David Bowie & Mick Jagger Lyrics, Song Meanings, Videos, Full Albums & Bios

Dancing In The Street
by David Bowie and Mick Jagger

Ok, talk to you
South america, australia, france, germany, uk, africa

Calling out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancing in the streets
They're dancing in chicago
Down in new orleans
In new york city

All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
They'll be swinging, swaying, records playing,
Dancing in the street, oh

It doesn't matter what you wear, just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy, grab a girl, everywhere, around the world
They'll be dancing, dancing in the street

It's an invitation across the nation, a chance for folks to meet
They'll be laughing and singing, music swinging
Dancing in the street

Philadelphia, pa
Baltimore in dc now
Don't forget the motor city
On the streets of brazil
Back in the ussr
No matter where you are

All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
They'll be swinging, swaying, records playing
Dancing in the street, oh

It doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on every guy, grab a girl, everywhere, around the world
They'll be dancing, dancing in the streets

Way down in l.a., everyday
Dancing in the streets
Cross in china too
Me and you
Dancing in the street

Don't you know
They'll be dancing
Dancing in the street (repeat)

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: MATT CLIFFORD, MICHAEL (MICK) JAGGER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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"Dancing in the Street" was a Martha and the Vandellas song covered by David Bowie and Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger as part of the Live Aid charity movement in 1985.

The original plan was to perform a track together live, with Bowie performing at Wembley Stadium and Jagger at the JFK Stadium, until it was realised that the satellite link-up would cause a half-second delay that would make this impossible.

Instead, the pair decided to cover “Dancing in the Street” (having rejected an earlier possibility, “One Love” by Bob Marley). Read Full Bio"Dancing in the Street" was a Martha and the Vandellas song covered by David Bowie and Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger as part of the Live Aid charity movement in 1985.

The original plan was to perform a track together live, with Bowie performing at Wembley Stadium and Jagger at the JFK Stadium, until it was realised that the satellite link-up would cause a half-second delay that would make this impossible.

Instead, the pair decided to cover “Dancing in the Street” (having rejected an earlier possibility, “One Love” by Bob Marley). In June 1985, Bowie was recording his contributions to the Absolute Beginners soundtrack at Abbey Road, and so Jagger arranged to fly in to record the track there. A rough mix of the track was completed in just four hours, at which point the pair went straight out to London’s docklands to film a video with director David Mallet. Thirteen hours after the start of recording, this also was completed. Jagger arranged for some minor musical overdubs in New York.

The video (featuring both stars mugging furiously, and sending each other up) was shown twice at the Live Aid event, with Jagger also performing it live at the US concert (Tina Turner taking Bowie’s vocals). Soon afterwards the track was issued as a single, with all profits going to the charity. “Dancing in the Streets” topped the UK charts for four weeks, and reached #7 in America.

Bowie and Jagger would perform the song once more, at the Princes’ Trust Concert on 20 June 1986. It is the last UK #1 single to date for Bowie, and the only #1 success for Jagger in his native country as a solo artist. The song has since featured on several Bowie compilations.