In 1969, Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans (Reuben Gosfield) co-founded Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and soon after they found themselves opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC.[1] A year later, they moved to East Oakland, California at the invitation of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. After being mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine by Van Morrison, they landed a record deal with United Artists. In 1973, their debut album, Comin' Right At Ya was released by United Artists. At the request of Willie Nelson, they left Oakland for Austin in 1974.
Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been presented numerous awards throughout their career. Most recently, the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for the making of "A Ride With Bob", recognition by Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, Texas, and the Darrel K. Royal Music Patron Award by The Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association. In 2007, The Austin Chronicle recognized Asleep at the Wheel for Band of the Year, Best Country Band, and into their Hall of Fame. Benson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, was given The Texas Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and recognized as an Outstanding Producer by the National Academy of Recording Arts in 1988. He has also been given numerous Citations of Achievement by Broadcast Music, Inc. for his work in the country music field. Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been one of the strongest names in Country Music for the last forty years.
Dance With Who Brung Ya
Asleep at the Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't be a fickle fool,you came here with a gal, who's always been your
Pal, don't leave her for the first unattached girl, it just ain't cool
You got to dance with who brung you, swing with who swung you,
Life ain't no forty-yard dash, be in it for the long run,
'Cause in the long run you'll have more fun, if you dance with who brung
You to the bash
Old western swing and drove 'em wild
Then a talent scout from vegas said "boy, play and sing this way"
And in one short year he was broke and in L.A.
You got to dance with who brung you, swing with who swung you,
Life ain't no forty-yard dash, be in it for the long run,
'Cause in the long run you'll have more fun, if you dance with who brung
You to the bash
You gotta be real careful what you wish for, 'cause you just might get
The whole darn thing, be sure what you want is something you can use
Or you might wind up half dead, just singing the blues
You got to dance with who brung you, swing with who swung you,
Life ain't no forty-yard dash, be in it for the long run,
'Cause in the long run you'll have more fun, if you dance with who brung
You to the bash
If you dance with who brung you to the bash
Dance with who brung you to the bash
Asleep at the Wheel's song "Dance With Who Brung Ya" is a catchy tune with a deeper meaning. The lyrics encourage people to stay loyal to the ones who have been there for them and to not abandon them for something new or flashy. The phrase "dance with who brung ya" is an idiom that means to stay loyal to the person or thing that helped you get to where you are today.
The song also cautions against chasing after fame and riches, as illustrated by the story of the friend from Texas who was lured away by a talent scout from Vegas and ended up broke in LA. The lyrics suggest that it's better to be in it for the long run and enjoy the journey with the ones who have been there all along.
Overall, "Dance With Who Brung Ya" is a fun, upbeat song with a thoughtful message about loyalty and staying true to one's roots.
Line by Line Meaning
You got to dance with who brung you, swing with who swung you,
Don't abandon the one who's been with you all along for someone new and exciting. Stick with what you know and stay true to your roots.
Don't be a fickle fool, you came here with a gal, who's always been your Pal, don't leave her for the first unattached girl, it just ain't cool
Stay committed to your partner and don't chase after someone else just because they are available. It's not fair to your partner and it's not a good look.
Life ain't no forty-yard dash, be in it for the long run, 'Cause in the long run you'll have more fun, if you dance with who brung you to the bash
Life is a marathon not a sprint. Stick with what you know, it will bring you happiness in the long run.
I had a friend from texas, he really had some style, he sang that good Old western swing and drove 'em wild Then a talent scout from vegas said "boy, play and sing this way" And in one short year he was broke and in L.A.
Be careful what you wish for because it might come true. Sometimes trying to change to fit what others want from you can lead to a negative outcome.
You gotta be real careful what you wish for, 'cause you just might get The whole darn thing, be sure what you want is something you can use Or you might wind up half dead, just singing the blues
Making sure you truly want something before you pursue it is necessary to avoid any negative outcomes or regrets later on.
If you dance with who brung you to the bash Dance with who brung you to the bash
Stick with your roots, stay true to your values, and don't abandon the ones who have been with you from the beginning.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: R. BENSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben - Moderator
The issue with search on Firefox is now resolved.
Ben - Moderator
Sorry about that Eddie - we will resolve this very soon. In the meantime you should still be able to paste a search into the search box. I'll update you here.
Eddie
With the new setup my firefox browser will not allow typing in the search area.