Pills
New York Dolls Lyrics
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A rock 'n' roll nurse goin' to my head
She says, "Hold out ya arm boys or stick out ya tongues
I got some pills I'm gonna give you somes"
Said you go to my head, to my head
A rock 'n' roll nurse, goin' to my head
To my head, to my head
A little pill for my legs but that didn't ache
Tried some pills for my heart but a little too late
Got some pills for my love to try to get me at ease
When a rock 'n' roll nurse shook me down to my knees
Said you go to my head, you to my head
A rock 'n' roll nurse, goin' to my head
To my head, to my head
As I was lyin' in a hospital bed
I got the rock 'n' roll nurse
Nursey nursey, well I don't see
And I can't understand what you're doin' to me
Said you give me the pills, then you give me the shot
You got me wonderin' what is worse I got
She went into my head, she went to my head
A rock 'n' roll nurse goin' into my head
To my head, into my head
As I was lyin' in a hospital bed
I got the rock 'n' roll nurse, she's makin' it worse
Keeps on shootin' it right on into my head
Doctor, doctor, doctor, run here and see
I don't dig the job the nurse givin' me
Gives me the shots, gives me the pills
Got me takin' this junk against my wills
Said she went into my head, shoved into my head
A rock 'n' roll nurse goin' into my head
To my head, to my head
As I was lyin' in a hospital bed, and doctor-
The New York Dolls' song "Pills" tells the story of a protagonist lying in a hospital bed while a rock 'n' roll nurse administers various pills and injections to treat his various ailments. The repeated refrain of "she went into my head" captures the sense of the nurse's potent presence as she takes control of the singer's physical and mental state. The lyrics convey a sense of both pleasure and discomfort in the experience, as the singer both enjoys the drugs and resents being controlled by the nurse. The lines "Doctor, doctor, doctor, run here and see / I don't dig the job the nurse givin' me" suggest a desire for authority and autonomy in the face of the nurse's overwhelming presence. Ultimately, the song seems to be a celebration of the power of drugs and youth culture, as embodied by the rock 'n' roll nurse.
Line by Line Meaning
As I was lyin' in a hospital bed
The singer is starting the song by describing their hospital experience
A rock 'n' roll nurse goin' to my head
The nurse taking care of the singer has a love for rock 'n' roll that is infectious and affecting the singer's thoughts
She says, "Hold out ya arm boys or stick out ya tongues
I got some pills I'm gonna give you somes"
The rock 'n' roll nurse wants to administer pills to the singer and is encouraging them to be open to taking them
A little pill for my legs but that didn't ache
Tried some pills for my heart but a little too late
Got some pills for my love to try to get me at ease
When a rock 'n' roll nurse shook me down to my knees
The artist is describing different pills given to them for various conditions, but it is the rock 'n' roll nurse that makes the biggest impact on them
Nursey nursey, well I don't see
And I can't understand what you're doin' to me
Said you give me the pills, then you give me the shot
You got me wonderin' what is worse I got
The artist is becoming confused by the treatment the nurse is giving them, and is questioning which is worse - the pills or the shots
I got the rock 'n' roll nurse
The line provides emphasis to the impact the rock 'n' roll nurse is having on the singer
She went into my head, she went to my head
A rock 'n' roll nurse goin' into my head
To my head, into my head
As I was lyin' in a hospital bed
The singer is emphasizing how the nurse's love for rock 'n' roll is permeating their mind and having a profound effect on them while they are laying in the hospital bed
I got the rock 'n' roll nurse, she's makin' it worse
Keeps on shootin' it right on into my head
The nurse's love for rock 'n' roll is becoming overpowering and having a negative impact on the artist's health
Doctor, doctor, doctor, run here and see
I don't dig the job the nurse givin' me
Gives me the shots, gives me the pills
Got me takin' this junk against my wills
The artist is calling out to their doctor for help as they dislike the treatment being given to them by the rock 'n' roll nurse, including the various shots and pills that they are forced to take
Said she went into my head, shoved into my head
A rock 'n' roll nurse goin' into my head
To my head, to my head
As I was lyin' in a hospital bed, and doctor
The artist returns to the theme of the nurse's love for rock 'n' roll having an overwhelming effect on their mind while they are laying in the hospital bed as they call out for the doctor's help
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ELLAS MCDANIEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind