Berlin, who was Jewish, was one of the few Tin Pan Alley/Broadway songwriters who wrote both lyrics and music for his songs. Although he never learned to read music beyond a rudimentary level, he composed over 3,000 songs. Many of his songs, including "God Bless America", "White Christmas", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", and "There's No Business Like Show Business," left an indelible mark on American music and culture. He produced 17 film scores and 21 Broadway scores, in addition to his individual songs.
Carefree: Change partners
Irving Berlin Lyrics
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You have danced with him since the music began.
Won't you change partners and dance with me?
Must you dance quite so close with your lips touching his face?
Can't you see
I'm longing to be in his place?
Won't you change partners and dance with me?
While you're alone,
I'll tell the waiter to tell
Him he's wanted on the telephone.
You've been locked in his arms ever since heaven knows when.
Won't you change partners and then,
You may never want to change partners again.
In Irving Berlin's song Carefree, the singer is expressing his desire to dance with the woman in question, who has been dancing with the same man since the music began. He asks her to change partners and dance with him instead. He is envious of the man with whom she is dancing and wishes to take his place. The singer asks her to sit this one out with the current partner and requests the waiter to tell him that he is wanted on the telephone. He asserts that the woman has been locked in his arms for too long and he suggests changing partners so that she may never want to change partners again.
The lyrics of the song seem to be about the desire to experience new things and to break away from the routine. The singer is urging the woman to break away from her monotonous dance partner and experience something different with him. The song might be interpreted as a call to live life to the fullest and explore new possibilities. It could also be seen as a desire for change and a need to break free from established patterns.
Line by Line Meaning
Must you dance every dance with the same fortunate man?
Do you have to dance with the same man all night?
You have danced with him since the music began.
You've been dancing with him since the start of the music.
Won't you change partners and dance with me?
Will you dance with me instead?
Must you dance quite so close with your lips touching his face?
Do you have to dance so close to him that your lips are touching his face?
Can't you see I'm longing to be in his place?
Can't you see that I want to dance with you like he is?
Ask him to sit this one out.
Can you ask him to skip this dance?
While you're alone, I'll tell the waiter to tell Him he's wanted on the telephone.
While you're taking a break, I'll ask the waiter to tell him that he has a phone call.
You've been locked in his arms ever since heaven knows when.
You've been dancing in his arms for a long time.
Won't you change partners and then, You may never want to change partners again.
If you dance with me, you might not want to change partners again.
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joan Schilleci
What a breathtakingly beautiful song this. And the slightly Latin touch the pianist adds to his playing is wonderful. I should have known that this song had to have been written by the brilliant Irving Berlin. Irving Berlin and the Gershwin brothers---"Who Could Ask for Anything More"?