William's Doll

based on the book by Charlotte Zolotow
sung by Alan Alda and Marlo Thomas
from "Free To Be ... You And Me"


Alan Alda:

When my friend William was five years old
He wanted a doll to hug and hold

Marlo Thomas:

"A doll ..."

Alan Alda:

... said William

Marlo Thomas:

"... is what I need
To wash and clean and dress and feed
A doll to give a bottle to
And put to bed when day is through
And any time my doll gets ill
I'll take good care of it"

Alan Alda:

... said my friend Bill

Both:

"A doll! A doll! William wants a doll! Don't be a sissy!"
Said his best friend Ed
"Why should a boy want to play with a doll? Dolls are for girls!"
Said his cousin Fred
"Don't be a jerk!"
Said his older brother

Alan Alda:

"I know what to do," said his father to his mother

So his father bought him a basketball
A badminton set, and that's not all
A bag of marbles, a baseball glove
And all the things a boy would love
And Bill was good at every game
Enjoyed them all but, all the same
When Billy's father praised his skill

Marlo Thomas:

"Can I please have a doll now?"

Alan Alda:

... said my friend Bill

Both:

"A doll! A doll! William wants a doll!
A doll! A doll! William wants a doll!"

Alan Alda:

Then William's grandma arrived one day
And wanted to know what he liked to play
And Bill said:

Marlo Thomas:

"Baseball's my favorite game
I like to play but, all the same
I'd give my bat and ball and glove
To have a doll that I could love."

Alan Alda:

"How very wise," his grandma said.
Said Bill:

Marlo Thomas:

"But everyone says this instead:

Both:

"'A doll! A doll! William wants a doll!
A doll! A doll! William wants a doll!'"

Alan Alda:

So William's grandma, as I've been told
Bought William a doll to hug and hold
And William's father began to frown
But Grandma smiled and calmed him down
Explaining:

Both:

"William wants a doll
So, when he has a baby someday
He'll know how to dress it
Put diapers on double
And gently caress it
To bring up a bubble
And care for his baby
As every good father should learn to do
William has a doll, William has a doll
'Cause someday he is gonna be a father, too!"

Transcribed by Silvery Shoe


available on the album
Free To Be ... You And Me
Free To Be ... You And Me


also available on DVD and as a Book

The original story also available

William's Doll

by Charlotte Zolotow
(William Pene du Bois, Illustrator)