Music Box Dancer
Frank Mills Lyrics
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You reach for the shelf and cradle it down
The Music Box Dancer, what does it prove
Only that you need to see a statue that moves
A tutu of satin, bordered with lace
Slender lines, agile legs, a wonderland face
Her beauty is balanced, an immovable pose
Eternally destined to remain on her toes
Music Box Dancer, she is only a toy
Project upon her your dreams of wanting life's joy
She's perched on her stand, and never will part
A final gaze upon her, now the music will start
You wind the doll up, it's nostalgic because
You've been here before, so give one final pause
To dream of the future, to reflect on the past
Music Box Dancer start your whirling at last
The room fills with music, such a cute song
Watching her go 'round and 'round, she's where she belongs
Bring joy to the watchers, spreading a glow
Whenever wound up, she'll put on a good show
Music Box Dancer, do you think or believe
She could step off her box if she wanted to leave
So easy it is, twirl around with such grace
Staying in her circle, she remains in one place
Such a brief moment, a small time to spend
The dancing will slow soon, the music will end
In real life we're plastic, nature's unfair
How can we breathe life, how can we share
The knowledge and insights hidden in tombs
We're all Music Box Dancers all alone in our rooms
We sit on our shelves where objects reside
We don't allow the music to get right inside
Music Box Dancer's now completely alone
No winder or no listener, because nobody's home
How long before someone will re-wind the spring?
The room will now be witness; and silence can't sing
The Music Box Dancer by Frank Mills is a song that carries a deep message about life. As the lyrics start, it appears that the singer is talking about a person who seems upset and has come to the Music Box Dancer as an escape. The Music Box Dancer is nothing but a toy, but it carries a special meaning for the singer. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the Music Box Dancer is symbolic of something bigger. It is a representation of life and the limitations we impose upon ourselves.
The Music Box Dancer is described as a toy, but one that can bring joy to those who watch it. The singer wonders if the Music Box Dancer is capable of stepping off its box and leaving its limitations. The singer is implying that, like the Music Box Dancer, humans too are capable of breaking free from their limitations and living life to the fullest. However, we often choose to stay within our circles and remain within our own limitations. The lyrics encourage us to break free from our limitations and live life to the fullest.
The song ends with a powerful message. The Music Box Dancer is completely alone, and there is nobody around to wind it up or listen to its music. This seems to signify the emptiness that can come with living a limited and restricted life. The silence that falls in the room where the Music Box Dancer is left alone is symbolic of the lack of meaning and purpose that a restricted life can bring.
Line by Line Meaning
You walk in the room and you're wearing a frown
As you enter the room, your solemn countenance is palpable
You reach for the shelf and cradle it down
You carefully take a music box off the shelf
The Music Box Dancer, what does it prove
What does this music box demonstrate?
Only that you need to see a statue that moves
It only serves to quench your desire to see a figurine in motion
A tutu of satin, bordered with lace
The ballerina in the box wears a frilly tutu
Slender lines, agile legs, a wonderland face
She has a lithe physique, graceful limbs, and a stunning visage
Her beauty is balanced, an immovable pose
Her physical comeliness is sustained by being frozen mid-motion
Eternally destined to remain on her toes
Her stance is meant to be forever on her tippy-toes
Music Box Dancer, she is only a toy
The ballerina figurine is just a plaything
Project upon her your dreams of wanting life's joy
You transpose your thoughts of seeking happiness onto the figurine
She's perched on her stand, and never will part
She's affixed to her pedestal and won't separate from it
A final gaze upon her, now the music will start
One last glance at her, and you then wind up the music box
You wind the doll up, it's nostalgic because
You wind up the doll, and it feels nostalgic since you've done it before
You've been here before, so give one final pause
You've had this experience previously, so take a brief moment of reflection
To dream of the future, to reflect on the past
Take the time to ponder on both the future and past
Music Box Dancer start your whirling at last
The ballerina starts to twirl as the music commences
The room fills with music, such a cute song
The melody of the music box spreads throughout the room, a sweet tune
Watching her go 'round and 'round, she's where she belongs
As you watch her spin unceasingly, it seems as if she's found her niche
Bring joy to the watchers, spreading a glow
The ballerina provides delight to onlookers, giving off a radiant glow
Whenever wound up, she'll put on a good show
Whenever the mechanism within the music box is manually rewound, she'll continually spin
Music Box Dancer, do you think or believe
Do you ever believe that the ballerina would have a mind to leave
She could step off her box if she wanted to leave
If she desired to depart from her pedestal, the ballerina could step away
So easy it is, twirl around with such grace
It's so effortless for the ballerina to spin gracefully
Staying in her circle, she remains in one place
Still, she stays within the confines of her circular base
Such a brief moment, a small time to spend
The spinning is such a brief moment, a small amount of time to expend
The dancing will slow soon, the music will end
The dancing will soon reduce in speed, the music box's melody coming to a conclusion
In real life we're plastic, nature's unfair
In actuality, we are lifeless and fake, nature being unjust
How can we breathe life, how can we share
How can we garner vitality, how can we dispense it
The knowledge and insights hidden in tombs
The valuable wisdom and understanding kept within ancient catacombs
We're all Music Box Dancers all alone in our rooms
We all are similarly similar to the ballerina figurine, enclosed in our own personal space
We sit on our shelves where objects reside
We're confined to our own personal space where only inanimate objects currently reside
We don't allow the music to get right inside
Despite having material things all around us, we're not letting joy enter into our lives
Music Box Dancer's now completely alone
The ballerina figurine has no audience or anyone present with her in the music box
No winder or no listener, because nobody's home
The music box has no longer an individual to operate the mechanization nor a soul to hear its melody
How long before someone will re-wind the spring?
How long will it take for someone to rewind the mechanism again?
The room will now be witness; and silence can't sing
As the mechanism winds down, the room and its deafening silence becomes a witness of it all
Lyrics © PETER PIPER MUSIC AMERICA LLC
Written by: F. MILLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sylviakstambaugh7743
My husband gave me a music box that plays this tune. That was way back in the 70's. He's been dead now for 33 years. I still love this tune.
@TheOriginalRick
I was a disc jockey down in Arkansas when this song came out. Talk about coming out of nowhere. From nothing to Top Ten for a guy that no one had heard of before. Kudos Frank Mills for a great song and great memories for hundreds of millions of music lovers.
@ndhan72
It's an instrumental NOT a song.
@TheOriginalRick
@@ndhan72 And I am sure you are a lot of fun at parties, mumbling to yourself in the corner while everyone else is enjoying themselves listening and dancing to songs. 🤣🤣
@leslieyancey5084
My mother used to play this on the piano and it was one of my favorites!!! She’s been gone 20 yrs now, thanks for unlocking a great childhood memory!
@timothyschanuth3197
My mom did too , 😢 it reminds me of my mommy , I miss her so
@bobmartin4021
One of my dad's all-time favorites. Played in his honor. I love you, dad. RIP William L. Martin, 2/24/1938 - 1/13/2023.
@renep2220
This was my dad's favorite song too. I never remember him being much into music
but when he heard this he became obsessed and bought the LP. RIP Dad, miss you.
@emilybaird3112
@@renep2220
❤love to you and your Dad
Wonderful song
@franciscodiniz4092
God bless you, ALL .