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.
Move Over Darling
The Paper Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Move over darling
I like it too much
Move over darling
That gleam in your eyes is no big surprise anymore
Cos you fooled me before
I'm all in a spin
I've got to give in
Move over darling
And though it's not right, I'm too weak to fight it somehow
Cos I want you right now
The way you sigh, has me waving my conscience bye-bye
You can call me a fickle thing
But I'm practically yours forever, because
I yearn to be kissed
Move over darling
How can I resist
Move over darling
You captured my heart, and now that I'm no longer free
Make love to me
The way you sigh
Has me waving my conscience good-bye
You can call me a fickle thing
But I'm practically yours forever, because
I yearn to be kissed
Move over darling
How can I resist
Move over darling
Please give me your love, I'm longing for you
I need all your love, honest I do
You captured my heart and now that I'm no longer free
Make love to me
)x 4
Move over darling
The Paper Dolls's song "Move Over Darling" is a love song about the irresistible attraction between two people who cannot resist the spark they have created. Despite knowing that they shouldn't touch, they cannot resist coming together. The first verse talks about how their lips shouldn't touch but the singer "likes it too much" and must give in to their attraction. The second verse describes how the singer is "all in a spin" and despite knowing it is not right, they are "too weak to fight it". The lyrics describe the feelings of yearning and desire that the singer feels towards their love interest, and the struggle to suppress those feelings due to external constraints.
The chorus emphasizes the singer’s desire to be with their love interest, captured by their heart, and now no longer free. They realize they are not able to resist the urge to be with them, so they ask them to "move over darling" and make love to them.
Overall, the song portrays the emotions felt by people when they fall in love, the uncontainable desire, and the difficulties they face when the society causes limitations.
Line by Line Meaning
Our lips shouldn't touch
I know it's not right for us to be together romantically
Move over darling
Please move away and give me some space
I like it too much
But I can't help myself because I'm so attracted to you
That gleam in your eyes is no big surprise anymore
I can see that you're trying to win me over again, but I'm not so easily fooled this time
Cos you fooled me before
You've deceived me in the past, and I don't want to make the same mistake again
I'm all in a spin
I'm feeling very overwhelmed and confused
I've got to give in
I know I should resist, but I don't have the strength to do so
And though it's not right, I'm too weak to fight it somehow
Even though I know it's wrong, I can't help myself from giving into my feelings
Cos I want you right now
I'm consumed with desire for you in this moment
The way you sigh, has me waving my conscience bye-bye
Your actions are making me forget my morals and judgement
You can call me a fickle thing
Others might judge me for being indecisive and unfaithful
But I'm practically yours forever, because
Despite my flaws, I'm still deeply committed to you
I yearn to be kissed
I crave physical affection from you
How can I resist
It's impossible for me to ignore my feelings for you
You captured my heart, and now that I'm no longer free
You've won my affection, and I feel bound to you
Make love to me
I want to be intimate with you
Please give me your love, I'm longing for you
I need your affection and attention
I need all your love, honest I do
I'm very serious about my feelings for you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HAL KANTER, JOE LUBIN, TERRY MELCHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gaitachi 32
Piece of art 💙
Robert Ellard
Why dont they make music like this any more.
peterdavidfoster
This song is so good I believe ANYONE could have a decent stab at it....
theshameofthesun
They are ACE such a Beautiful Song
Trevor Burrell
Great version, very underestimated group
999carpet
good .. liked it
Glenn Silver
Nobody does it better than Tracey Ullman!
thecountofbasie
Listen to the version by Susanna and The Roomates
Fred C
@thecountofbasie Of the four versions I like every single one of them!!! Tracey tends to kind of do parody versions of songs but it comes out great. I give Doris and her movie her due, but Susanna actually has the best singing talent and does the strongest version. I do like every single one of them and really don't have a preference.
michael chirichella
Helen Shapiro owns this song. Check out her version