The Legendary Pink Dots are a Netherlands-based band formed in August 1980 … Read Full Bio ↴The Legendary Pink Dots are a Netherlands-based band formed in August 1980 in the UK who, although distinctly underground, have been musically influential over the years. The band name was derived from pink dots of nail varnish on the piano in their squat, where founding members Edward and April lived. The band has as its focal point vocalist Edward Ka-Spel, who is, along with Phil "The Silverman" Knight, one of the original remaining members of the band. In the mid eighties the band resettled in the Netherlands, where they still reside today. Apart from Edward and Phil, the line-up has gone through many changes. Members such as Ryan Moore, a Canadian bass player, who joined in 1991 after the recordings of the Last Man to Fly with the Tear Garden (he joined as a session musician), went on to form their own labels and musical projects. See Twilight Circus and M Records. Their music is nothing if not original and it is difficult to categorise, but comparisons may be drawn with bands like Pink Floyd and Can.

Their sound has been described as an amalgamation of psychedelic rock, industrial, synth-pop and avant-garde. They have released over 40 records and continuously tour the world.

Members of the band have also collaborated with Nurse With Wound, The Dresden Dolls, Jarboe, HNAS, Jim O'Rourke, Skinny Puppy's cEvin Key, forming The Tear Garden. Ka Spel accompanied Skinny Puppy for a small part of their 1988 European 'Head Trauma' tour in Sweden. Key also appears on the 1994 album 9 Lives to Wonder.

Dolls' House
The Legendary Pink Dots Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The kitchen smells of parafin, the stairways turning black and teddy's
looking tired cause he's lying on his back. Crackling curtains dance in
ribbons, flames are waltzing down the hall - a beetle turns a summersault in
a matchbox by the wall. He's getting restless with his lettuce. Frying
tonight in the Dolls House! Mummy's smiling with a match, blows softly
through the doorway and draws patterns in the ash. Crackle Crackle Flash
Flash!

Golly's leaning out of the window. He gives a little wave and as only gollys
can but he can't come out to play. Sparks creep up his trouser leg but he
doesnt care cause he's busy watching mummy comb her curly hair. Very pretty
on the setee... Playing tonight in the dolls house. Mummys smiling with a
match, blows softly thru the doorway and draws patterns in the ash. Fizzle
Fizzle Zap Zap!

Up on the second floor little Wendy takes a bath; her skin is melting slowly
but she manages to laugh. She knows a dozen words or more; she's always so
polite - pull her string out slowly and she'll sing all thru the night, sing
forever - really clever!

Frying tonight in the dolls house but mommys getting bored; she tore up all
her comics 'cos she's not a kiddie anymore. Nor is Daddy.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of “Dolls’ House” by The Legendary Pink Dots paint a vivid picture of a dollhouse that is on fire. The kitchen smells of paraffin, and the stairways are turning black. The dolls, such as Teddy, are lying on their backs, helpless to do anything to stop the fire. The curtains are dancing in ribbons, and the flames are waltzing down the hall. The scene is almost surreal, with a beetle turning a somersault in a matchbox by the wall.

The song further delves into the details of the different dolls in the dollhouse. Golly is watching mommy comb her curly hair, and Wendy is taking a bath, with her skin melting slowly from the fire. Despite the chaos, the dolls seem to be functioning as they should be. Wendy is still able to sing all night long if her string is pulled slowly. The song ends with the realization that the owners of the dollhouse, Daddy and Mummy, are no longer children, and the burning dollhouse has lost its appeal.

The lyrics of Dolls’ House explore themes of childhood innocence, the fragility of life, and the fleeting nature of youth. The dollhouse acts as a metaphor for life, in that everything can seem perfect and idyllic until tragedy strikes. The lyrics show that even though we may have some control over our lives, there are often events that occur that we cannot control, and that can lead to destruction and chaos.

Line by Line Meaning

The kitchen smells of parafin, the stairways turning black and teddy's looking tired cause he's lying on his back.
The house is filled with a smell of kerosene and there’s darkness all around. Even Teddy is exhausted as he’s lying down.

Crackling curtains dance in ribbons, flames are waltzing down the hall - a beetle turns a summersault in a matchbox by the wall.
The fire in the house is moving quickly and the curtains are swaying rapidly. The flames advance through the hall as the beetle flips over in a matchbox.

He's getting restless with his lettuce. Frying tonight in the Dolls House!
An unknown person is feeling agitated while trying to cook lettuce in the midst of the chaos in the house.

Mummy's smiling with a match, blows softly through the doorway and draws patterns in the ash. Crackle Crackle Flash Flash!
The mother in the house is lighting a match and blowing gently to create patterns in the ash. As she does this, there are crackling sounds and flashes of light.

Golly's leaning out of the window. He gives a little wave and as only gollys can but he can't come out to play.
A toy called Golly is peering out of the window but can't come out to play, though it waves its hand.

Sparks creep up his trouser leg but he doesnt care cause he's busy watching mummy comb her curly hair. Very pretty on the setee...
Despite sparks climbing up the toy’s trousers, it's not bothered as it's engaged in watching the mother comb her hair and admiring her beauty.

Playing tonight in the dolls house. Mummys smiling with a match, blows softly thru the doorway and draws patterns in the ash. Fizzle Fizzle Zap Zap!
The toys continue to play while the mother blows gently with her match to sketch ash patterns. The sound of her lighting matches is accompanied by fizzing and zapping noises.

Up on the second floor little Wendy takes a bath; her skin is melting slowly but she manages to laugh.
A toy character called Wendy is having a bath on the second floor. Though she appears to be melting, she's chuckling anyway.

She knows a dozen words or more; she's always so polite - pull her string out slowly and she'll sing all thru the night, sing forever - really clever!
Wendy is incredibly polite and knows many phrases. If one were to gently tug her string, she would sing throughout the night; a truly smart (and advanced for a toy) toy.

Frying tonight in the dolls house but mommys getting bored; she tore up all her comics 'cos she's not a kiddie anymore. Nor is Daddy.
In the midst of all the fire and chaos, the mother is getting tired of playing with the toys. She has even torn up her comics because she feels she's too old for them- the father seems to feel the same way.

Contributed by Dominic K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS