The label's second most-successful all-female singing group after The Supremes, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas were known for a churchier, more southern-styled soul than the Supremes, as typified in Motown hits such as "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave", "Jimmy Mack", "I'm Ready For Love", "My Baby Loves Me", "Nowhere to Run", and, their signature song, "Dancing in the Street".
The group had its origins in Detroit, Michigan in 1957, and had initially gone by the name The Del-Phis. It originally was a quartet comprising childhood friends Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford, Annette Beard, and original lead singer Gloria Williams. Williams left after a failed single on the Checkmate label, leaving the quartet as a trio. They changed their name to The Vells signing a deal with Motown's Mel-o-dy label, and singing background for established Motown performers such as Mary Wells and Marvin Gaye before signing a new deal with Motown's Gordy label on September 21, 1962, after which the group changed its name to Martha and the Vandellas.
In 1964, the Vandellas' lineup changed with Betty Kelley replacing Sterling. In 1967, Kelley was fired and was replaced by Martha's younger sister, Sandra "Lois" Reeves. In 1969, Ashford was also fired and replaced by Sandra Tilley. The lineup of the Reeves sisters and Tilley continued after Martha's return from an institution after suffering a nervous breakdown. The group disbanded following a farewell concert, held at Detroit's Cobo Hall on December 21, 1972., however, Reeves still performs with sister Lois and another Reeves sister, Delphine.
Dancing In The Street
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancing in the street
They're dancing in Chicago
(Dancing in the street)
Down in New Orleans (Dancing in the street)
In New York City (Dancing in the street)
All we need is music, sweet music
(Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet music)
There'll be music everywhere (Everywhere)
There'll be swinging, swaying
And records playing
Dancing in the street, oh
It doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy, grab a girl
Everywhere around the world
They'll be dancing (Dancing in the street)
They're dancing in the street
(Dancing in the street)
This is just an invitation across the nation
A chance for folks to meet
There'll be laughing, singing
And music swinging dancing in the street
Philadelphia, PA (Dancing in the street)
Baltimore and DC, now (Dancing in the street)
Can't forget the Motor City
(Dancing in the street)
All we need is music, sweet music
(Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet music)
There'll be music everywhere (Everywhere)
There'll be swinging, swaying (Swaying)
And records playing (Playing)
Dancing in the street, oh
It doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy, grab a girl
Everywhere around the world they're dancing
They're dancing in the street
(Dancing in the street)
Way down in LA, every day
(Dancing in the street)
They're dancing in the street
(Dancing in the street)
They form a big strong line, get in time
(Dancing in the street)
We're dancing in the street
(Dancing in the street)
Across the ocean blue, me and you
(Dancing in the street)
We're dancing in the street, yeah
(Dancing in the street)
The legendary song "Dancing in the Street" by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas was a revolutionary track that expressed joy and unity that comes with music and dancing. The lyrics describe the excitement and energy that music brings to cities worldwide, from Chicago, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, D.C., and down to L.A. The song portrays an invitation from Martha Reeves and the Vandellas to people around the world, asking them to join them in dancing in the street, regardless of what they wear. It emphasizes the power of music to bring everyone together and create a sense of community that transcends geography and race.
The song was written by Marvin Gaye, William "Mickey" Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter, and produced by Stevenson. Released in 1964, "Dancing in the Street" peaked to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 list, and number one on the Billboard R&B Singles chart. The song became a huge hit in the US, UK, and other parts of the world, and over the years, it has become a cultural classic. It has been widely covered by various artists and frequently used in movies, TV shows, and commercials.
Line by Line Meaning
Calling out around the world
Announcing to the entire world
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Are you prepared for an exciting, fresh rhythm?
Summer's here and the time is right
Summer season has arrived, and it's an ideal time
For dancing in the street
For dancing with others outside, without a care in the world
They're dancing in Chicago (dancing in the street)
People in Chicago are dancing in public
Down in New Orleans (dancing in the street)
People in New Orleans are dancing in public
In New York City (dancing in the street)
People in New York City are dancing in public
All we need is music, sweet music (sweet, sweet, sweet music)
Good music is sufficient to make us joyful
There'll be music everywhere (everywhere)
Music will be present in many places
There'll be swinging, swaying
Everyone will sway in rhythm and groove with the music
And records playing
Recorded music will also be playing
Dancing in the street, oh
Dancing freely in public
It doesn't matter what you wear
Clothes are not important
Just as long as you are there
What really matters is your presence
So come on, every guy, grab a girl
Men, go and get a woman to dance with
Everywhere around the world
Every corner of the world
They'll be dancing (dancing in the street)
People will be dancing
This is an invitation across the nation
Everyone is invited to join in
A chance for folks to meet
A chance for people to connect
There'll be laughing, singing, and music swinging
People will be happy, singing and dancing with the rhythm
Philadelphia, PA (dancing in the street)
In Philadelphia, people are dancing in public
Baltimore and D.C., now (dancing in the street)
In Baltimore and Washington DC, people are dancing in public
Can't forget the Motor City (dancing in the street)
We can't forget to mention Detroit where people are also dancing in public
Way down in L.A. (dancing in the street)
In Los Angeles, people are dancing in public
Every day, they're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Every day, people are dancing in public
Let's form a big, strong line (dancing in the street)
Let's all come together to form a strong, united group and dance in public
Get in time, we're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Let's get in sync with each other and dance in public
Across the ocean blue (dancing in the street)
Even across the vast ocean blue, people are dancing in public
Me and you, we're dancing in the street
Both of us are dancing happily in public
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Marvin Gaye, William Stevenson, Ivy Hunter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@baddiemauve4958
[Verse 1]
Calling out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat
Summer's here
And the time is right
For dancing in the street
They're dancing in Chicago
Down in New Orleans
Up in New York City
[Hook]
All we need is music
Sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swinging
Swaying
And records playing
Dancing in the street
[Chorus]
Oh
It doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long
As you are there
So come on
Every guy
Grab a girl
Everywhere around the world
They'll be dancing
They're dancing in the street
[Verse 2]
It's just an invitation
Across the nation
A chance for folks to meet
There'll be laughing
Singing
Music swinging
Dancing in the street
Philadelphia, PA
Baltimore and D.C. now
Can't forget the Motor City
[Hook]
All we need is music
Sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swinging
Swaying
And records playing
Dancing in the street
[Chorus]
Oh
It doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long
As you are there
So, come on
Every guy
Grab a girl
Everywhere
Around the world
Dancing
They're dancing in the street
Way down in L.A
Every day
(Dancing in the street)
Across the ocean blue
Me and you
We're dancing in the street
(Dancing in the street)
@domoniqueayers8056
C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S
MOTOWN'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY
WITH MORE GREAT RECORDING ARTIST AT THEIR BEST FROM
YESTERDAY TODAY & FOREVER
MARTHA REEVES AND THE VANDELLAS WHILE THEY
ENTERTAINER ALL THEIR MUSIC CONNOISSEURS W/ THOSE GREAT
"MOTOWN SOUNDS" WHY CONTINUE
TO ENJOY THOSE GOLDEN MEMORIES BUT I KNOW THOSE WERE
THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE & I WANT TO THANK ALL, BECAUSE
THEY ALWAYS BRING HEALING TO
MY SOUL, WHEN MY LONELY DAYS
AND NIGHTS SEEMS SO HARSH AND COLD
@thequietrevolution3404
Calling out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancing in the street
They're dancing in Chicago (dancing in the street)
Down in New Orleans (dancing in the street)
In New York City (dancing in the street)
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swinging, swaying and records playing
Dancing in the street
Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy, grab a girl
Everywhere around the world
They'll be dancing (dancing in the street)
They're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
This is an invitation across the nation
A chance for folks to meet
There'll be laughing, singing and music swinging
Dancing in the street
Philadelphia, PA (dancing in the street)
Baltimore and D.C. now (dancing in the street)
Can't forget the Motor City (dancing in the street)
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swing, swaying and records playing
Dancing in the street
Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy, grab a girl
Everywhere around the world
They're dancing
They're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Way down in L.A., (dancing in the street)
Every day, they're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Let's form a big, strong line (dancing in the street)
Get in time, we're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Across the ocean blue (dancing in the street)
Me and you, we're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
@motownfan3
Martha have a Happy Birthday TODAYJULY 18TH 2022....your fans still LOVE YOU :)
@patrickdangola2422
The whole country was listening to
Martha and the Vandellas!
And Dancing in the streets summer 1964!😊
@pinkfreud62
Back when being downtown, shopping, clubbing and dancing was way more safer and fun. Too bad we still aren't like this.
@xx-mreba-xx4051
this is one of those songs that require you to hit max volume whenever its on
@deannomad7160
+Xx-MrEBA-xX and I got the audio system for it RIP neighbors ;)
@divinewilliams3055
it really is THE motown anthem...
@ronforeman2556
"Dancing In the Street sounded absolutely MASSIVE, even on a cheap made-in-Japan transistor radio with a 2" speaker. But it ached to be heard OUTDOORS over a more powerful sound system.
The song was released on July 31, 1964: I have vivid memories of hanging out at the Officers Club pool on Westover Air Force Base and hearing this "blasting" over the PA. Now THERE was a song that could compete with the roar of all those B-52s taking off and landing around the clock.
And there was something about the smell of those hamburgers and hotdogs sizzling on the snackbar grill that made the whole experience unforgetable.
@Yinsight
No. I will just dislike and close app.
@MattWhilden
Marvin Gaye is actually the drummer on this track. I know it sounds ridiculous, but early on in his career he actually was known to compose and play drums.
@FriendlyRambler
I never knew that, thank you for the info! :)