Donna Donna
The Everly Brothers Lyrics


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[Chorus]
Donna, Donna, why'd you want to do that?
You led me on and lured me off
Then you turned me down flat, da-da, da-da
Donna, Donna, why'd you want to do that?
You tempted me and tortured me
And left me where I was at, da-da, da-da-da
Donna, why'd you want to do that?

Well, when I met you at the dance
You made me think you liked me
I thought that we could find romance
You even told me so
You had that promise in your eye
That made my heart get ready
You built my hopes up to the skies
And then you told me no

[Chorus]

Well, you really fed me quite a lie
You really snowed me under
I thought that things were workin' fine
From every thing you said
But when that Johnny boy came by
He really stole my thunder
When he gave you the bloomin' eye
He really cut me dead

Donna, Donna, why'd you want to do that?
You led me on and lured me off




Then you turned me down flat, la-da, da-da
Donna, Donna

Overall Meaning

The Everly Brothers’ song “Donna Donna” is a song about a young man, the singer of the song, who falls in love with a girl named Donna. The singer met Donna at a dance and was led on to believe that she liked him too. She even promised him in her eyes that they could find romance. The young man built his hopes up, his head up to the skies, but Donna unexpectedly turned him down after bringing him in with her promises. The singer is left wondering why Donna would want to do that to him. He feels let down and disappointed by her false promises.


The second verse brings in a second male character, Johnny, who the singer feels is responsible for Donna turning him down. When Johnny shows interest in Donna, the singer feels like he has lost out to Johnny, who has taken away his chance with her. The song shows the vulnerability of young people who are trying to find love and how the end of a relationship can be very difficult to deal with emotionally.


Overall, “Donna Donna” is a song that tells the story of a broken relationship that ended in disappointment and left the singer with a sense of betrayal from Donna. The lyrics portray the feelings and emotions that people go through when they are young and inexperienced in love. The song shows that love can be hurtful and uncertain, but it is still a force that draws people to each other.


Line by Line Meaning

Donna, Donna, why'd you want to do that?
Expressing confusion about why Donna would treat the singer this way.


You led me on and lured me off
Donna gave mixed signals and tempted the singer, only to disappoint him later.


Then you turned me down flat, da-da, da-da
Donna rejected the singer completely, leaving him feeling embarrassed and hurt.


Donna, Donna, why'd you want to do that?
Repeating the initial question, emphasizing the shock and bewilderment of the situation.


You tempted me and tortured me
Donna's behavior was extremely frustrating and caused the singer a lot of emotional pain.


And left me where I was at, da-da, da-da-da
Donna's actions left the singer feeling stuck and unable to move on from his feelings for her.


Donna, why'd you want to do that?
The singer pleading with Donna for an explanation for her behavior.




Lyrics © HOUSE OF BRYANT PUBLICATIONS, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOUDLEAUX BRYANT, FELICE BRYANT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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