Rag Dolly

***Rag Dolly*** is a song by Joe Raposo. The fifth track on side one of the Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). Rag Dolly was later adapted into the 1984 Raggedy Ann musical with considerable changes to the lyrics and a much more introspective tone.

## 1977 Film Lyrics

**Raggedy Ann:**

All of us live in the nursery,

All of us different as we can be.

Some of us plump, some of us thin,

Some who are sad and some who always grin.

Everyone here to welcome you,

And all I want to say is really simple, plain and true.

I'm just a rag dolly, happy and smilin' all day,

A little rag dolly, wishing your worries away.

I stop and say,

'Golly, this is too good to be true,

A little rag dolly, plain as can be, has a friend who's as lovely as you.

**Raggedy Andy:**

She's just a rag dolly, happy and smilin' all day,

A lovey rag dolly, wishin' your worries away.

And I get so jolly, knowing it's funny but true,

A little rag dolly, sweet as can be, could be friends with a dolly like you.

**Playroom Toys:**

She's just a rag dolly, happy and smilin' all day.

A little rag dolly, wishin' your worries away.

And we say, 'Oh golly, this is too good to be true,

A lovey rag dolly, sweet as can be, has a friend who's as lovely as you.

## Broadway Musical Lyrics

**Raggedy Ann:**

Rags, buttons, and gingham and yarn

To mend a heart that's broke in two-

I don't know, who do I think I am?

I'm just a rag dolly

Happy and smiling all day

A little rag dolly

Keepin' it simple that way

I stop and say, "Golly,

How could it happen to you?"

Could one poor rag dolly plain as can be

Really make someone's wishes come true?

I'm just a rag dolly

Lightin' a li'l girl's day

A simple rag dolly

Wishin' her worries away

To me, it's real folly

Could I ever make everything right?

When I'm a rag dolly lost as can be

Wonderin' how I can get through the night

We're wanderin' way too far from where we should be

And how we'll ever get there's a mystery

Can't you see?

I'm just a rag dolly

Wantin' for times to be glad

A little rag dolly

Startin' to slide into sad

Wish I could be jolly

Carefree where-ever I roam

But I'm a rag dolly way down inside

And my heart says, "I wanna go-"

We're wanderin' way too far from where we should be

And how we'll ever get there's a mystery

Can't you see?

I'm just a rag dolly

Wantin' for times to be glad

A little rag dolly

I'm not gonna let ya be sad

We're gonna be jolly

Carefree where-ever I roam

'Cause I'm a rag dolly way down inside

And my heart says, "We're gonna go home!"

## History

### Tim Mason Workshop 1983

* The song was also included in a 1983 workshop of a stage adaptation, although specifics are currently unavailable.

### ESIPA Workshop 1984

* The first verse was originally taken from the musical version, instead of the Gingham and Yarn callback.

First came the light in the nursery

Life seemed as pleasant as it could be

Little girl's laugh, love, I recall

Now I’m not sure of where I am at all

### ESIPA 3/1/1985 Script

First came the light in Marcella’s room

Making things bright that were only gloom

Learning to laugh, love, I recall

Now I’m not sure of where I am at all

### ESIPA Workshop 1985

* The first verse is changed to the Gingham and Yarn callback, but the repeated final verse was not added until Broadway previews.

## Trivia

* A disco version of Rag Dolly was performed on the Los Angeles children's show Wonderama. It's circulating among fans under the name "*Disco Dolly*."
* The song was also featured in a previous iteration of the musical in 1983, known to fans as The Circus Draft.

## Videos

Raggedy Ann - Rag DollyRaggedy Ann Broadway Demo - Rag DollyRaggedy Ann 1986 Broadway - Rag Dolly