Colin Meloy (born Colin Patrick Henry Meloy on October 5, 1974, in Helena, … Read Full Bio ↴Colin Meloy (born Colin Patrick Henry Meloy on October 5, 1974, in Helena, Montana) is an American musician. He is lead singer and songwriter for The Decemberists and has released three EPs consisting entirely of the works of Morrissey, Shirley Collins, and Sam Cooke (in 2005, 2006, and 2008 respectively). He also has a solo album, Colin Meloy Sings Live! (2008), featuring live tracks selected from a solo tour.

Meloy began his song writing days after learning to play the guitar in the seventh grade. He began recording in the eighth grade as a member of the musical collaboration, The B-Sides, recording, (to cassette tape), "The Mellow Bluesmen Die: A Spiritual Progression." He followed that with the band Figurehead, recording "Jesus' Mom." In his high school days Meloy was also part of Helena, Montana's Happy Cactus, releasing one album, "Cricket." Meloy also headed the now defunct, Tarkio, during his college days in Missoula, Montana. His career really began with the forming of The Decemberists in Portland, Oregon, in 2000.

Dance to Your Daddy
Colin Meloy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dance to your daddy, my little laddie
Dance to your daddy, my little lamb
You shall have a fish and you shall have a fin
You shall have a heron when the boat comes in
You shall have a lobster boiled in a pan
Dance to your daddy my little lamb

Dance to your daddy my little laddie

Dance to your daddy my little lamb
When thou arts a man and come to take a wife
You shall have a girl and love her all your life
She shall be your girl, you shall be her man
Dance to your daddy my little lamb

Dance to your daddy my little laddie
Dance to your daddy my little lamb
You shall have a fish and you shall have a fin
You shall have a heron when the boat comes in

You shall have a lobster boiled in a pan
Dance to your daddy my little lamb

Overall Meaning

The song "Dance to Your Daddy" is a traditional English lullaby that has been recorded by various artists throughout the years. The song is primarily about the relationship between a father and son, with the father encouraging the child to dance and have fun. The idea of dancing to your daddy is rooted in the concept of enjoying childhood and cherishing the time spent with your parents before growing up and moving on to adulthood.

The song speaks about the many things the child will have when he grows up, including fish, heron, and lobster. This can be interpreted as a representation of the abundance of opportunities and pleasures that life has to offer. In the second verse, the father encourages the child to find love and get married, indicating that the song is also about the cycle of life and the importance of continuing one's family legacy.

Overall, "Dance to Your Daddy" is a beautiful and sentimental song that celebrates the father-son bond and the joys of childhood.

Line by Line Meaning

Dance to your daddy, my little laddie
Take pleasure in life, my young lad

Dance to your daddy, my little lamb
Enjoy your time with loved ones, my dear child

You shall have a fish and you shall have a fin
You will be blessed with abundance and prosperity

You shall have a heron when the boat comes in
Good things come to those who wait

You shall have a lobster boiled in a pan
Indulge in the joys of life, enjoy your blessings

Dance to your daddy my little lamb
Always remember to enjoy the good moments in life

When thou arts a man and come to take a wife
When you have grown into a mature adult and are ready to settle down with a partner

You shall have a girl and love her all your life
You will find true love and cherish it forever

She shall be your girl, you shall be her man
You and your partner will share a deep connection and commitment

Contributed by Annabelle P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.