Just one year later, signed by Elektra Records, Neal and Rex were in Los Angeles putting the final touches on their debut album, Aztec Two-Step. Quickly becoming a staple of FM and college radio the album remained in print for fifteen years and was the foundation for a performing and recording career that continues to the present day. In 1992, Aztec Two-Step was re-released by ERA Records.
In the intervening years, Aztec Two-Step recorded six more albums for RCA, Waterhouse, Reflex and Flying Fish Records. The duo's 1986 release, Living in America, was sighted in Billboard Magazine's year end critics poll and received the 1987 Best Folk Album at the New York Music Awards.
Of Age, Aztec Two-Step's eighth album, was released by Beacon Records in September 1993. Its title celebrates both the twenty-one year anniversary the group marked while recording the album and the maturity Rex and Neal feel the writing, playing and singing on it reflect.
Headliners in their own right, Aztec Two-Step has also appeared in concert with such notable artists as Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Talking Heads, Bill Cosby, The Beach Boys, Jackson Browne, Bette Midler, Heart and many more. They continue to tour, pleasing old fans and winning new ones.
dance
Aztec Two-Step Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kick up your heels and dance
Don't be nervous, don't be shy
And give yourself a chance
You can dance
Kick off your shoes and lose your blues
Pick em up, Lord, put em back down
And around, and around, and around, and around.
Come on, baby, it must be fun
To be dancin' in the clear moonlight
Otherwise, would everyone be out on
Such a cold and windy night?
We can dance.
Throw yourself away
Holy month of may
You can dance.
Listen to the music of the steel guitar
Don't it sound good
Hey now, nobody here tonight came to look at you,
No, no, no
Well I bet you five dollars that somebody starts a fire
Back in the woods, hey now
Everybody here tonight came to boogie
Have a good time, too
Come on, baby, while the moon is high
Kick up your heels and dance
Don't be nervous, don't be shy
And give yourself a chance
You can dance
Kick off your shoes and lose your blues
Pick em up, Lord, put em back down
And around, and around, and around, and around
If I could lose my mind
If I could throw myself away.
The opening lines of the song, "Come on, baby, while the moon is high, Kick up your heels and dance," serve as a call to action for the listener to let loose and enjoy the moment. This is reinforced in the second verse, which asks, "Come on, baby, it must be fun, to be dancin' in the clear moonlight, Otherwise, would everyone be out on, Such a cold and windy night?" The lyrics suggest that dancing is a natural response to the beauty of the night and the joy of being alive.
The chorus encourages the listener to let go of their worries and dance away their troubles. "Kick off your shoes and lose your blues, Pick em up, Lord, put em back down, And around, and around, and around, and around." The repetition of "around" emphasizes the idea of letting yourself spin and enjoy the moment.
The song then takes a more humorous turn with the line, "Hey now, nobody here tonight came to look at you, No, no, no." The humorous aspect of it is that it is aimed at the listener, who might have been self-conscious about their dancing ability. Aztec Two-Step encourages the listener to focus on having fun rather than worrying about how they look. The song ends with the repeated phrase, "If I could lose my mind, If I could throw myself away," suggesting that dancing is a way to let go of one's everyday worries and just enjoy the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on, baby, while the moon is high
Let's dance under the clear and bright moon
Kick up your heels and dance
Start moving your feet and dance with joy
Don't be nervous, don't be shy
There's no need to feel worried or self-conscious
And give yourself a chance
Allow yourself to have fun and enjoy the moment
You can dance
You have the ability to dance, so use it
Kick off your shoes and lose your blues
Take your shoes off and forget your worries
Pick em up, Lord, put em back down
Lift your feet up and put them back down while dancing
And around, and around, and around, and around.
Keep spinning and dancing around in circles
Come on, baby, it must be fun
Dancing under the moonlight must be enjoyable
To be dancin' in the clear moonlight
Dancing under the bright moonlight is a pleasing sight
Otherwise, would everyone be out on
If it weren't fun, why would everyone be here?
Such a cold and windy night?
Even on a chilly and windy night, people are dancing
We can dance.
We have the opportunity to dance
Throw yourself away
Don't hold back and let loose
Holy month of may
A reference to the month of May, possibly indicating a time of fertility and growth
You can dance.
Dancing is an option for everyone
Listen to the music of the steel guitar
Pay attention to the sounds of the steel guitar in the music
Don't it sound good
Isn't the music enjoyable to hear?
Hey now, nobody here tonight came to look at you,
No one is here to judge or stare at you
No, no, no
Absolutely not
Well I bet you five dollars that somebody starts a fire
There could be excitement and energy in the air
Back in the woods, hey now
Perhaps there is a party or gathering happening nearby
Everybody here tonight came to boogie
Everyone is here to dance and have fun
Have a good time, too
Enjoy yourself while you're here
If I could lose my mind
To get lost in the moment and fully let go
If I could throw myself away.
To not hold back and dance with abandon
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Rex March Fowler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind