Perhaps best known for his work as the compelling counter-voice to singer a… Read Full Bio ↴Perhaps best known for his work as the compelling counter-voice to singer and wife, Stacey Kent, Jim Tomlinson (b: 8th Sept 1966) is increasingly recognised as a distinctive saxophone voice in his own right. The release of his debut album as leader, Only Trust Your Heart (Candid 2000), was greeted with enthusiastic and universal acclaim. His follow up CD, Brazilian Sketches (2003), was named Jazz CD Of The Week by the Observer newspaper in the UK.

Tomlinson did not study music formally until well into his 20s. He played saxophone and ran a band as a hobby whilst studying for his degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at University College, Oxford. It was only after graduating and finding himself drawn to London ’s jazz scene that he enrolled at the Guildhall School Of Music in 1990. It was at the Guildhall that his musical and romantic relationship with Stacey blossomed.

Since then, Tomlinson has worked in a wide variety of groups, from Brian Ferry to experimental big band composer, Michael Garrick. His own quartet has appeared at clubs and festivals across Europe. Most recently, he has toured almost exclusively with Stacey in Europe, USA and the Far East, reserving time to perform in a quintet dedicated to the music of Lester Young with fellow saxophonist and Guildhall graduate, Mark Crooks.

When not performing, Jim shares his passion for skiing with Stacey, a sport at which they both excel. Only touring commitments in Japan in March 2006 prevented them from racing in the Nastar US Championships for which they both qualified this season.

Tomlinson’s most recent CD, The Lyric (2005) features Stacey Kent extensively and is the first release on his own record label, Token. The album recently hit the charts in Poland, France, Spain, Hong Kong and the UK. The Lyric featuring Stacey Kent has also just been awarded "Album of the Year" at the 2006 BBC Jazz Awards, announced 13th July 2006.

The Lyric will be released in the USA in September 2006.

I Won't Dance
Jim Tomlinson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

{she}
Think of what you're losing
By constantly refusing to dance with me.
You'd be the idol of France with me!

And yet you stand there and shake
Your foolish head dramatically.
While I wait here so ecstatically

You just look and say emphatically
Not this season! There's a reason!

{he}
I won't dance! Don't ask me;
I won't dance! Don't ask me;
I won't dance, Madame, with you.
My heart won't let my feet do the things they should do!
You know what? You're lovely,

{she}
And so what? I'm lovely!

{he}
But oh! What you do to me!
I'm like an ocean wave that's bumped on the shore;
I feel so absolutely stumped on the floor!

{she}
When you dance you're charming and you're gentle!
'Specially when you do the "Continental".

{he}
But this feeling isn't purely mental;
For heaven rest us, I'm not asbestos.
I won't dance! Why should I!
I won't dance! How could I?
I won't dance! Merci beau coup!

I know that music leads the way to romance:
So if I hold you in my arms I won't dance!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Stacey Kent's "I Won't Dance" describe two characters and their differing desires regarding dancing. The male character insists that he will not dance with the female character, despite her insistence and attempts to charm him. He claims that his heart won't allow his feet to do the things they should do, and that he simply won't dance. The female character, on the other hand, pleads with him to dance with her, noting that he would be the idol of France and that she finds him charming and gentle on the dance floor.

At its core, the song is about the conflicts that can arise between two people who have different desires and priorities. The male character is stubborn and unwilling to budge, while the female character is persistent and confident. Their dialogue highlights the tension between them, as she tries to convince him to dance with her and he resists.

One possible interpretation of the song is that it is a commentary on the challenges of romantic relationships. The reluctance to dance could be symbolic of an unwillingness to let down one's guard and truly connect with another person. The male character's insistence that he won't dance could be a sign of emotional distance or fear of vulnerability, while the female character's persistence might represent a desire for intimacy and connection.

Line by Line Meaning

Think of what you're losing
Consider the missed opportunity by rejecting this dance

By constantly refusing to dance with me.
You keep turning down my invitations to dance

You'd be the idol of France with me!
You would be admired by all if you danced with me

And yet you stand there and shake
You remain in place, shaking your head

Your foolish head dramatically.
With an exaggerated movement of your head

While I wait here so ecstatically
I am eagerly waiting for you to change your mind

You just look and say emphatically
You reply with force and conviction

Not this season! There's a reason!
There is a specific reason why you can't dance with me at this time

I won't dance! Don't ask me;
I refuse to dance with you, don't even ask

My heart won't let my feet do the things they should do!
I cannot dance with you because my feelings won't allow me to

You know what? You're lovely,
I do admit that you are charming

And so what? I'm lovely!
But my physical appearance doesn't change my mind about dancing with you

But oh! What you do to me!
You have a powerful effect on me

I'm like an ocean wave that's bumped on the shore;
I am overwhelmed by your presence

I feel so absolutely stumped on the floor!
I am completely immobilized by my emotions

When you dance you're charming and you're gentle!
You are graceful and charming when you dance

'Specially when you do the "Continental".
Especially when you perform a specific type of dance

But this feeling isn't purely mental;
My emotions are not simply in my head

For heaven rest us, I'm not asbestos.
I am not immune to the power of dance and love

I won't dance! Why should I!
I have made my decision not to dance with you

I won't dance! How could I?
I cannot bring myself to dance with you

I won't dance! Merci beau coup!
Thank you, but I will not dance with you

I know that music leads the way to romance:
I understand that dancing often leads to romantic connections

So if I hold you in my arms I won't dance!
I cannot dance with you even if we were to embrace

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: DOROTHY FIELDS, JEROME KERN, JIMMY MC HUGH, OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II, OTTO HARBACH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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