Back to Back
Glenn Miller and his Orchestra Glenn Miller Marion Hutton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Takes you off the beaten track
You don't look at your partner at all
When you dance back to back
That's that new attack
That the other dances lack
You can see what goes on in the hall
Your partner won't see you make eyes at who dances by
Your partner, oh my dear, he's doing the same,
that's why you must dance back to back,
Let me place you in the pack
Cut the cards and I?ll deal you a queen and a jack
Back to back!
The song "Back to Back" is a swing tune by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra featuring Marion Hutton on vocals. The lyrics describe a unique and somewhat intimate style of dancing where partners dance facing away from each other, and as a result, they are not able to make eye contact with each other or see each other's movements. The song suggests that this back to back style of dancing is a new and exciting trend that separates it from other dances. By dancing this way, dancers are free to observe and enjoy the dance floor around them, all while not losing their place within the dance.
The lyrics also imply that by dancing back to back, dancers are free to interact with other dancers in a carefree and spontaneous way, without worrying about their partner's reactions. The use of playing cards in the lyrics is a metaphor for this idea, implying that the dancers are dealt a new hand each time they switch partners. The song is upbeat and playful, encouraging listeners to try this new approach to dancing.
Line by Line Meaning
Dancing back to back
When you dance back to back with your partner
Takes you off the beaten track
It is a different and unique way to dance
You don't look at your partner at all
Your back is facing your partner so you cannot see them
That's that new attack
Dancing back to back is a new and innovative way of dancing
That the other dances lack
Other dances don't have the same style and innovation as dancing back to back
You can see what goes on in the hall
You have a better view of what's happening on the dance floor when you dance back to back
Your partner won't see you make eyes at who dances by
Since you're facing the opposite direction as your partner, they won't notice if you're looking at other dancers
Your partner, oh my dear, he's doing the same,
Your partner is also facing the opposite direction so they might be looking at other dancers as well
that's why you must dance back to back,
The reason you should dance back to back is to avoid distraction or unwanted attention from other dancers
Let me place you in the pack
Let me demonstrate how to dance back to back to include you in the group of dancers
Cut the cards and I?ll deal you a queen and a jack
Let's start the music and I'll show you how to dance with a partner back to back
Back to back!
Let's start dancing back to back
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind