Dolls' House

Two Main Versions

* "1981 Version" (1981) - Chemical Playschool 1 (7:00), Kleine Krieg (8:13), Ancient Daze (6:57), Ancient Daze CD-R (7:00)

All mixes fade in, but the Ancient Daze CD mix cuts off five seconds, and on Kleine Krieg it is mixed with an untitled prefix. The Ancient Daze CD-R mix is almost complete.

Instruments: Single drum machine pattern; monophonic keyboard following the melody; choppy organ chords and steady chords in a lower octave; random string keyboard rising and falling, occasionally making explosive noises; single vocal track with reverb; second "mommy!" heavy-echo vocal track which sounds like Ka-Spel; bass guitar, slapping percussion.

* "1983 Version" (1983) - Curse (4:50)

Starts with a gentle music box, then the beat and bass begin to play. After a match strikes, the song begins. The "frying tonight" chorus is not repeated in this version, and it fades out earlier than the original (after the "nor's daddy" line). No "fireworks" lyrics this time. The song fades into a snippet from "Film of the Book," then into strange childlike cheering, and finally into following song ("The Palace of Love.")

Instruments: Single drum machine pattern; bass guitar; knocking, clicking, bells, triangle, plinking piano string, and crashing percussion; surf-like electric guitar; choppy synth that sometimes plays chords, changes to fiery static, or picks out the melody during verses; single vocal track; occasional backing vocal; female "mummy!" vocals; music box with winding noises.

Prefix:

On Kleine Krieg the song is preceeded by an unlisted seventy-second instrumental track consisting of low synth noises. The song mixes with opening section of "Dolls' House."

What It's About:

A young girl has decided that she's too old for her toys, so she sets her dolls' house on fire. This is the cheerful story of the inanimate inhabitants burning up along with their furniture. It's a joyeous celebration but it probably shouldn't be.

Lyrics (adapted from the Cloud-Zero archive):

The kitchen smells of paraffin, the stairway's turning black
and teddy's looking tired 'cos he's lying on his back.
Crackling curtains dance in ribbons, flames are waltzing 'cross the hall.
A beetle turns a somersault in a matchbox by a wall.
Getting restless with his lettuce.

Frying tonight in the dolls' house. Mummy's smiling with a match,
blows softly through the doorway, draws patterns in the ash.
Crackle crackle.

Golly's leaning out of the window. He gives a little wave.
Grins as only gollies can but he can't come out to play.
Sparks leap up his trouser legs, but he doesn't care
'cos he's busy watching mummy comb her curly hair.
Very pretty on the settee.

Frying tonight in the dolls' house. Mummy's smiling with a match,
blows softly through the doorway, draws patterns in the ash.
Fizzle fizzle.

La la la...

Frying tonight in the dolls' house. Mummy's smiling with a match,
blows softly through the doorway, draws patterns in the ash.
Flash flash.

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, she'll sing on through the night.
Sing forever! Really clever!

Frying tonight in the dolls' house, but mommy's getting bored.
Tore up all her comics, not a kiddie anymore.
Nor is daddy. Nor is daddy.

Fireworks flashing 'cross the sky.
Bonfire night in the dolls' house.
See all the flames, see all the sparklers.
Fizzle fizzle. Flash flash.

La la la...
La la.
Laaaaaah.

Crackle crackle! Crackle crackle! Crackle crackle! Crackle crackle!