Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
The Beatles Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Desmond has a barrow in the marketplace
Molly is the singer in a band
Desmond says to Molly, "Girl, I like your face"
And Molly says this as she takes him by the hand

Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah
La-la, how their life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah
La-la, how their life goes on

Desmond takes a trolley to the jeweler's store
Buys a twenty carat golden ring
Takes it back to Molly waiting at the door
And as he gives it to her she begins to sing

Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah
La-la, how their life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah
La-la, how their life goes on (yeah)

In a couple of years they have built a home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard
Of Desmond and Molly Jones

Happy ever after in the marketplace
Desmond lets the children lend a hand
Molly stays at home and does her pretty face
And in the evening she still sings it with the band, yes

Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah
La-la, how their life goes on (hey)
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah
La-la, how their life goes on

In a couple of years they have built a home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard
Of Desmond and Molly Jones

Hey, happy ever after in the marketplace
Molly lets the children lend a hand
Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face
And in the evening she's a singer with the band, yeah

Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah
La-la, how their life goes on (hey)
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah
La-la, how their life goes on

And if you want some fun




Take ob-la-di, bla-da
Ah, thank you

Overall Meaning

The Beatles' classic "Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da" tells the story of Desmond and Molly, two people who meet, fall in love, get married, have children, and lead happy, fulfilling lives. The song is about the ups and downs of love and life and the importance of keeping a positive attitude throughout it all.


In the first verse, Desmond and Molly are introduced, with Desmond owning a barrow in the marketplace and Molly being a singer in a band. They like each other and begin a romance, with Molly taking Desmond's hand as they walk away together. The chorus, "Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah" emphasizes the idea that life goes on no matter what happens.


In the second verse, Desmond buys a golden ring for Molly, and she sings as he gives it to her. The third verse skips ahead a few years and describes their life together with their children in their own home. The final verse repeats the chorus, and adds the line, "And if you want some fun, take ob-la-di, bla-da," suggesting that even in hard times, it's possible to find joy by taking life as it comes and making the most of it.


Overall, "Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da" is a feel-good song about love, life, and the power of optimism.


Line by Line Meaning

Desmond has a barrow in the marketplace
Desmond has a small cart in the public area used for selling goods


Molly is the singer in a band
Molly performs singing as a member of a musical group


Desmond says to Molly, "Girl, I like your face"
Desmond compliments Molly about her physical appearance


And Molly says this as she takes him by the hand
Molly reciprocates Desmond's affection and holds hands with him


Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah
Life moves forward, flowing steadily and effortlessly


La-la, how their life goes on
Expressing joy and contentment in a playful manner


Desmond takes a trolley to the jeweler's store
Desmond rides an electric-powered passenger vehicle to buy jewelry


Buys a twenty carat golden ring
Desmond purchases a valuable ring made out of 20 karat gold


Takes it back to Molly waiting at the door
Desmond gifts the ring to Molly who was eagerly waiting for him to arrive


And as he gives it to her she begins to sing
Molly expresses her excitement by singing upon receiving the ring


In a couple of years they have built a home sweet home
Desmond and Molly construct a pleasant place to live in within two years


With a couple of kids running in the yard
Desmond and Molly have two children who enjoy playing in the yard


Happy ever after in the marketplace
Desmond and Molly lead a pleasant life in the open public space


Desmond lets the children lend a hand
Desmond allows his children to help him with work


Molly stays at home and does her pretty face
Molly takes care of her beauty by staying at home and grooming herself


And in the evening she still sings it with the band, yes
Molly continues to perform with her band at night


And if you want some fun
If you are looking for entertainment


Take ob-la-di, bla-da
Listen to Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da song to have a good time


Ah, thank you
A thankful expression for suggesting the song




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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