Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a legendary … Read Full Bio ↴Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a legendary American R&B/soul singer and actress. She is best known for the hits she recorded during the 1960s and 1970s, for both the Motown and Buddah Records labels, with her group Gladys Knight & the Pips, the most famous incarnation of which also included her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and her cousins Edward Patten and William Guest.
Knight started to record solo material due to legal issues that forced her and The Pips to record separately. Her solo debut "Miss Gladys Knight" was released in 1978 followed by "Gladys Knight" on Colombia Records. Knight recorded the title track for the James Bond movie "Licence To Kill." It became a Top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at #6. Knight's third solo album, "Good Woman" was released in 1991 on MCA Records (now Geffen Records). The album quickly climbed the charts to #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album features the lead single, "Men" (#2 R&B). Her fourth album, "Just For You" followed in 1995. The album went Gold. Knight most recent album is her critically acclaimed ninth studio album, "Before Me", released in 2006.

I Hope You Dance
Gladys Knight Lyrics

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I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone)

(Tell me who)
I hope you dance

(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

Overall Meaning

The song "I Hope You Dance" by Gladys Knight is a poignant expression of hope and love for a person's life journey. The opening lines express the desire for the person never to lose their sense of wonder and to stay hungry for life, even if they have enough to eat. The lyrics also express the wish that the person would never take each breath for granted and that love would never leave them empty-handed. The song also hopes that the person will always feel small when standing by the ocean, recognizing the power and majesty of nature.

The chorus of the song encourages the listener to take chances in life, to not settle for the path of least resistance and to give faith a fighting chance. The singer states that, even though love can be a mistake, it is worth taking the risk. The song also warns against bitterness and encourages the listener to reconsider when they feel like giving up.

The song's lyrics evoke images of nature, faith, courage, and love. They encourage the listener to appreciate the beauty of the world, take risks and overcome obstacles, and to live a life of love and hope. The song has become an anthem of hope and inspiration to many, encouraging them to dance through life's challenges and to always be grateful for the wonder of life.

Line by Line Meaning

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
I hope you always maintain the ability to be amazed by the world around you, even as you grow older

You get your fill to eat But always keep that hunger
May you have enough in life to be satisfied, but always have a hunger for more personal and professional growth

May you never take one single breath for granted
May you always be grateful for the gift of life

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
May you never experience heartbreak so profound that it robs you of your ability to love and connect with others

I hope you still feel small When you stand by the ocean
May you always have a sense of humility and awe when confronted with the vastness of nature

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
May you always have hope and resilience in the face of adversity, and may you believe that there are always new opportunities waiting for you

Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance
May you have the courage to believe in greater powers and intangible values even in the face of challenges

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance I hope you dance
May you always choose to engage fully with life and take risks, even when it's scary or uncertain

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
May you always push past your fears and pursue your dreams, even when they seem impossibly difficult to achieve

Never settle for the path of least resistance
May you always strive to challenge yourself and push past your comfort zone, rather than taking the easy way out

Living might mean taking chances But they're worth taking
May you always be willing to take risks and pursue the things that truly matter to you, even if they come with no guarantees

Lovin' might be a mistake But it's worth making
May you always be open to love, even if it ends in heartbreak, because the joy of connection is always worth the risk

Don't let some hell bent heart Leave you bitter
May you not let heartbreak and difficult relationships harden your heart and make you cynical

When you come close to selling out Reconsider
May you always remember your values and integrity, and not compromise them for short-term gain

Give the heavens above More than just a passing glance
May you always remember that there is a greater power at work in the universe and consider the perspectives and needs of others

Dance
May you always be willing to take an active role in life, to celebrate its joys and to mourn its sorrows

(Time is a real and constant motion always) (Rolling us along) (Tell me who) (Wants to look back on their youth and wonder) (Where those years have gone)
May you always remember that time is fleeting and precious, and use it to create meaningful connections and experiences in your life

Contributed by Adeline B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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