Dance With Me Henry
GIBBS GEORGIA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You gotta dance with me Henry (alright baby)
Dance with me Henry (don't mean maybe)
Rock with me Henry (any old time)
Talk to me Henry (don't change your mind)
Dance with me Henry (alright)
You better dance while the music goes on
While the cats are ballin'
You better stop your stallin'
It's intermission in a minute
So you better get with it
Dance with me Henry
You better dance while the music goes on
Roll on, roll on, roll on
Ooh-wee
Henry, you ain't movin' me
You better feel that boogie beat
And get the lead out of your feet
You gotta dance with me Henry
Dance with me Henry
Rock with me Henry
Talk to me Henry
Dance with me Henry
You better dance while the music goes on
Roll, roll, roll
Roll, roll, roll
Rock, rock, rock
Rock, rock, rock
Roll, roll, roll
Roll on, roll on, roll on
Rock with me Henry (alright baby)
Dance with me Henry (don't mean maybe)
Rock with me Henry (any old time)
Dance with me Henry (don't change your mind)
Jump with me Henry (alright)
You better dance, dance
While the music goes on
Roll on
Roll on
Roll on
Roll on
Rock
These lyrics are from the song "Dance with me Henry" by Gibbs Georgia. The song is about trying to convince a man named Henry to dance with the singer. The lyrics suggest that the music is playing, the party is in full swing, and it's time to stop stalling and start dancing. The singer insists that Henry must dance with her, rock with her, and jump with her, while the music is playing. The lyrics have a light-hearted and playful tone and encourage listeners to have fun and let loose.
The first verse asks Henry how to make a hit with him, and the response is that he has to dance with the singer. In the second verse, the singer tells Henry that he better start dancing while the music is playing because it's almost intermission. The third verse suggests that Henry is not moving to the beat, and he needs to feel the "boogie beat" and get the lead out of his feet. The chorus repeats the phrase "dance with me Henry" and adds more requests like "rock with me Henry" and "talk to me Henry." The song ends with more repetition of "dance with me Henry" and "roll on."
Overall, the song is a fun and upbeat dance tune that encourages listeners to let go and enjoy the music. The lyrics are simple and repetitive, making it easy for people to sing along and dance.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey baby, what do I have to do to make a hit with you?
Asking what actions are necessary to gain the attention and affection of the other person.
You gotta dance with me Henry (alright baby)
In order to win over their heart, dancing with them is a requirement.
Dance with me Henry (don't mean maybe)
The request to dance is not optional, it is expected to be fulfilled without hesitation.
Rock with me Henry (any old time)
Along with dancing, rocking to the music is also encouraged at any time.
Talk to me Henry (don't change your mind)
In addition to dancing and rocking, meaningful communication is also desired and should not be neglected.
Dance with me Henry (alright)
Reiterating the need for the other person to dance with them.
You better dance while the music goes on
Roll on, roll on, roll on
There is a sense of urgency to dance while the music is playing, not wasting any opportunity to have fun and bond.
While the cats are ballin'
You better stop your stallin'
As other people are dancing and enjoying themselves, hesitation or delay in joining them is discouraged.
It's intermission in a minute
So you better get with it
With a break in the music coming up soon, it's time to make the most of the remaining time to dance and have fun.
Henry, you ain't movin' me
You better feel that boogie beat
And get the lead out of your feet
Addressing Henry specifically, they challenge him to pick up the pace and let himself go to the rhythm of the music.
Jump with me Henry (alright)
You better dance, dance
While the music goes on
Expanding the options for dancing by introducing jumping as well, but still emphasizing the importance of taking action and dancing while the music is playing.
Roll on
Roll on
Roll on
Roll on
Rock
Repeating the previous exhortation to roll with the music and adding the word 'rock' as an encouragement to keep the energy high.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CARLIN AMERICA INC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hank Ballard, Etta James, Johnny Otis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chris Cox
I heard my mom sing this. So I thought I would check it out. I can close my eyes and still hear her
Zona Gale
I can too. My mother would fit some dance steps in while singing and cooking.
seraphyne13
My grandma used to sing old songs like this all the time. She'd always sing one that I thought went "Dance with me, Hindee". Well, she's been dead almost 4 years now. I've trying to find that song for years. I've found some of the others but never anything about "Hindee". Looking up stuff tonight, I saw something that said "Henry" and I thought that maybe I was just hearing it wrong so I looked it up. That search led me to this and now I'm pretty certain I've finally found song. It fits with the time frame. She was born in 1933 so she would have been 22 when this came out. It's great to remember her singing before the dementia kicked in. She couldn't carry a tune in a bucket but, like she always said "God always said make a joyful noise!". I like to imagine her young, dancing around the house with my aunt (her daughter), who would have been three years old, holding my dad in one arm. My dad would have been a baby being born on the same year this song came out. Maybe my granddad had just gotten home and danced with them. Who knows? It's something I like to think about.
taffygirl
My mom had this as a 45 and we wore it out!
J T
My mother died a year ago and for some reason, this song came to mind tonight. Mom was a terrible singer and only knew a few of the words, but I can still hear her singing "Dance with me, Henry. Alright, Baby" (completely off-key, of course!)
Virginia Paige Love
My mother wrote in my baby book that this was the first song I ever sang.
dj horizontl
When I was toddler I had (and still have) a monkey toy that was my height and I named him Henry because I could dance with him.
George Vreeland Hill
A classic from an era that we all should listen to more often.
HarborCovian
Everyone had this song in their 45rpm record collection back in the R & R era.
Ted Winkelman
I can remember my mom singing this song at a PTA meeting at my school back in 55. Those were great 👍 years.