Through a chance encounter at a Portuguese festival in Lisbon (Lisboa Soundz 2006), where both Amarante (Singer/Guitarist of Los Hermanos) and Moretti (drummer of The Strokes) had performed, the two chatted well through the night and into the morning by the side of the river, humoring the idea of working together on music that had no affiliation to their particular bands.
A year later, Amarante traveled to the United States to record with Devendra Banhart on his Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon album. On the off hours of an arduous recording process, Amarante would meet with Moretti to discuss anything but music.
Binki Shapiro, musician and native of Los Angeles, was introduced to the pair through mutual acquaintances and became a fast friend, encouraging the two to focus on the music they had spoken of long before. Through the process of late night “show-and-tell” the three developed and arranged songs Moretti had begun and soon after started writing original music for the group as a band.
A couple of months later they all moved into a house in Echo Park to demo songs and soon after, with the help of producer Noah Georgeson, who had recorded Banhart’s album, they finished their self-titled debut, Little Joy, named after the cocktail lounge just down the street from their home.
Little Joy was released worldwide by Rough Trade Records, a division of The Beggar’s Group, on Nov. 4th, 2008.
Don't Ever Watch Me Dancing
Little Joy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
sways between suitors on a broke heel
Of course her desires they always mistook
Shed rather be scarred than be scarred with love
In conversation shed often contend
Customs builds customs that evolve dead-ends
If she found her courage in a change of scene
All her best years spent distracted
By this tired re-enactments
With the right step
she would try her chances
Somewhere else
There he is a step outside her view
Reciting the words he hope she might pursue
Night upon night of faithful eye at shore
If only hed convince his legs across the floor
"Please don't watch me dancing
oh no don't watch me dancing"
Something changes when she glances
Enough to teach you what romance is
With the right step
they would try their chances
Somewhere else
Please don't watch me dancing
don't watch me dancing
Please don't watch me dancing
don't watch me dancing
The lyrics of "Don't Ever Watch Me Dancing" by Little Joy tell the story of two characters, Margarita and an unnamed admirer who hope to connect on the dancefloor. Margarita is described as having a "strange appeal" and a tendency to "sway between suitors on a broke heel." She is unwilling to settle for the love that she's been offered, and would rather remain alone than be "scarred with love." In conversation, she often argues that traditions and customs are limiting and obstructive.
Her admirer, who is just out of her sight, is infatuated with her and recites words he hopes she might appreciate. He watches her every night at the dance without having the courage to approach her. The chorus of the song is his plea for her not to watch him dancing, accompanied by a repeating guitar riff. Something changes when Margarita catches his eye, and he feels like he has finally found the opportunity for romance.
The lyrics of "Don't Ever Watch Me Dancing" are interesting in how much they reveal about the inner lives of the characters using such a minimal number of words. The song is evocative, with its waltz-time rhythm and the interplay between the two guitars, yet it remains simple and straightforward. The guitar solos in the song serve to enhance the sense of yearning and longing expressed in the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Margarita has a strange appeal
Margarita has an alluring quality that is difficult to explain
sways between suitors on a broke heel
Margarita is indecisive about her romantic relationships
Of course her desires they always mistook
Her suitors misunderstand her wants
Shed rather be scarred than be scarred with love
Margarita prefers to avoid romantic relationships altogether, even if it means being hurt by that decision
In conversation shed often contend
Margarita often argues that customs and traditions have become obsolete
Customs builds customs that evolve dead-ends
Margarita believes that following tradition blindly leads to unproductive outcomes
If she found her courage in a change of scene
Margarita believes that changing her environment could give her the courage she needs to change her life
The sunday social would be short it's queen
If Margarita left the social scene, it would impact it greatly
All her best years spent distracted
Margarita has spent her prime years focused on superficial things
By this tired re-enactments
Margarita is tired of repeating the same actions and behaviors
With the right step she would try her chances somewhere else
Margarita feels that if she made the right decisions, she could succeed in a new environment
There he is a step outside her view
Margarita sees a potential romantic partner just out of reach
Reciting the words he hope she might pursue
The potential partner is practicing what he wants to say to Margarita in hopes of winning her over
Night upon night of faithful eye at shore
The potential partner watches Margarita from a distance every night
If only hed convince his legs across the floor
The potential partner wishes he had the courage to make a move and ask Margarita to dance
"Please don't watch me dancing
Margarita is asking someone not to watch her dance
oh no don't watch me dancing"
She is embarrassed or uncomfortable with the attention
Something changes when she glances
Margarita feels different when she catches someone staring at her
Enough to teach you what romance is
The feeling of being watched by a potential partner is enough to make Margarita understand what romance feels like
With the right step they would try their chances somewhere else
Margarita and the potential partner feel that if they made the right decisions together, they could succeed in a new environment
Please don't watch me dancing
Margarita is asking someone not to watch her dance
don't watch me dancing
She is embarrassed or uncomfortable with the attention
Please don't watch me dancing
Margarita is asking someone not to watch her dance
don't watch me dancing
She is embarrassed or uncomfortable with the attention
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: FABRIZIO MORETTI, JORDANA SHAPIRO, RODRIGO AMARANTE NEVES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bretthortonmusic
What is with the "loathe" line? I think these are the lyrics:
Margarita has a strange appeal
sways between suitors on a broken heel
Of course her desires they always mistook
She'd rather have been scarred than be scarred with looks
In conversation she'd often contend
Costumes build customs that involve dead-ends
If she found her courage in a change of scene
This Sunday's social would be short its queen
All her best years spent distracted
By these tired re-enactments
With the right step
she would try her chances
Somewhere else
There he is a step outside her view
Reciting the words he hopes she might pursue
Night upon night a faithful light at shore
If he'd only convince his legs across the floor
"Please don't watch me dancing
oh no don't watch me dancing"
Something changes when she glances
Enough to teach you what romance is
With the right step
they would try their chances
Somewhere else
Please don't watch me dancing
don't watch me dancing
Please don't watch me dancing
don't watch me dancing
@fatinexo9048
Margarita has a strange appeal
Sways between suitors on a broken heel
Of course her desires they always mistook
She'd rather've been scarred than be scarred with loathe
In conversation she often contends
Costumes build customs that involve dead ends
She found her courage in a change of scene
This Sunday's social would be short its queen
All her best years spent distracted
By these tired reenactments
With the right step she'll try her chances
Somewhere else
There he is a step outside her view
Reciting the words he hoped she might pursue
Night upon night a faithful light at shore
If he'd only convince his legs across the floor
Please, don't watch me dancing
Oh no, don't watch me dancing
Something changes when she glances
Enough to teach you what romance is
With the right step they try their chances
Somewhere else
Please, don't watch me dancing
Don't watch me dancing
Please, don't watch me dancing (don't watch me dancing, don't watch me dancing)
Don't watch me dancing (don't watch me dancing)
Please, don't watch me dancing (don't watch me dancing, don't watch me dancing)
Don't watch me dancing (don't watch me dancing, don't watch me dancing)
Don't watch me dancing (don't watch me dancing, don't watch me dancing)
Don't watch me dancing (don't watch me dancing, don't watch me dancing)
@anarchyintheuk
this song matches perfectly with those who still seek a childish love in a grown up world.
@RudolfSchmidt
Her voice, her voice breaks my heart.
@rikabauer8767
That's so sweet and so melancholic at the same time
@Bcast1997
So underrated!!
@izabellemachado5442
2019 e não consigo lidar com esse álbum.
@gabrielrfries
nem eu!!
@desenhistacoisado
eu venho de 2021 pra dizer que ainda existe uma carga emocional PESADA aqui
@deborauzumaki1010
Binki has such a beautiful voice <3 Obrigada por me apresentar Little Joy, Rodrigo <3
@bretthortonmusic
What is with the "loathe" line? I think these are the lyrics:
Margarita has a strange appeal
sways between suitors on a broken heel
Of course her desires they always mistook
She'd rather have been scarred than be scarred with looks
In conversation she'd often contend
Costumes build customs that involve dead-ends
If she found her courage in a change of scene
This Sunday's social would be short its queen
All her best years spent distracted
By these tired re-enactments
With the right step
she would try her chances
Somewhere else
There he is a step outside her view
Reciting the words he hopes she might pursue
Night upon night a faithful light at shore
If he'd only convince his legs across the floor
"Please don't watch me dancing
oh no don't watch me dancing"
Something changes when she glances
Enough to teach you what romance is
With the right step
they would try their chances
Somewhere else
Please don't watch me dancing
don't watch me dancing
Please don't watch me dancing
don't watch me dancing
@stellamagni506
this song is the sweetest song ever. Just sayin