Alma Cogan was Britain's most successful female recording artist of the 195… Read Full Bio ↴Alma Cogan was Britain's most successful female recording artist of the 1950's. Born in London in 1932, her early recordings were mainly ballads, in the style of Anne Shelton. But by 1954, this was to all change. Her first major hit was "Bell Bottom Blues", and she scored her only number one in Britain with "Dreamboat" in 1956. Novelty songs were extremely popular at the time, and Alma recorded a number of these, including "I Can't Tell A Waltz From A Tango", "Twenty Tiny Fingers" and "Never Do A Tango With An Eskimo". She was known for the giggle in her voice when she sang and was affectinaltely known as The Girl With A Laugh In Her Voice. Her extravagant dresses were also a trademark. Her final UK hit was "Cowboy Jimmy Joe" in 1961, but was fast becoming an International Artist, with hits in Sweden, Germany, Israel and Japan - she had a number one hit in Japan with "Just Couldn't Resist Her With Her Pocket Transistor" which was at the top spot for over six months. As the novelty numbers were fast becoming old-fashioned by the start of the 1960s, she recorded a number of jazz standards and pop records, including five songs written by the Beatles - these recordings can be found on a number of CDs. Famed for her showbiz parties, with guests like Cary Grant, Noel Coward and the Beatles, she was never out of the public eye until ovarian cancer tragically cut her career short. She died on the 26th October 1966, aged just 34.

I Can't Tell a Waltz from a Tango
Alma Cogan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I can't tell a waltz from a tango
I never know what my feet are gonna do
Oh I can't tell a waltz from a tango
Darling when I dance with you The music sounds inviting dear
And you are so exciting dear
But every time you hold me near
I seem to lose my sense of rhythmwhen your cheek is next to mine I can't tell a waltz from a tango
I never know what my feet are gonna do

Oh I can't tell a waltz from a tango
Darling when I dance with you If this is love it's new to me
Oh won't you give some clue to me
I don't know what you do to me
I seem to lose my sense of rhythmwhen your cheek is next to mine I can't tell a waltz from a tango
I never know what my feet are gonna do
No, I can't tell a waltz from a tango
Darling when I dance with you (Orchestral Break) I know the dance steps old and new
I've even won a prize or two
But when I steal a kiss from you
I seem to lose my sense of rhythmwhen your cheek is next to mine I can't tell a waltz from a tango
I never know what my feet are gonna do
Oh I can't tell a waltz from a tango
Darling when I dance with you

Darling when I dance with you
Darling when I dance with you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Alma Cogan's song "I Can't Tell a Waltz From a Tango" depicts a person's difficulty in distinguishing between two distinct genres of dance, the waltz and the tango. The song is about a person who loves to dance, but whenever they dance with their lover, they always lose their sense of rhythm. The music sounds inviting, and the lover is so exciting, but the dancer can't seem to keep up with the beat. Whenever the lover holds them near and their cheek is next to theirs, they can't tell a waltz from a tango. The lyrics are a reflection of the dancer's vulnerability when in the presence of their lover.

Line by Line Meaning

I can't tell a waltz from a tango
I struggle to distinguish between the dance styles of waltz and tango

I never know what my feet are gonna do
I am uncertain about what steps to take while dancing

Oh I can't tell a waltz from a tango
Repeating the initial line to emphasize the confusion

Darling when I dance with you The music sounds inviting dear
The music is appealing and pleasant when I dance with my loved one

And you are so exciting dear
My partner is thrilling and exhilarating to dance with

But every time you hold me near I seem to lose my sense of rhythmwhen your cheek is next to mine
Whenever we are in close proximity, my focus on dancing falters and my attention turns to my partner

If this is love it's new to me Oh won't you give some clue to me
These feelings of distraction and disorientation are unfamiliar to me and I request guidance from my partner

I don't know what you do to me I seem to lose my sense of rhythmwhen your cheek is next to mine
The physical presence and touch of my partner disrupts my coordination and focus during dancing

No, I can't tell a waltz from a tango
Reemphasizing the difficulty and confusion in distinguishing between dance styles

Orchestral Break
A pause in singing for the orchestra to play music

I know the dance steps old and new I've even won a prize or two
Despite my struggles, I do have experience and skill in dancing

But when I steal a kiss from you I seem to lose my sense of rhythmwhen your cheek is next to mine
Kissing my partner during dancing further disrupts my coordination and focus

Darling when I dance with you
The central focus and recurring phrase of the song

Writer(s): Manning, Hoffman

Contributed by Grace A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

TJ Amodio

2y↑3

One great performance by Alma and a tremendous recording for it's time!!!

Colin Brown

5y↑5

I haven't heard this record for years great to hear it again

Anjana Roy

6y↑1

Luv this song by Alma Cogan. Luv her voice!

Paul Rupert

8y↑1

We all had that relative in golf pants with a Banlon shirt, a white belt and white shoes who shimmied around the living room to this....

Cristian Radulescu

4y↑1

Briliant

Kira Zoe

8y↑4

So she wouldn't do a WALTZ with an Eskimo either?

Jascha Bull

8y↑1

If you can't tell a waltz from a tango, the guy you're dancing with just might be bad at leading.

Or is every time I can't lead a girl well really because she's just too charmed to dance right? Maybe that's how I'll interpret it next time.