Silverstein's passion for music was clear early on as he studied for a while at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. As a songwriter, Silverstein kept a low profile but cast a long shadow. He tended to shun publicity and even photographers. Nonetheless, his musical output included many songs which were hits for other artists. Most notably, he wrote the music and lyrics for "A Boy Named Sue" that was performed by Johnny Cash (for which he won a Grammy in 1970); "One's on the Way" (which was a hit for Loretta Lynn), and "The Unicorn Song" which, despite having nothing to do with Ireland nor Irish culture, became the signature piece for The Irish Rovers in 1968 and is popular in pubs all over the world to this day. He wrote the lyrics and music for most of the Dr. Hook songs, including "Cover of the Rolling Stone", "Freakin' at the Freakers' Ball", "Sylvia's Mother", and the cautionary song about VD, "Don't Give a Dose to the One You Love Most". He also wrote many of the songs performed by Bobby Bare, including "Marie Laveau", "Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe", "The Mermaid", "The Winner", and "Tequila Sheila". The song "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan",] recorded in 1979 by Marianne Faithfull and later featured in the films Montenegro and Thelma & Louise, was also by Silverstein.
Don't Giva A Dose To The One You Love Most
Shel Silverstein Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give her some marmalade...give her some toast.
You can give her the willies or give her the blues.
But the dose that you give her will get back to youse.
I once had a lady as sweet as a song.
She was my darlin', and she was my dear.
But she had a dose, and she passed it along.
So, don't give a dose to the one you love most.
Give her some marmalade...give her some toast.
You can give her a partiridge up in a pear tree,
But the dose that you give her might get back to me.
So if you've got an itchin'...if you've got a drip,
Don't sit there wishin' for it to go 'way.
If there's a thing on the tip of your thing or your lip,
Run down to the clinic today, and say...
"I won't give a dose to the one I love most.
I'll give her some marmalade...give her some toast."
Give her the willies or give her the blues,
But the dose that you give her will get back to you.
The lyrics to Shel Silverstein's "Don't Give A Dose To The One You Love Most" carry a powerful message about the consequences of careless actions in a relationship. The song cautions listeners against giving sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to their partners, as these diseases can have long-lasting effects on both individuals involved. Instead, the singer suggests giving their loved one something harmless and enjoyable, like marmalade and toast.
The first stanza establishes the central theme of the song: the interconnectedness of one's actions and their consequences. The phrase "the dose that you give her will get back to youse" shows that one's actions have a ripple effect, and careless behavior can harm oneself as well as one's partner. The second stanza is a personal anecdote from the singer's own experience, where he lost someone he loved due to a disease that was passed on to him. This personal touch makes the message more relatable to listeners and drives home the potential severity of STIs.
The third stanza is a call to action, urging listeners to take responsibility for their own health and prioritize their partner's well-being. The playful imagery of "a partiridge up in a pear tree" juxtaposed with the serious message of STI prevention highlights the importance of taking one's health seriously. The song ends on a haunting note, with the repeated warning that "the dose that you give her will get back to you." The overall message of the song is clear: be mindful of your actions in a relationship and prioritize the health and well-being of both yourself and your partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't give a dose to the one you love most.
It's important to prevent the spread of diseases to those closest to us.
Give her some marmalade...give her some toast.
Instead of STDs, give your loved one something sweet like marmalade and toast.
You can give her the willies or give her the blues.
You can scare or sadden your loved one without causing physical harm.
But the dose that you give her will get back to youse.
If you give your loved one an STD, it may come back to affect you as well.
I once had a lady as sweet as a song.
The artist had a sweet, loving partner.
She was my darlin', and she was my dear.
The singer loved their partner deeply.
But she had a dose, and she passed it along.
However, the partner had an STD which was spread to the singer.
Now she's gone, but the dose is still there.
Although the partner is no longer around, the STD remains as a reminder of their relationship.
You can give her a partiridge up in a pear tree,
You can give your loved one extravagant displays of affection.
But the dose that you give her might get back to me.
But if you give them an STD, it could affect the artist as well.
So if you've got an itchin'...if you've got a drip,
If you have symptoms of an STD, don't ignore them.
Don't sit there wishin' for it to go 'way.
Ignoring the problem won't make it disappear.
If there's a thing on the tip of your thing or your lip,
If you have an STD on your genitals or mouth.
Run down to the clinic today, and say...
Go to the doctor and get tested and treated for any STDs.
"I won't give a dose to the one I love most.
The singer vows not to spread STDs to their loved one.
I'll give her some marmalade...give her some toast."
They will show their affection in harmless ways, like giving them breakfast in bed.
But the dose that you give her will get back to you.
It's important to prioritize safe sex to prevent the spread of STDs.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SHEL SILVERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind