Fred Astaire (1899-1987) was an American dancer and singer famous for his n… Read Full Bio ↴Fred Astaire (1899-1987) was an American dancer and singer famous for his numerous appearances in the 1920s and 1930s in Vaudeville, on Broadway and on the London stage with sister Adele Astaire; in musical films between the 1930s and 1960s; and on American TV in the 1950s and beyond. Although he teamed with many dancers, including Gene Kelly, his best known screen pairing was with Ginger Rogers, with whom he appeared in 10 films. He continued to act in non-dancing roles in films and TV in the 1960s through 1980s.

In part because of his expressive phrasing and graceful interpretation, Astaire was chosen to introduce many now-classic songs, including standards by Cole Porter (example, "Night and Day"), his friend Irving Berlin ("Let's Face the Music and Dance"), Jerome Kern ("The Way You Look Tonight"), Johnny Mercer ("One for My Baby") and George and Ira Gershwin ("They Can't Take That Away from Me").

Fred Astaire is interred at Oakwood Memorial Park, Chatsworth, California, USA, the same cemetery where Ginger Rogers, is located. (http://encyclopaediaoftrivia.blogspot.com/2011/09/fred-astaire.html)

Hang on to Me
Fred Astaire Lyrics

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Trouble may hound us, shadows surround us
Never mind, my Dear
Don't be downhearted, when we get started
They will disappear

Listen to Brother, while we've each other
There's no need to fear
For like Hansel and Gretel

We will prove our mettle

If you'll hang on to me while I hang on to you
We'll dance into the sunshine out of the rain
Forever and a day

Don't sigh, we'll get along, just try humming a song
And my, soon we shall hear the bluebird again

That's right, hold tight
We're on our way

Uphill, until

We lose the shadows

If you'll hang on to me (doo-doo)
While I hang on to you (doo-doo)
We'll dance into the sunshine out of the rain

That's right, hold tight
We're on our way

Uphill, until

We lose the shadows

If you'll hang on to me (doo-doo)
While I hang on to you (ooh-ooh)
We'll dance into the sunshine out of the rain
Forever and a day

We'll make a cabaret
That's all I've got to say

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Hang On to Me" by Fred Astaire conveys the idea of standing together through tough times with a positive outlook. The opening lines, "Trouble may hound us, shadows surround us, never mind my dear, don't be downhearted" sets the tone for the song, with the singer reassuring his partner that everything will be fine as long as they stand together. "They will disappear" implies that the shadows and troubles will go away if they stay positive and stick together. The reference to "Hansel and Gretel" is interesting as it compares the pair to the siblings from the fairy tale who rely on each other to find their way out of the forest. Overall, the lyrics encourage the notion of staying together and having faith in each other through difficult times.

Moving on to the structure of the song, it has a very jolly and upbeat melody that goes along with the cheerful lyrics. The chorus repeats itself twice, emphasizing the importance of holding onto each other while they dance into the sunshine out of the rain. The verse builds up to the chorus with the call and response pattern between the singer and the backup singers, emphasizing that they are all in this together. The song ends with the lines "We'll make a cabaret, that's all I've got to say," which implies that the singers will be happy and successful if they stick together. It is a hopeful and optimistic message that is both timeless and relevant in today's world.

Hang on to MeFred Astaire Lyrics

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Hang on to Me
Fred Astaire Lyrics