BABY DOLL

Whoa baby doll
They tried to tell me you were deaf and dumb
But I knew they were wrong
You were just a silent one
Oh baby doll
They tried to tell me you could not feel
But I found out they tried to conceal
From you, that you were warm
Well they brought you in to this laboratory
And tried to give you the show and tell
They want to hear you say that you were sorry
And then they told you, that you were conceived in hell
But baby doll you knew, you knew that wasn't true
You knew that it was them, it was a gift

Oh baby doll
It was so hard to know you
I could not tell you I couldn't show you
But I didn't have to 'cause you already knew
Oh baby doll
We had to see by touching hands
We had to dance to a silent band
And you surprised me being so graceful
I know you can't hear these songs I sing
But then they're more for me than they are for you
Because you don't need these songs
Babe well I got news
Yeah you knew the first time that I held you
Baby didn't have to hear "I love you"
Whoa baby doll
They tried to tell you were deaf and dumb
But I knew that they were wrong
And you were just the lonely one

Laurel Canyon Publishing Demos. These lyrics refer to the version that was recorded in May-Jun 1972 at the offices of Laurel Canyon Music, New York City, NY, and that later appeared on the semi-legal CD Before The Fame. An alternative version also exists.

A touching song that explores a love that doesn't need words, a love that can't be spoken. When someone delves beneath the outer layers of the persona imposed on them by society, the explorer finds a more worthwhile being, a being worth the efforts of love. Essentially a song about an outsider, perhaps Bruce projects a share of himself into the persona of Baby Doll.