Dancing On the Ceiling
Bert Maddison & His Orchestra Lyrics


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He dances overhead
On the ceiling, near my bed
In my sight, through the night
I try to hide in vain
Underneath my counter pane
There's my love up above
I whisper "go away my lover
It's not fair"
But I'm grateful to discover
He's still there
I love my ceiling more




Since it is a dancing floor
Just for my love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bert Maddison & His Orchestra's song Dancing on the Ceiling reveal a person's infatuation with their lover who seems to be dancing overhead on their bedroom ceiling. Despite the lover's unconventional and perplexing characteristics, the singer still feels grateful for their presence. The singer describes their futile attempts to hide from the lover, who keeps dancing through the night, visible to them through their bed's counterpane. The singer's love is so strong that they respond positively to the presence of their lover on their ceiling, expressing adoration for both him and their ceiling, which has now become a dancing floor just for him.


The song's lyrics convey several possible interpretations, depending on the listener's perspective. It's possible to see the singer's lover as a symbol of their beloved's immortality, an angelic figure watching over them while they sleep. Alternatively, some could interpret the lover on the ceiling as a metaphor for the powerful emotions or sensations that love can invoke, which, much like a specter, can be palpable but not visible or objectively real. The song's lyrics are rich in imagery and emotion, leaving plenty of room for the listener's imagination to fill in the gaps.


Line by Line Meaning

He dances overhead
He moves gracefully on the ceiling above me


On the ceiling, near my bed
He dances in close proximity to my bed on the ceiling


In my sight, through the night
I can see him clearly while it is dark outside


I try to hide in vain
I attempt to conceal my presence, but it is ineffective


Underneath my counter pane
I lie beneath my bedspread


There's my love up above
The object of my affection dances in the space above me


I whisper "go away my lover
I speak softly in an effort to make him leave


It's not fair"
It is unfair for him to remain without my consent


But I'm grateful to discover
Despite my objection, I am pleased to find him there


He's still there
He has not departed despite my request


I love my ceiling more
I appreciate my ceiling more than ever before


Since it is a dancing floor
Because it has become a suitable location for dancing


Just for my love
Only for the beloved dancer above me




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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