Paper Doll
The Gatlin Brothers Lyrics
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A doll that other fellows cannot steal
And then the flirty, flirty guys with their flirty, flirty eyes
Will have to flirt with dollies that are real
When I come home at night she will be waiting
She'll be the truest doll in all this world
I'd rather have a Paper Doll to call my own
I guess I had a million dolls or more
I guess I've played the doll game o'er and o'er
I just quarrelled with Sue, that's why I'm blue
She's gone away and left me just like all dolls do
I'll tell you boys, it's tough to be alone
And it's tough to love a doll that's not your own
I'm through with all of them
I'll never ball again
Say boy, whatcha gonna do?
I'm gonna buy a Paper Doll that I can call my own
A doll that other fellows cannot steal
And then the flirty, flirty guys with their flirty, flirty eyes
Will have to flirt with dollies that are real
When I come home at night she will be waiting
She'll be the truest doll in all this world
I'd rather have a Paper Doll to call my own
Than have a fickle-minded real live girl
The Gatlin Brothers' song Paper Doll tells the story of a man who has had a string of unsuccessful relationships with real live women. He decides it's time to give up on them altogether and instead buy a paper doll that he can call his own. He believes that with a paper doll, he will no longer have to worry about other men stealing his doll away from him, nor will he have to worry about her being fickle-minded. In his mind, a paper doll is a sure thing, a constant companion who will never leave him or change her mind.
The lyrics suggest a deep sense of loneliness and disappointment with real-life relationships. The line "I'm through with all of them, I'll never ball again" is particularly telling, as it suggests that the singer has decided to give up on real intimacy altogether. He is willing to settle for the illusion of companionship provided by a paper doll because he has lost faith in the ability of real people to provide him with what he needs emotionally.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the human need for connection and companionship, and the ways in which we sometimes give up on those needs in the face of disappointment and heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna buy a Paper Doll that I can call my own
I'm going to buy a fake doll that nobody else can have and call it my own.
A doll that other fellows cannot steal
No one else can have this doll; she is only mine.
And then the flirty, flirty guys with their flirty, flirty eyes
Even though there are guys who are flirting with real girls, I won't care anymore.
Will have to flirt with dollies that are real
Other guys have to flirt with real girls, but I won't have to.
When I come home at night she will be waiting
My Paper Doll will be waiting for me when I come home.
She'll be the truest doll in all this world
She may be fake, but she will be the most loyal and true to me.
I'd rather have a Paper Doll to call my own
I prefer having a fake doll that belongs only to me over a real girl who could be unfaithful.
Than have a fickle-minded real live girl
I don't want to deal with the unpredictability and fickleness of a real girl.
I guess I had a million dolls or more
I've had a lot of fake dolls in the past.
I guess I've played the doll game o'er and o'er
I've been playing with fake dolls for a long time.
I just quarrelled with Sue, that's why I'm blue
I just had a fight with a real girl named Sue, which is why I'm feeling down.
She's gone away and left me just like all dolls do
Like all the fake dolls I've played with, Sue has left me too.
I'll tell you boys, it's tough to be alone
Being alone is difficult, even when you have a fake doll.
And it's tough to love a doll that's not your own
It's hard to love a doll that belongs to someone else.
I'm through with all of them
I'm done with real girls and even fake dolls.
I'll never ball again
I won't be involved with anyone romantically again.
Say boy, whatcha gonna do?
I'm in a difficult situation and I need to figure out what to do next.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, O/B/O CAPASSO, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY S BLACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind