I Won't Dance
Frank Sinatra and Basie Lyrics
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I won't dance, don't ask me.
I won't dance, madame, with you.
My heart won't let me do things they should do.
You know what? You're lovely.
You know what, you're lovely. You know what, you're so lovely.
And, oh what you do to me.
I feel so absolutely stumped on the floor.
When you dance, you're charming and you're gentle,
'Specially when you do the Continental.
But this feeling isn't purely mental,
For heaven rest us, I'm not asbestos.
And that's why I won't dance, why should I?
I won't dance, how could I?
I won't dance. Merci beaucoup.
I know that music leads the way to romance,
So if I hold you in my arms, I won't dance.
I won't dance, don't ask me.
I won't dance, don't ask me.
I won't dance, madame, with you.
My heart won't let my feet do things they want to do.
You know what? You're lovely, ring-a-ding,ding, you're lovely.
And, oh what you do to me.
I'm like an ocean wave that's bumped on the shore;
I feel so absolutely stumped on the floor.
When you dance, you're charming and you're gentle,
'Specially when you do the Continental.
But this feeling isn't purely mental,
For heaven rest us, I'm not asbestos.
And that's why I won't dance.I won't dance.
I won't dance. Merci beaucoup.
I know that music leads the way to romance,
So if I hold you in my arms,
I won't dance!
The song "I Won't Dance" by Frank Sinatra is a classic example of a man trying to resist a woman's charm and dance invitation. The song opens with the singer repeating the refrain "I won't dance, don't ask me" multiple times. He tries to explain that it's not because he has something against the woman, but his heart won't let him do things that he should. The lyrics convey a reluctance to engage in dance and the reasons for it. He is also unsure of his feelings towards the woman, which shows in the lines "You know what, you're lovely. You know what, you're so lovely. And, oh what you do to me."
The lyrics go on to describe the man's feelings of being stumped when he is around the woman. He compares his emotions to being an ocean wave that's bumped on the shore. The man acknowledges that the woman is charming and gentle, especially when she does the Continental dance. But, as much as he admires her, he cannot bring himself to dance. The song ends with the man acknowledging that music leads the way to romance, but he won't dance with her.
Overall, the song is a playful back-and-forth between a man and a woman. The man tries to resist the woman's charms by refusing to dance with her, but he simultaneously compliments her beauty throughout the song. The lyrics convey a sense of both reluctance and admiration, making the song a fun and entertaining piece for listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
I won't dance, don't ask me.
I refuse to dance, please don't even ask me to try.
I won't dance, madame, with you.
I won't dance with you, dear lady.
My heart won't let me do things they should do.
I am incapable of doing what I should do since my heart is in control.
You know what? You're lovely.
You're so lovely, you know that?
And, oh what you do to me.
You have such an effect on me.
I'm like an ocean wave that's bumped on the shore;
I feel like a wave that crashes onto the shore violently.
I feel so absolutely stumped on the floor.
I am completely lost and awkward on the dance floor.
When you dance, you're charming and you're gentle,
Your movements when you dance are so gentle and enchanting.
'Specially when you do the Continental.
You are especially captivating when you dance the Continental.
But this feeling isn't purely mental,
This feeling is not just in my head.
For heaven rest us, I'm not asbestos.
I am not immune to the effects of love.
And that's why I won't dance, why should I?
This is why I refuse to dance, what's the point?
I won't dance, how could I?
It's impossible for me to dance.
I won't dance. Merci beaucoup.
I won't dance. Thank you very much.
I know that music leads the way to romance,
I am aware that music often leads to love.
So if I hold you in my arms, I won't dance.
Even if I am holding you in my arms, I still won't dance.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: DOROTHY FIELDS, JEROME KERN, JIMMY MC HUGH, OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II, OTTO HARBACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind