Besides these two songs, five more of Montgomery's singles have reached the top of the country charts: "I Love the Way You Love Me", "Be My Baby Tonight", "If You've Got Love", "I Can Love You Like That", and "The Little Girl", while thirteen more have reached Top Ten. Montgomery's recordings of "I Swear" and "I Can Love You Like That" were both released concurrently with R&B versions by the group All-4-One. Montgomery has also released eleven studio albums, counting a Christmas album.
John Michael joined the family band (which also included his brother, Eddie Montgomery, who would later join Troy Gentry in the duo Montgomery Gentry) as guitarist before taking the lead singing role when his parents divorced. Afterwards, he made a frugal living on the local honky-tonk scene as a solo artist playing what he referred to as "working man's country." Eventually, Atlantic Records signed him.
Life
John Michael Montgomery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For a blue eyed girl in my homeroom class
Trying to find the courage to ask her out
Was like trying to get oil from a waterspout
What she would have said I can't say
I never did ask and she moved away
But I learned something from my blue eyed girl
Life's a dance you learn as you go
Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow
Don't worry about what you don't know
Life's a dance you learn as you go
The longer I live the more I believe
You do have to give if you want to receive
There's a time to listen, a time to talk
And you might have to crawl even after you walk
Had sure things blow up in my face
Seen the longshot, win the race
Been knocked down by the slamming door
Picked myself up and came back for more
Life's a dance you learn as you go
Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow
Don't worry about what you don't know
Life's a dance you learn as you go
Life's a dance you learn as you go
Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow
Don't worry about what you don't know
Life's a dance you learn as you go
Life's a dance you learn as you go
Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow
Don't worry about what you don't know
Life's a dance you learn as you go
Life's a dance
Life's a dance
Life's a dance
Take a chance on love
Life's a dance
You learn as you go
The song "Life's a Dance" by John Michael Montgomery is a reflection of the lessons that life teaches us as we go through the journey. The first verse describes the singer's teenage years and his infatuation with a girl in his homeroom class. He was too scared to ask her out, and she moved away without ever knowing his feelings. The second verse talks about the lessons he has learned in life, including the fact that to receive, you must give. The lyrics emphasize listening before talking and crawling before walking. In the bridge, the singer notes that he has had some failures in life, but he has always picked himself back up and returned stronger.
The metaphor of "Life's a Dance" in the chorus suggests that life is a continuous learning process. The lessons we learn and the experiences we have shape us and help us grow. The song stresses not worrying about what you don't know, being willing to take a chance on love, and trying your best, even if you fail. The song encourages listeners to be brave, take risks, and learn from life's experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was fourteen I was falling fast
At the age of fourteen, I was deeply infatuated with a girl in my homeroom class.
For a blue-eyed girl in my homeroom class
I was attracted to a girl with blue eyes who also happened to be in my homeroom class.
Trying to find the courage to ask her out
I struggled to build the courage to ask her out.
Was like trying to get oil from a waterspout
It was impossible to ask her out as it required immense courage, just like getting oil from a waterspout.
What she would have said I can't say
I never found out what she would have said because I never asked her out.
I never did ask and she moved away
The girl I was infatuated with soon moved away, and I never got a chance to ask her out.
But I learned something from my blue-eyed girl
Despite not asking her out, I learned something valuable from the experience.
Sink or swim, you gotta give it a whirl
I learned that you have to take a risk and put yourself out there.
Life's a dance you learn as you go
Life is like a dance where you learn everything along the way.
Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow
There are times when you have to take charge and times when you have to follow.
Don't worry about what you don't know
It's okay not to know everything and not to worry about it.
The longer I live the more I believe
As I grow older, I have come to believe that...
You do have to give if you want to receive
...if you want to receive something, you have to put in the effort to give as well.
There's a time to listen, a time to talk
Knowing when to listen and when to talk is important in life.
And you might have to crawl even after you walk
You may have to go back to basics and start from scratch even after achieving some level of success.
Had sure things blow up in my face
I have experienced failures despite assuming a particular outcome confidently.
Seen the longshot, win the race
I have also witnessed the underdog prevailing in challenging situations.
Been knocked down by the slamming door
I have faced rejection and disappointment just like everyone else.
Picked myself up and came back for more
But I never gave up and instead came back stronger, ready for the next challenge.
Take a chance on love
The song ends with a final message to take chances in life, to take a leap of faith, especially when it comes to love.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVE SESKIN, ALLEN SHAMBLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind