Change Partners
Frank Sinatra and Antônio Carlos Jobim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the same fortunate man?
You have danced with him since the music began
Won't you change partners and dance with me?
Must you dance quite so close
With your lips touching his face?
Can't you see
Won't you change partners and dance with me?
Ask him to sit this one out and while you're alone
I'll tell the waiter to tell him he's wanted on the telephone
You've been locked in his arms ever since heaven-knows-when
Won't you change partners and then
You may never want to change partners again
Won't you change partners and then
You may never want to change partners again
The lyrics to Frank Sinatra/Antônio Carlos Jobim's song "Change Partners" are centered around a man trying to persuade a woman to change her dance partner and dance with him instead. The first verse questions why she always chooses to dance with the same man and invites her to switch things up and dance with him instead. The second verse takes a more provocative approach, as the man asks the woman to step away from her current partner and dance with him, even going so far as to suggest she is so close to the other man that he wishes to take his place.
The bridge of the song takes a more scheming turn, as the man asks the woman to ask her current partner to sit out the next dance, so that he can have a chance to dance with her. He plots to have the waiter call her partner away on the phone, giving him the opportunity to step in and dance with her. The final lines of the song suggest that once the woman does change partners and dance with him, she may never want to switch back.
The song, while seemingly simple on the surface, has layers of complexities, including the cultural and societal norms around dancing and relationships. The man is essentially asking the woman to break social conventions and dance with him instead of her pre-determined partner. The lyrics also suggest a certain level of confidence and charisma on the part of the man, who is willing to be manipulative in order to achieve his goal.
Line by Line Meaning
Must you dance every dance
With the same fortunate man?
Do you have to dance with the same man every time there is music? Is there no other partner you can choose?
You have danced with him since the music began
You have been dancing with him from the start of the music performance
Won't you change partners and dance with me?
Will you please change partners and dance with me instead?
Must you dance quite so close
With your lips touching his face?
Do you have to dance so intimately with him, to the point of your lips almost touching his face?
Can't you see
I'm longing to be in his place?
Can't you see that I desire to be in his position with you?
Ask him to sit this one out and while you're alone
I'll tell the waiter to tell him he's wanted on the telephone
Request that he misses this dance and while you two get alone time, I will make it seem like he is being called to the phone.
You've been locked in his arms ever since heaven-knows-when
You have been held tightly in his arms for an indeterminate amount of time
Won't you change partners and then
You may never want to change partners again
Please consider selecting me as your dance partner instead, because you just might end up never wanting to dance with anyone else again.
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robertoangelbarsottibrassa7608
Must you dance every dance with the same fortunate man?
You have danced with him since the music began
Won't you change partners and dance with me?
Must you dance quite so close with your lips touching his face?
Can't you see, I'm longing to be in his place?
Won't you change partners and dance with me?
Ask him to sit this one out, while you're alone
I'll tell the waiter to tell him he's wanted on the telephone
You've been locked in his arms ever since heaven-knows-when
Won't you change partners and then
You may never want to change partners again
Has de bailar cada baile con el mismo hombre afortunado
Has bailado con él desde que empezó la música
No harías un cambio de parejas y bailarías conmigo
Has de bailar tan cerca, con tus labios tocando su cara
¿No puedes ver que anhelo estar en su lugar?
No harías un cambio de parejas y bailarías conmigo
Dile que te excuse un momento, y mientras te quedas asolas
Le diré al camarero que le diga que le requieren al teléfono
Has estado atrapada
@breakingcycles741
I think I've played this song 100 times in a row at some point. Frank's voice mixed with that Bossa nova rhythm is just heaven to the ears.
@williamhay812
It really is
@tiffsaver
I only recently discovered this song, and you're right, I just can't stop listening to it.
@sparkyperson
Frank Sinatra at his very best. Jobim, in a supporting role, complements him perfectly. Their album together is flawless in every detail. Two men at the peak of their talent, singing in a setting requiring no other staging or distractions.
@shariallison5579
absolutely except Jobim is as good actually better than Frank in my opinion as he wrote most of his songs
@braianlemos
@@shariallison5579 Além de ser maestro, pianista, e arranjador.
@Cruz_ignatius
He was better when he was with Tommy Dorsey
@sparkyperson
@@Cruz_ignatius Different people have different opinions, and it's okay to respect all of them.
@Marcos_1983
wf you are a ignorant fool, it was frank that requested Jobim to play with him.
@PeterStrachanMusic
What a song.. What a guitarist.. What a singer..