Dance
David Baerwald Lyrics


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Everybody was nervous
We were serving the dervish
We were feeling observed absurd
And paranoid
Oh! we were paranoid
The telephone lines they
Sputtered and whined
There were banshees howling
From the end of a long void
A wild eyed lady sat on an old hillside
Jamming red hot needles into button sewn doll eyes
You don't believe in voodoo, do you?
I don't but believe it or not
I still went blind
So you want to know a secret?

I learned a little secret
Secret is....
You got to
Dance!

Uh we were sitting relating
We were contemplating
Intellectually masturbating
While the radio was playing
My damsel in distress
Was with the IRS
She had ice blue eyes
And a bulletproof vest
She winked and doused the lights
And we got undressed
(whoo!)
She said "You know how much you owe?"
I said "I know I owe enough to be a party
To your dirty little world war"
But do you want to know a secret?

I got a little secret
Secret is...
You got to
Dance!

I was crawling through the jungle
Embittered and humbled
My walls all crumbled into
Dust and emptiness
Someone caught me when I stumbled
Half naked through the rubble
She kissed me and she mumbled
"Peace and togetherness"
But I was paranoid!
I said "You know how much I owe?"
She said "I know you owe enough to be a party
To my dirty little world war"
But you want to know a secret?

I got a little secret




Secret is...
You got to dance

Overall Meaning

The David Baerwald song "Dance" is an enigmatic and thought-provoking masterpiece. The song is full of metaphors and vivid images that showcase the inner thoughts of the singer about societal pressures and personal insecurities. The song is a commentary on the anxieties and fears that one may experience while navigating the complexities of life.


The song begins with the singer setting the scene of a party where everyone is feeling "nervous" and "paranoid." The telephone lines are "sputtered and whined," and there are "banshees howling from the end of a long void." The song then takes a surreal turn with the image of a "wild-eyed lady" sitting on a hillside, jamming "red hot needles into button sewn doll eyes." The singer then asks the question, "You don't believe in voodoo, do you?" implying that the anxieties and paranoia may be a result of societal pressures and expectations rather than any actual supernatural forces. The song then moves on to the idea that one needs to dance to overcome these fears and anxieties.


As the song progresses, the singer speaks of a "damsel in distress" who is "with the IRS" and "has ice blue eyes and a bulletproof vest." This imagery is meant to represent the impersonal nature of bureaucracies, which can create anxiety and fear in people. The singer then reveals that the secret to overcoming these fears is to dance. The song continues with the singer's own personal realization that dancing is a way to overcome the fears and anxieties that may arise in life.


Overall, "Dance" is a powerful and moving song that showcases the complexities of human emotions and how we deal with them. The song encourages the listener to let go of their fears and anxieties and embrace the power and freedom of dancing.


· "Dance" is from David Baerwald's debut solo album "Bedtime Stories," which was released in 1990.
· The song was co-written by David Baerwald and Kevin Gilbert.
· "Dance" was released as a single, but it did not chart.
· David Baerwald was previously a member of the band "David & David."
· "Bedtime Stories" features guest appearances from a number of top musicians like Peter Gabriel, Sheryl Crow and Richard Thompson.
· The song has been covered by a number of artists, including Joan Osborne and Michael Franti.
· The song features Baerwald's trademark sound, which combines elements of rock, folk, and jazz.
· The song was featured on the soundtrack of the 1990 film "Pump Up the Volume."
· The lyrics of the song are highly metaphorical, and the song is open to interpretation.
· The song has been described as a "classic statement of pop surrealism."


Chords: The chords for the song are not available at this moment


Line by Line Meaning

Everybody was nervous
All of us were scared, unsettled


We were serving the dervish
We were performing to please a frenzied person


We were feeling observed absurd
We felt we were being watched, turning ridiculous


And paranoid
Being overly suspicious of others


Oh! we were paranoid
We were especially paranoid


The telephone lines they
The phone lines


Sputtered and whined
Made noisy and unpleasant sounds


There were banshees howling
There were loud, terrifying screams


From the end of a long void
Coming from a faraway empty space


A wild eyed lady sat on an old hillside
A crazy woman sat on a hill


Jamming red hot needles into button sewn doll eyes
She was doing something bizarre and painful


You don't believe in voodoo, do you?
Asking if the listener believes in black magic


I don't but believe it or not
I don't believe, regardless


I still went blind
I still lost my way and became helpless


So you want to know a secret?
Asking if the listener wants to hear something private


I learned a little secret
I found out something interesting


Secret is....
The secret is...


You got to
It's necessary to


Dance!
Dance enthusiastically!


Uh we were sitting relating
We were connecting with each other


We were contemplating
We were pondering, considering


Intellectually masturbating
Indulging in intellectual self-gratification


While the radio was playing
As the radio was on


My damsel in distress
My vulnerable female companion


Was with the IRS
She was dealing with the tax agency


She had ice blue eyes
Her eyes were blue


And a bulletproof vest
She wore a protective layer


She winked and doused the lights
She flirted and turned off the lights


And we got undressed
Then we both took our clothes off


She said "You know how much you owe?"
She mentioned my debt


I said "I know I owe enough to be a party
I acknowledged my large amount of debt


To your dirty little world war"
To your corrupted battle


But do you want to know a secret?
But do you want to know something confidential?


I got a little secret
I have a piece of private information


I got a little secret
The secret is…


You got to
It is important that you


Dance!
Dance fervently!


I was crawling through the jungle
I was struggling through a difficult situation


Embittered and humbled
Feeling resentful and humiliated


My walls all crumbled into
Everything I had built had fallen apart


Dust and emptiness
Became nothingness


Someone caught me when I stumbled
Someone helped me when I fell


Half naked through the rubble
Semi-nude while surrounded by debris


She kissed me and she mumbled
She kissed me and whispered


"Peace and togetherness"
Words of tranquility and unity


But I was paranoid!
But I was still very suspicious


I said "You know how much I owe?"
I mentioned my debt


She said "I know you owe enough to be a party
She knew I owed a large amount of money


To my dirty little world war"
To my contested, unethical situation


But you want to know a secret?
But do you want to hear this private thing?


I got a little secret
I have a confidential piece of information


Secret is...
This is what the secret is...


You got to
You must


Dance!
Dance with passion!




Contributed by Maya A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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