In part because of his expressive phrasing and graceful interpretation, Astaire was chosen to introduce many now-classic songs, including standards by Cole Porter (example, "Night and Day"), his friend Irving Berlin ("Let's Face the Music and Dance"), Jerome Kern ("The Way You Look Tonight"), Johnny Mercer ("One for My Baby") and George and Ira Gershwin ("They Can't Take That Away from Me").
Fred Astaire is interred at Oakwood Memorial Park, Chatsworth, California, USA, the same cemetery where Ginger Rogers, is located. (http://encyclopaediaoftrivia.blogspot.com/2011/09/fred-astaire.html)
Cheek To Cheek
Fred Astaire Lyrics
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And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak
And I seem to find the happiness I seek
When we're out together dancing, cheek to cheek
Heaven, I'm in Heaven
And the cares that hung around me through the week
Seem to vanish like a gambler's lucky streak
When we're out together dancing, cheek to cheek
Oh, I love to climb a mountain
And to reach the highest peak
But it doesn't thrill me half as much
As dancing cheek to cheek
Oh, I love to go out fishing
In a river or a creek
But I don't enjoy it half as much
As dancing cheek to cheek
Oh, dance with me
I want my arm about you
The charm about you
Will carry me through to
Heaven, I'm in Heaven
And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak
And I seem to find the happiness I seek
When we're out together dancing cheek to cheek
The first two lines of Fred Astaire's "Cheek to Cheek" express a feeling of immense joy and euphoria, exclaiming that he is in heaven. He describes his heart beating so fast that he can hardly speak, suggesting love at first sight with his dance partner. The mention of seeking happiness is a reference to how dancing together is a source of true joy for him. The phrase "when we're out together dancing cheek to cheek" conveys the intimacy of the dance and how the physical touching of the cheeks shows a bond that exists between the two dancers. The song suggests that this experience is not just about the dance itself but includes the emotions that are expressed throughout the performance.
In the second stanza, Astaire describes how the anxieties throughout his week disappear when he dances with his partner. The use of "gamblers lucky streak" denotes a feeling of chance and excitement that envelopes him. He shows how dancing cheek to cheek can simultaneously take him through a range of emotions: from pure joy to relaxation, and calming of worries. While he enjoys other activities like climbing mountains or going fishing, dancing with his partner surpasses all of them in a way that's indescribable. Astaire also invites his partner to dance with him saying "Oh dance with me, I want my arm about you, the charm about you." This further emphasizes the intimacy that exists between them and how they can convey their feelings through their dance.
Line by Line Meaning
Heaven, I'm in Heaven
I feel incredible happiness and joy beyond words
And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak
My emotions are so strong that it's hard for me to express myself
And I seem to find the happiness I seek
I have finally found the kind of happiness I have been searching for
When we're out together dancing, cheek to cheek
I experience extreme happiness and joy when I dance so close to my partner
And the cares that hung around me through the week
All the stresses from the past week have disappeared
Seem to vanish like a gambler's lucky streak
It's as if all my worries and problems have disappeared as easily as a streak of good luck for a gambler
Oh, I love to climb a mountain
While I enjoy physical challenges like mountain climbing
And to reach the highest peak
And accomplishing something difficult, it still doesn't compare to the joy I feel from dancing cheek to cheek
But it doesn't thrill me half as much
Dancing with my partner brings me far more pleasure and satisfaction than climbing mountains does
As dancing cheek to cheek
The intimacy and joy I feel when we dance cheek to cheek is incomparable
Oh, I love to go out fishing
While I also enjoy leisure activities like fishing
In a river or a creek
Spending time in nature, it still doesn't come close to how much dancing with my partner thrills me
But I don't enjoy it half as much
It's not even close to the amount of joy I feel from dancing cheek to cheek
As dancing cheek to cheek
Nothing compares to the happiness and fulfillment that comes from dancing in such a close and intimate way with my partner
Oh, dance with me
Please join me in this wonderful experience
I want my arm about you
I want to have my arm around you, to feel closer to you
The charm about you
Your charisma and appeal make you so special to me
Will carry me through to
Your charm and charisma will help me get through anything
Heaven, I'm in Heaven
I feel incredible happiness and joy beyond words
And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak
My emotions are so strong that it's hard for me to express myself
And I seem to find the happiness I seek
I have finally found the kind of happiness I have been searching for
When we're out together dancing cheek to cheek
I experience extreme happiness and joy when I dance so close to my partner
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, MUSIC.INFO FINLAND OY
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind