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)
Jet
New York Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Faster than any boy could ever describe?
Who has got a love so deep
With everything alive?
I said
Jet Boy's fly
Jet Boy's gone
Flyin' around New York City so high
Like he was my baby
This's the kinda place where no one cares
What you're living for
And Jet Boy's so preoccupied
He don't care 'bout before
And that's why
Jet Boy's fly
Jet Boy's gone
Jet Boy stole my baby
Flyin' around New York City so high
Like he was my baby
My baby
Jet Boy's fly, you know
Jet Boy's gone
Jet Boy stole my baby
Flyin' around New York City so high
Like he was my baby
We was all endangered charms
Swear we're havin fun
And Jet Boy goes after all we've done
That's why he's the one
That's why
Jet Boy's fly
Jet Boy's gone
Jet Boy stole my baby
Flyin' around New York City so high
Like he was my baby
My pretty baby
My pretty, pretty baby
My pretty baby
When I first came around this dump
I knew I couldn't stay
'Cause up above the world are Jet Boy
That's how I gotta play
Don't ya know why
Jet Boy's fly
Jet Boy's gone
Jet Boy stole my baby
Flyin' around New York City so high
Like he was my baby, like he was my baby
Like he was my baby, like he was my baby
Like he was my baby
Jet Boy's fly
And ya know he's gone
I said he been gone
Gone, gone, gone
And he been flying
He been flying
He's been flying
He's been flying
Baby, up all night
Baby, New York City
Baby, so, so high
Baby, so, so high
Don't you know that
Like he was my baby
Like he was my baby
Like he was my baby
Like he was my-my-my-my baby
My-my-my-my baby (like he was my baby)
My-my-my-my (Like he was my baby)
My baby, my baby (Like he was my baby)
M-m-m-m-m-my baby
My baby
The New York Dolls' song "Jet Boy" talks about a fictional character that flies high above New York City and has stolen the singer's love interest. The opening lines pose a question, asking who the boy up in the sky is. The lyrics go on to describe Jet Boy's love as deep, and how he is preoccupied with flying around the city. The singer laments that Jet Boy stole his baby, with the repeated chorus of "Jet Boy's fly, Jet Boy's gone, Jet Boy stole my baby," emphasizing the heartbreak the singer feels.
The song is a commentary on the hedonistic lifestyle of 1970s New York City, where people were living for the moment and chasing pleasures. The lyrics highlight the reckless abandon with which people lived their lives, caring little about the consequences of their actions. Jet Boy is portrayed as the ultimate embodiment of this mindset, flying around the city and stealing without any regard.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's so fly up in the sky
Who is soaring higher than anyone?
Faster than any boy could ever describe?
Is he flying at a speed unimaginable for any human?
Who has got a love so deep
Who possesses such intense love?
With everything alive?
For every living thing?
I said Jet Boy's fly
I am stating that Jet Boy is flying
Jet Boy's gone
Jet Boy has left
Jet Boy stole my baby
Jet Boy has taken my lover
Flyin' around New York City so high
Soaring high in the skies of NYC
Like he was my baby
As if he were my lover
This's the kinda place where no one cares
A place where no one is interested
What you're living for
Your reason for survival
And Jet Boy's so preoccupied
Jet Boy is too busy
He don't care 'bout before
That he does not worry about the past
My baby
My lover
We was all endangered charms
We were all at risk
Swear we're havin fun
We were enjoying ourselves
And Jet Boy goes after all we've done
Jet Boy pursues everything we have accomplished
That's why he's the one
That's why he's the special one
When I first came around this dump
When I arrived in this city
I knew I couldn't stay
I had no intention of staying
Cause up above the world are Jet Boy
Because Jet Boy is ruling the skies
That's how I gotta play
That's how I need to live my life
And ya know he's gone
And you know, he's departed
I said he been gone
I have mentioned earlier that he left
Baby, so, so high
Lover, flying so high
Don't you know that
Do you not know that
Like he was my baby
As if he were my lover
M-m-m-m-m-my baby
My baby
My baby
My lover
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID JOHANSEN, JOHNNY THUNDERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@frannieo1707
The Dolls were SO ahead of their time. RIP Jerry, Sylvain, Johnny.
@PatrickMorris-sm8dv
if you like this you might like my brothers music. His name is Stu Morris and she has a car is a good song by him
@jacobelledge8424
You forgot Arthur killer Kane
@johnkelleher9092
Johnny Thunders looks so badass in the opening of this…. Pure Rock God status and this is 1973..
@Jay-rf5rh
Rest in Peace Billy, Jerry, Johnny, Arthur, and Syl. These dolls are now in Heaven. 😢
@maribelmn6021
Disculpa, leo que si lo añadiste...Thunders, con la muerte de Murcia, quedó muy, muy, afectado.
@keithkoenig5320
The Dolls never got big, in the sense that The Velvet Unground never got big, but both influenced so much that came after. The Dolls are definitely a piece of glorious Rock & Roll history.
@dragonpundit.6443
Nonsense.
@dragonpundit.6443
A Footnote. Garage Band quality 3 chord crap.
@AemondBlackKiller
@@dragonpundit.6443nonsense. These guys influence bands such as the sex pistols to the smiths.