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)
We're All in Love
New York Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We all sleep in one great big bed
People like to think we're seekin' a head
Everything to them is just a functional fit
Got a bad reputation, just won't quit
Defame with great suspicion, hostility
Despisable, phenomenal, illusory
Love ain't pretty, it's the way that we feel because
We're all in love!
We don't care!
We're all in love!
What could they do to us?
We're all in love!
You can do whatcha wanna but
We're all in love!
Jumpin' round the stage like teenage girls
Castin' our swine before the pearls
Don't fuck with us, what people say
They go to work, we go to play!
Drunk on the joy, a-singin' a song
Lovin' hard as the day is long
Excommunicated, then canonized
When love is strong, life intensifies because
We're all in love! [Repeat: x4]
We love fightin' like lovers do
Love makin' up in a hour or two
A kiss on the lips, unseemly for a man
Least we don't go around holdin' hands
Most times we don't, but don't stop tryin'
With the music we got to manifest the divine
To beam it up with love and let it rock on down
Til every creature hip to the ultimate ground because
We're all in love!
What do we care?
We're all in love!
It's our life!
We're all in love!
You can do what ya wanna, but
We're all in love!
We don't care!
We're all in love!
(in love)
We're all in love!
(in love)
We're all in love!
(in love)
We're all in love!
Love! Love! Love!
In "We're All in Love," New York Dolls present love as a unifying force that transcends social norms, conventions, and restrictions. The song begins by highlighting the group's closeness and solidarity as they sleep in a big bed, attracting suspicion and judgment from outsiders who misconstrue their affection for sexual motives. The Dolls dismiss such criticism and proudly claim that "we're all in love" without feeling ashamed or threatened by their unconventional ways of expressing love. They emphasize that love is not always pretty or conformist but rather "the way that we feel" and a transformative power that enables them to feel alive, passionate, and joyful.
The song's second stanza features the Dolls defying stereotypes and asserting their independence by jumping around the stage and casting their "swine before the pearls" of conformity. They contrast their playful and creative lifestyle with the mundane and soulless existence of the people around them who "go to work" while they "go to play." The Dolls present love as a way of intensifying life and defying societal norms that seek to impose uniformity and complacency. They sing about fighting like lovers and making up in an hour or two, emphasizing the exuberant and unpredictable nature of their affections. Although they acknowledge some gender stereotypes by admitting that "a kiss on the lips" is "unseemly for a man," they ultimately reject the pressure to conform and emphasize the power of music to "manifest the divine" and spread love to all creatures.
Line by Line Meaning
We're all in love!
Everyone is in love and it's the main theme of this song.
We all sleep in one great big bed
The band is close and shares many experiences, hence the metaphor of sleeping together.
People like to think we're seekin' a head
People often question the band's motives for their eccentric behavior.
Everything to them is just a functional fit
To others, the band's lifestyle may seem strange, but to them it works well and they are happy.
Got a bad reputation, just won't quit
The band has a negative reputation among some people that is not easy to shake off.
Defame with great suspicion, hostility
People talk badly about the band and are suspicious and hostile towards them.
Despisable, phenomenal, illusory
The band is seen by some as strange and illusory but also remarkable and exceptional.
Pretty fancy words for not really real
People use complex words to describe the band, but they don't really understand their true nature.
Love ain't pretty, it's the way that we feel because
We're all in love!
The band's love for music and life is not always romantic or beautiful, but it's real and strong.
Jumpin' round the stage like teenage girls
The band is energetic and lively on stage, having fun like young people.
Castin' our swine before the pearls
The band is not worried about being accepted by everyone and is willing to take risks in their art.
Don't fuck with us, what people say
The band is not bothered by negative comments or criticism from others.
They go to work, we go to play!
The band sees music as their vocation and enjoys it as play, not work.
Drunk on the joy, a-singin' a song
Lovin' hard as the day is long
The band enjoys music so much that they are intoxicated with joy, putting their all into creating it.
Excommunicated, then canonized
The band has had a turbulent history, being rejected and then accepted by different people.
When love is strong, life intensifies because
We're all in love!
Love and passion for music make life richer, more exciting, and more meaningful for the band.
Love makin' up in a hour or two
A kiss on the lips, unseemly for a man
The band has a close, loving relationship and is not afraid to express it, even physically.
Most times we don't, but don't stop tryin'
With the music we got to manifest the divine
The band doesn't always succeed in expressing their love through music, but they keep trying and see music as a way to connect with something higher than themselves.
To beam it up with love and let it rock on down
Til every creature hip to the ultimate ground because
We're all in love!
The band hopes to share their love and music with others until everyone is inspired and moved by it.
What do we care?
It's our life!
You can do what ya wanna, but
We're all in love!
We don't care!
The band doesn't care what others think of them or what they do, as long as they can live their lives and love what they do.
Love! Love! Love!
The chorus affirms the band's message that love is important and they are all feeling it.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN KOONIN, BRIAN D. DELANEY, DAVID JOHANSEN, SAMI LAURI TAKAMAKI, STEVEN J. CONTE, SYLVAIN MIZRAHI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind