They appeared some years before similar recording acts such as Bananarama and Atomic Kitten became commonplace. Anticipating the Spice Girls, each member of the group had a nickname.
Signed to Pye Records, Paper Dolls had one solitary success. The song, "Something Here in My Heart (Keeps A-Tellin’ Me No)", which was their debut single, and was written by Tony Macaulay and John Macleod, reached Number 11 in the UK Singles Chart in 1968. The enduring image of the Paper Dolls, as seen, for example, on BBC Television's Top of the Pops, was inescapably that of three young women in miniskirts, the popularity and brevity of which were at their height at the time. Moreover, the name of the group was itself suggestive of "dolly birds", a rather impersonal term which, in the 1970s, journalist Christopher Booker associated with "girls [being] transformed into throwaway plastic objects".
Several follow-ups, notably "My Life (Is In Your Hands)" and "Someday", failed to chart. Their greatest disappointment came when their producers arranged for them to record another Macaulay co-composition "Build Me Up Buttercup" later that year. Due to a misunderstanding they never turned up for the session, and instead the song was given to The Foundations, whose version became a transatlantic hit. The flip side of "Someday", entitled "Any Old Time (You're Lonely and Sad)" was also recorded by The Foundations, for whom it charted in the UK.
The Paper Dolls released a single album, Paper Dolls House in 1968, which was re-issued with bonus tracks on CD in 2001. Originally it contained a cover of The Beach Boys' song "Darlin'"; whilst the latter version contained a previously unreleased cover of the Paul McCartney penned, "Step Inside Love".
In 1970 they signed to RCA. But two further singles, yet another cover, this time of The Angels' "My Boyfriend's Back"; plus the more original "Remember December" (featuring backing vocals by Brian Connolly - later of Sweet); went unnoticed, and the trio split up. Thus they remain as one-hit wonders.
After the split:
In 1978, billed as 'Tiger Sue', Mathis released a solo single of the Jackie DeShannon penned song, "When You Walk in the Room".
Mathis had another moment of glory in 1980 as vocal coach for the St Winifred's School Choir, whose single "There's No-one Quite Like Grandma" was a Christmas number one in 1980.
Mathis became a local radio presenter, appearing on Piccadilly Radio and BBC Radio Manchester.
Also, Mathis went on to become a fundraising co-ordinator for the "Kirsty Appeal" on behalf of the Francis House Children's Hospice, in Didsbury, Manchester, and was involved with various other cancer charities. Ironically, she was diagnosed with breast cancer herself, early in 2004.
Darlin'
The Paper Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But darlin' I'll find a way
To let you know what you meant to me
Guess it was meant to be
I hold you in my heart
As life's most precious part
Oh darlin'
(Darlin' you're so fine)
I love the way you soften my life with your love
Your precious love uh huh, oh
You were living like half a man
Then I couldn't love but now I can
You pick me up when I'm feeling sad
More soul than I ever had
Gonna love you every single night
Cause I think you're too outta sight
Oh oh darlin'
I dream about you often my darlin'
(Darlin' you're so fine)
I love the way soften my life with your love
Your precious love uh huh huh
Woah oh oh oh
Every night oh darlin'
Gonna love you every single night, yes I will
Cause I think you're too dog gone outta sight
Oh darlin'
I dream about you often my darlin'
(Darlin' you're so fine)
I love the way soften my life with your love
Your precious love uh huh huh
Oh
The lyrics to The Paper Dolls' song Darlin' describe a deep and passionate love for someone. The singer is telling this special person that they mean everything to them and that they will find a way to let them know. The connection between them is undeniable, and the singer believes that it was meant to be. The person is held in the singer's heart as the most precious part of life. The love they share is so strong that the singer dreams about them often and is especially fond of the way they soften their life with their love. The person who was previously living like half a man is now loved completely by the singer, and they are grateful for it. Even when the singer feels sad, this person is always there to pick them up, and they have a soul that the singer has never experienced before. The singer is so madly in love with this person that they will love them every night, and they think that the person is outta sight.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't know if words could say
I'm not sure if I have the right words to express how I feel
But darlin' I'll find a way
But I'll do everything I can to let you know how much you mean to me
To let you know what you meant to me
To show you the significance you have in my life
Guess it was meant to be
I believe that it was destiny that brought us together
I hold you in my heart
You occupy a special place in my heart
As life's most precious part
I cherish you as the most important thing in my life
Oh darlin'
Addressing you affectionately
I dream about you often my groovy guy
You are constantly on my mind, my cool and attractive partner
(Darlin' you're so fine)
I am expressing how attractive and wonderful you are
I love the way you soften my life with your love
Your love brings comfort and happiness to my life
Your precious love uh huh, oh
I value your love so much
You were living like half a man
You weren't living your life to the fullest before I came along
Then I couldn't love but now I can
I couldn't love anyone before, but now my love is all for you
You pick me up when I'm feeling sad
You have the ability to make me feel better when I'm down
More soul than I ever had
Being with you has given me a greater sense of meaning and purpose
Gonna love you every single night
I will express my love to you every night
Cause I think you're too outta sight
Because I think you're amazing and incredibly attractive
Woah oh oh oh
Expressing joy and excitement
Every night oh darlin'
I will show my love to you every single night
Gonna love you every single night, yes I will
I will express my love to you every single night, without fail
(Darlin' you're so fine)
I repeat how attractive and wonderful you are
Oh darlin'
Addressing you affectionately
I dream about you often my darlin'
You are constantly on my mind, my beloved
I love the way soften my life with your love
Your love brings comfort and happiness to my life
Your precious love uh huh huh
I value your love so much
Oh
Expressing admiration and affection
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Brian Wilson, Michael Love
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind