Glendora
Perry Como Lyrics


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I'm in love with a dolly named Glendora
She works in the window of a big department stor-a!
Eyes of blue, hair like gold
Never been young, but she'll never get old
Oh Glendora, I want to see more of you!

O' Glendora, o' Glendora
O' Glendora, I want to see more of you!

She's so shy that I don't know how I found her
With three big bodyguards always workin' around her!
One just nods, an' two just grins
An' three got a mouth full of safety pins
O' Glendora, I want to see more of you!
(You more of you)

O' Glendora, o' Glendora
O' Glendora, I want to see more of you!
(More of you)

I stand left an' I stand right
Outta my head 'cause I'm outta sight
O' Glendora I want to see more of you!

Late last night at the store they did some changin'
An' I stood watchin' when they started re-arrangin'
She lost her wig, she lost her arms
An' when they got through she lost all of her charms
O' Glendora, what did they do to you?

(What they do, what they do, what they do)
O' Glendora, o' Glendora
O' Glendora (what did they do to you)

(What they do, what they do, what they do)
O' Glendora, o' Glendora
O' Glendora (what did they do to you)





(Do to you, oh what did they do to you)
O' Glendora, what did they do to you?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Perry Como's song "Glendora" tell the story of the singer's infatuation with a doll named Glendora who works in the window of a department store. The singer describes Glendora's physical appearance, with blue eyes and golden hair, and suggests that she will never age. However, Glendora is always surrounded by three big bodyguards who make it difficult for the singer to get close to her. Despite this, the singer declares his desire to see more of Glendora.


Towards the end of the song, the singer reveals that Glendora undergoes a transformation at the store, losing her wig, arms, and charms. It is unclear whether this transformation is voluntary or not, and the singer expresses concern about what happened to Glendora.


Overall, the song seems to be about the unrealistic expectations and impossible standards of beauty that are imposed on women, represented by Glendora's unattainable perfection and the three bodyguards who keep her out of reach. It also highlights the objectification of women, symbolized by Glendora's status as an inanimate doll.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm in love with a dolly named Glendora
The singer is deeply infatuated with a woman named Glendora


She works in the window of a big department stor-a!
Glendora's job is to work in a window display for a large store


Eyes of blue, hair like gold
Glendora has blue eyes and blonde hair


Never been young, but she'll never get old
Glendora is a mannequin, and thus will not age


Oh Glendora, I want to see more of you!
The artist wants to spend more time looking at, and possibly interacting with, Glendora


She's so shy that I don't know how I found her
Glendora's lack of expression is assumed to be shyness, and the singer cannot recall how they became enamored with her


With three big bodyguards always workin' around her!
To protect Glendora, there are always three large individuals standing near her


One just nods, an' two just grins
Two of the guards occasionally engage with the artist


An' three got a mouth full of safety pins
The third guard, for some reason, has a mouth full of safety pins


O' Glendora, I want to see more of you!
The artist still desires to spend time near Glendora


(You more of you)
Repeating the desire to see more of Glendora


Late last night at the store they did some changin'
The store where Glendora works underwent some changes during a recent night shift


An' I stood watchin' when they started re-arrangin'
The singer was present to witness the store being rearranged


She lost her wig, she lost her arms
During the restructuring, Glendora's wig and arms were removed


An' when they got through she lost all of her charms
As a result of the rearrangement, Glendora no longer holds the singer's fascination


O' Glendora, what did they do to you?
The artist is asking what became of Glendora due to the recent changes that occurred


(What they do, what they do, what they do)
Repeating the question of what happened to Glendora


O' Glendora (what did they do to you)
The singer continues to wonder about the changes that were made to Glendora


(Do to you, oh what did they do to you)
Repeating the query about what changes occured to Glendora


O' Glendora, what did they do to you?
The song ends with the artist repeating the question of what happened to Glendora




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RAY STANLEY, JOE REISMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@levimatthew8911

With Perry Como you got no complaints.

@pegfosnaugh7271

I was seven and loved this little ditty. Just heard a mention of the city in California and I thought oh yes there’s a song I love and haven’t heard in years. It’s still a hit with me all these years later.

@robertking3130

I remember this from my childhood. It was the very first 45 we bought. Dad presumably bought it for mum, whose name was Glenda, presumably as close as he could get. I named my second daughter Glenda after her late grandmother.

@Marc816

Perry Como at his best!!!!

@lewis20002000

Just fell in love with this song at a swing party in Athens, GR.❤❤❤❤❤

@juniorsgv88

I lived in Glendora since 1971 never heard this song ..maybe cause i'm Mexican American? southern Cali res... and i also erd ..the Rancho Cucamongo song as well from the 50's. lol

@vinylsingleman

Was there ever, at any time, any other hit song about a mannequin?

@fabnil

Kaw-Liga - Hank Williams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FY7RWJAtJQ

@jerrypriessen8137

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrhPYPC4FTk

@sage9836

Fast forward to the 80's for weirdness.

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