Magic Dance
David Bowie / Trevor Jones Lyrics
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The babe with the power (what power?)
The power of voodoo (who do?)
You do (do what?)
Remind me of the babe
I saw my baby, crying hard as babe could cry
What could I do?
And left my baby blue
Nobody knew
What kind of magic spell to use
Slime and snails
Or puppy dog tails?
Thunder or lightning
Then baby said
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Put that baby's spell on me
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby, make him free
I saw my baby, trying hard as babe could try
What could I do?
My baby's fun had gone
And left my baby blue
Nobody knew
What kind of magic spell to use
Slime and snails
Or puppy dogs tails
Thunder or lightning
Then baby said
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Put that baby's spell on me (ooh)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Put that baby's spell on me (ooh)
Slap that baby, make him free
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Jump magic, jump
Put that baby's spell on me
You remind me of the babe (what babe?)
The babe with the power (what power?)
The power of voodoo (who do?)
You do (do what?)
Remind me of the babe
Dance magic, dance uh, uh
Dance magic, dance magic, uh, uh
Dance magic
What kind of magic spell to use
Slime and snails
Or puppy dog tails
Thunder or lightning
Something frightening
Dance magic, dance
Dance magic, dance
Put that baby spell on me
Jump magic, jump
Jump magic, jump
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby make him free
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump) jump magic, jump
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic
Slap that slap that baby make him free
Dance magic, dance
(Dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
"Magic Dance" is a song from the 1986 movie Labyrinth, written by David Bowie and Trevor Jones. The song captures the moment when Sarah, the singer, accidentally wishes away her baby brother to the Goblin King, played by Bowie. The song's first verse is about the Goblin King telling Sarah that she reminds him of the babe with the power of voodoo that he now possesses. The rest of the song revolves around trying to find a way to get the baby back, Sarah's despair and the Goblin King's efforts to woo her with his "dancing magic" powers.
The repeating chorus of "Dance magic, dance" highlights the Goblin King's seductive powers, and how he uses them to distract Sarah from her mission. The lyrics "What kind of magic spell to use/ slime and snails, or puppy dog tails" refers to the age-old question of how to create a magical potion. These lyrics, as well as the rest of the song, have a childlike quality to them. The chorus "Jump magic, jump" and "Put that magic jump on me" are essentially instructions to the baby to leap out of danger and return to his family.
Line by Line Meaning
You remind me of the babe (what babe?)
The singer believes the listener has an association with a certain babe.
The babe with the power (what power?)
The babe in question possesses certain powers that are not specified.
The power of voodoo (who do?)
One of the powers possessed by the babe is the ability to use voodoo magic.
You do (do what?)
The listener possesses the power of voodoo as referred to in the previous line.
Remind me of the babe
The artist is asking the listener to remind them of the aforementioned babe.
I saw my baby, crying hard as babe could cry
The singer witnessed their significant other in a state of distress, crying heavily as only a baby could.
What could I do?
The singer felt helpless and unsure of what actions to take to comfort their partner.
My baby's love had gone
The cause of the distress is due to the loss of their significant other's love.
And left my baby blue
The significant other is now sad and downhearted, as expressed by the color blue.
Nobody knew
The artist acknowledges that no one else was aware of the situation.
What kind of magic spell to use
The singer is questioning what kind of magical spell to use to remedy the situation.
Slime and snails
The artist is listing potential components for a magic spell.
Or puppy dog tails?
The singer lists another potential spell ingredient, presumably for rhyming reasons.
Thunder or lightning
The singer lists two additional components for a possible spell.
Then baby said
The significant other then suggested an alternative solution to the singer.
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
The significant other suggests using magic through dancing along with the accompanying chant.
Put that baby's spell on me
The artist requests the significant other to cast the magic spell on them instead.
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
The significant other suggests another magical activity to do along with the chant.
Put that magic jump on me
The singer again requests the significant other to cast the spell on them instead.
Slap that baby, make him free
The artist suggests physically harm the baby as a solution for their distress, which could be interpreted as a metaphorical statement.
Dance magic, dance uh, uh
The chant and magical activity are reiterated.
Something frightening
The artist lists another potential spell ingredient.
Slap that slap that baby make him free
The previous statement is repeated in a slightly different manner, perhaps for emphasis.
Dance magic
The chant is repeated again.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind