar (2004-2010)
* Sami Yaffa - bass (2005-2010)
* Frank Infante - guitar (2010-2011)
* Brian Koonin - keyboards (2005-2006)
* Earl Slick – guitar (2011)
* Jason Hill – bass (2010–2011)
Great Big Kiss
New York Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walkin down the street
Look how she walks
She gotta dancin beat
Big wavy hair
A little too long
All day long,
She's singin a song
And when I see her in the street
My heart takes a leap and skips a beat
Gonna walk roght up to her
Give her a great big kiss
Wham!
Tell her that I love her
Tell her that I care
Tell her I always be there
Hey, what color are her eyes?
I dunno, she always wears shades
Hey, is she tall?
Well, I gotta look up
Yeah, well they tell me she's bad
She's good bad, but she's not evil
(tell me more, tell me more)
Bought myself a sweater
Thought it match her eyes
Dirty fingernails
Oh boy, what a prize
Tight khaki pants
High button shoes
She's always lookin
Like she gots the blues(or born to lose)
And when I see her in the street
My heart takes a leap and skips a beat
Gonna walk roght up to her
Give her a great big kiss
Wham!
Tell her that I love her
Tell her that I care
Tell her I always be there
Tell her I always be there
Tell her I always be there
Oh, what the hell
Is she a good dancer?
Waddya mean, is she a good dancer?
Well, how does she dance?
Close, very very close
(tell me more, tell me more)
Bought myself a sweater
Thought it match her eyes
Dirty fingernails
Oh boy, what a prize
Tight khaki pants
High button shoes
She's always lookin
Like she gots the blues(or born to lose)
And when I see her in the street
My heart takes a leap and skips a beat
Gonna walk roght up to her
Give her a great big kiss
Wham!
Tell her that I love her
Tell her that I care
Tell her I always be there
Tell her I always be there
Tell her I always be there
(shout....whoahs....yeas....ooohs.... I gotta always be there...)
Always and forever
The New York Dolls' song "Great Big Kiss" is a love song. The lyrics describe the singer's love interest, who walks down the street with a dancing bear and big wavy hair. The singer admires her from afar and wants to walk right up to her and give her a great big kiss. He wants to tell her that he loves her, cares for her, and will always be there for her. However, the singer doesn't even know the color of her eyes, because she always wears shades.
The song's second verse describes the singer's love interest in more detail. She has tight khaki pants, high button shoes, and always looks like she's got the blues. She's a prize, even with her dirty fingernails. The singer's heart takes a leap and skips a beat when he sees her in the street, and he wants to get close to her when they dance. The song repeats the chorus, and the singer adds that he's always there for her, always and forever.
The lyrics of "Great Big Kiss" express the singer's love and desire for his love interest. He admires her from afar and wants to tell her that he's always there for her. The song's upbeat music and catchy melodies complement the lyrics of the song. This combination creates a joyful and memorable love song.
Line by Line Meaning
Here comes my girl
The singer's girl is walking down the street.
Walkin down the street
The girl is walking down the street.
Look how she walks
The girl has a unique and appealing way of walking.
She gotta dancin beat
The girl's walk looks like she is dancing.
Big wavy hair
The girl has big hair that flows in waves.
A little too long
The hair might be a bit too long.
All day long,
The girl is singing all day long.
She's singin a song
The girl is singing a song.
And when I see her in the street
When the singer sees her in the street.
My heart takes a leap and skips a beat
The singer's heart beats faster and he feels excited when he sees her.
Gonna walk roght up to her
The singer is going to approach her directly.
Give her a great big kiss
The singer will give her a big kiss.
Wham!
The kiss is going to be strong and passionate.
Tell her that I love her
The singer is going to tell her that he loves her.
Tell her that I care
The singer is going to tell her that he cares about her.
Tell her I always be there
The singer is going to tell her that he will always be there for her.
Hey, what color are her eyes?
The singer is curious about the color of her eyes.
I dunno, she always wears shades
The singer doesn't know her eye color because she always wears sunglasses.
Hey, is she tall?
The singer is curious if she is tall or not.
Well, I gotta look up
The singer has to look up to see her.
Yeah, well they tell me she's bad
People have told the singer that she is cool or attractive.
She's good bad, but she's not evil
The girl may appear edgy or nonconformist, but she is not malicious or dangerous.
Bought myself a sweater
The singer bought himself a sweater.
Thought it match her eyes
The singer thought the sweater would compliment her eyes.
Dirty fingernails
The girl has dirty fingernails.
Oh boy, what a prize
The singer is still attracted to her despite her unpolished appearance.
Tight khaki pants
The girl is wearing tight khaki pants.
High button shoes
The girl is wearing shoes with high buttons.
She's always lookin
She always looks like something is bothering her or that she is unhappy.
Like she gots the blues(or born to lose)
The girl seems to be unhappy or unlucky all the time.
Is she a good dancer?
The singer wants to know if she is a good dancer.
Waddya mean, is she a good dancer?
The singer is surprised by the question and thinks it should be obvious if she is a good dancer or not.
Well, how does she dance?
The singer wants to know how she dances.
Close, very very close
The girl likes to dance close to him and get physically intimate.
Always and forever
The singer will always be there for the girl and love her forever.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DONOVAN PARSONS, JAMES W TATE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dink Weed
I like Johnny's version with Patty Palladin, and of course the Shangri-la's original.
Anthony Monaghan
The Shangri-las version is the version, but I do love this cover. The guitar reminds me of that Elvis song...."His Latest Flame", which of course was the seed for "Rusholme Ruffians" by The Smiths and round and round it all goes in that great big Rock n Roll soup.
Snazzy Quizzes
Love this song!!
Louis Tracy
When I say I'm in love, you best believe I'm in love, L-U-V!
missoctober77
Love this!
Rex Dolens
yeah i was thinking the same... the live one is awesome..
DAVID VITALIC
Best cover ever!
Irma Vep
Love this one
PUNKISINTHEDETAILS
Gotta love the Johansen foghorn version
Des Manes
what a great cover