After a brief spell in the US Army, Vinton was signed to Epic Records in 1960 as a bandleader: "A Young Man With a Big Band." Two albums and several singles were not successful however, and with Epic ready to pull the plug, Vinton found his first hit single literally sitting in a reject pile. The song was titled "Roses Are Red (My Love)." It spent four weeks at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Arguably, his most famous song is 1963's "Blue Velvet" that also went to No.1. 23 years later, David Lynch named his movie Blue Velvet after the song. In 1964, Vinton had two #1 hits, "There! I've Said It Again" and "Mr. Lonely", the latter now being the basis for Akon's hit "Lonely."
In the 1970s, the "Polish Prince" continued to hit the Top 40, notably with "Ev'ry Day of My Life" and "Sealed With a Kiss" in 1972. That same year, Epic Records decided to end its relationship with Vinton and ended his recording contract. Undeterred, Vinton spent $50,000 of his own money on a self-written song sung partially in Polish: "My Melody of Love." After Vinton was turned down by 7 major labels, ABC Records bought Vinton's idea, and the result was a multi-million selling single that hit #1 on the AC charts in 1974. A gold album, Melodies of Love, followed as well as a successful half-hour variety show "The Bobby Vinton Show" (which aired from 1975 to 1978). He also starred in two John Wayne movies: Big Jake and The Train Robbers.
In the course of his career, Vinton has sold over 75 million records (singles, albums, compilation inclusions, etc) and is still performing on tour and at the Bobby Vinton Blue Velvet Theatre in Branson, Missouri.
Save the Last Dance for Me
Bobby Vinton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ev'ry dance with the guy
Who gives you the eye
Let him hold you tight
(You can dance, you can dance)
You can smile (you can smile)
Ev'ry smile for the man
Who held your hand
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So, darlin', save the last dance for me
Oh, I know (oh, I know)
That the music's fine
Like sparkling wine
Go and have your fun
(You can dance, you can dance)
Laugh and sing (laugh and sing)
But while we're apart,
Don't give your heart
To anyone
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So, darlin', save the last dance for me
Baby, don't you know I love you so?
Can't you feel it when we touch?
I will never, never let you go
I love you, oh, so much
You can dance (you can dance)
Go and carry on
Till the night is gone
And it's time to go
(You can dance, you can dance)
If he asks (if he asks)
If you're all alone,
Can he take you home,
You must tell him no
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So, darlin', save the last dance for me
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So, darlin', save the last dance for me
Ooh, darlin', save the last dance for me
Ooh, honey, save the last dance for me
The lyrics of Bobby Vinton's Save the Last Dance for Me is a poignant plea to a lover, asking them to enjoy the night and have fun, but to remember who they truly belong to. The song is about the singer’s insecurities about losing their partner to someone else, even if it’s just for one dance. The singer implores their lover to dance with whomever they please, but to save the last dance for them.
The verses of the song describe the lover dancing with other men and smiling at them, telling them not to give their heart to anyone and to remember who they will be going home with. The chorus then beautifully brings together the themes of the song by repeating the request to save the last dance for the singer. The singer then ends on a plea to solidify the strength of their love by reiterating their unwavering loyalty to their lover and begging for the same in return.
Overall, the song is a classic love song that speaks to the vulnerability everyone feels when they love someone. It is a bittersweet reminder that we can’t always control who our lover dances with or talks to, but we can trust that they will ultimately come back to us, and that there is no greater joy than sharing the last dance with the one you love.
Line by Line Meaning
You can dance (you can dance)
You have the ability to get up and dance
Ev'ry dance with the guy
You can dance with anyone you want to
Who gives you the eye
Whoever is showing interest in you
Let him hold you tight
Let him dance with you closely
(You can dance, you can dance)
You can continue dancing as much as you want
You can smile (you can smile)
You can show your happiness through your smile
Ev'ry smile for the man
Show your happy smile to whoever you want
Who held your hand
Whoever has shown you affection and care
'Neath the pale moonlight
Under the moonlight, in a romantic setting
But don't forget who's taking you home
Remember who you are going home with
And in whose arms you're gonna be
Think about whose arms you will be holding onto
So, darlin', save the last dance for me
Therefore, my dear, save the last dance for me
Oh, I know (oh, I know)
I understand the situation
That the music's fine
The music is great and enjoyable
Like sparkling wine
Just as good as sparkling wine
Go and have your fun
Enjoy yourself and have a good time
Laugh and sing (laugh and sing)
Be happy and express yourself by laughing and singing
But while we're apart,
However, while we are not together
Don't give your heart
Do not give your love or devotion
To anyone
To just anyone you meet
Baby, don't you know I love you so?
My dear, don't you realize how much I love you?
Can't you feel it when we touch?
Can't you sense it when we hold hands or embrace?
I will never, never let you go
I promise you I will never let go of you
I love you, oh, so much
I love you very much
Go and carry on
Continue to dance and enjoy yourself
Till the night is gone
Until the night comes to an end
And it's time to go
And it's time for you to leave
If he asks (if he asks)
If someone asks you
If you're all alone,
If you are by yourself
Can he take you home,
Can he take you back to your place
You must tell him no
You must refuse his offer
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
Remember who is accompanying you back
Ooh, darlin', save the last dance for me
Oh my dear, save the slow, romantic dance for me
Ooh, honey, save the last dance for me
Oh honey, please save the last dance for me
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jerome Pomus, Mortimer Shuman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
RC
on Venus
Frankie Avalon is the best-known version of this song.