Paper Doll by the Mills Brothers

Paper Dolls was the Mills Brothers comeback song. The Mills Brothers was barbershop style quartet (sometimes quintet) whose pop vocal styles had elements of jazz and swing. They found much musical success in the 1930s but an extended tour of Europe and South America kept them away from American listeners too long and when they returned they found themselves mostly forgotten. They revitalized their career in 1943 when they released their record I’ll Be Around. The song Paper Doll was on the B-Side and it went on to become their biggest hit. It was written years ago in 1915 by songwriter Johnny S. Black. The song wasn’t published until 1930 and wasn’t recorded until 1942 . When you listen to the song, you can tell it’s definitely a blend of new (the Mills Brothers style) and old (the original song as written years ago). I love this song. It reminds me of I Found a Million Dollar Baby (Harry Warren) as well as Louis Armstrong’s Dummy Song.

A big thanks goes out to Bobby Rivers who introduced me to the Mills Brothers. I have loved them ever since!

Paper Doll

I’m gonna buy a Paper Doll that I can call my own

A doll that others 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 that I can call my own

Than have a fickle-minded real live girl.

I guess I had a million dolls or more

I guess I played the doll game o’er and o’er.

I just quarreled 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 fall again.

Say boy, whatcha gonna do?

I’m gonna buy a Paper Doll that I can call my own

A doll that others 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 that I can call my own,

Than have a fickle-minded real live girl.

The Mills Brothers