The writer/lead singer, Ivan Doroschuk, has explained that "The Safety Dance" is a protest against bouncers prohibiting dancers from pogoing to 1980s new wave music in clubs when disco was dying and new wave was up and coming. New wave dancing, especially pogoing, was different from disco dancing, because it was done individually instead of with partners and involved holding the torso rigid and thrashing about. To uninformed bystanders this could look dangerous, especially if pogoers accidentally bounced into one another (the more deliberately violent evolution of pogoing is slamdancing). The bouncers did not like pogoing so they would tell pogoers to stop or be kicked out of the club. Thus, the song is a protest and a call for freedom of expression.
In 2003, on an episode of VH1's True Spin, Doroschuk responded to two common interpretations of the song. Firstly, he explained "The Safety Dance" is not a call for safe sex, and that this interpretation is "people reading into it a bit too much". Secondly, he explained that it is not an anti-nuclear protest song per se despite the nuclear imagery at the end of the video. Doroschuk stated that "it wasn't a question of just being anti-nuclear, it was a question of being anti-establishment."
The Safety Dance
Men Without Hats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We can leave your friends behind
'Cause your friends don't dance
And if they don't dance
Well, they're no friends of mine
Say, we can go where we want to
A place where they will never find
And we can act like we come
From out of this world
Leave the real one far behind
And we can dance
Or sing
We can go when we want to
Night is young and so am I
And we can dress real neat
From our hats to our feet
And surprise 'em with the victory cry
Say, we can act if we want to
If we don't, nobody will
And you can act real rude and totally removed
And I can act like an imbecile
And say, we can dance, we can dance
Everything's out of control
We can dance, we can dance
They're doing it from pole to pole
We can dance, we can dance
Everybody look at your hands
We can dance, we can dance
Everybody's taking the chance
Safety dance
Oh well, the safety dance
Ah yes, the safety dance
We can dance if we want to
We've got all your life and mine
As long as we abuse it, never gonna lose it
Everything'll work out right
I say, we can dance if we want to
We can leave your friends behind
Because your friends don't dance
And if they don't dance
Well, they're no friends of mine
I say, we can dance, we can dance
Everything's out of control
We can dance, we can dance
We're doing it from pole to pole
We can dance, we can dance
Everybody look at your hands
We can dance, we can dance
Everybody's taking the chance
Oh well, the safety dance
Ah yes, the safety dance
Oh well, the safety dance
Oh well, the safety dance
Oh yes, the safety dance
Oh, the safety dance, yeah
Well, it's the safety dance
It's the safety dance
Well, it's the safety dance
Well, it's the safety dance
Oh, it's the safety dance
Oh, it's the safety dance
Men Without Hats' "Safety Dance" is a catchy and upbeat song that encourages individuals to let loose and dance freely. The chorus, "We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind," suggests that people should not hold back or be afraid to dance. The lyrics highlight the idea that dancing can be a liberating experience and can allow individuals to break free from social constraints. The song encourages listeners to embrace their individuality and not be afraid to express themselves through dance.
The lyrics also suggest that the "safety dance" is a metaphorical way of escaping society's rules and expectations. By dancing, people can create their own world, separate from the real world, where they can act as they please. The lyrics "And we can act like we come from out of this world, leave the real one far behind" demonstrate this idea. The "safety dance" is a way of creating a safe space where people can let loose, be themselves, and dance their hearts out.
Overall, "Safety Dance" encourages individuals to be confident in themselves and not let societal norms limit their freedom of expression. The song's catchy beat and upbeat melody make it a timeless classic that continues to be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Line by Line Meaning
We can dance if we want to
We have the freedom to dance if we desire
We can leave your friends behind
We do not have to stay with those who do not share our interests
'Cause your friends don't dance
Our friends who do not dance are not compatible with us
And if they don't dance
If our friends do not dance, they are not worth our time
Well, they're no friends of mine
Those who do not dance are not true friends
Say, we can go where we want to
We have the freedom to go where we desire
A place where they will never find
We can go to a location where others cannot find us
And we can act like we come
We can pretend as if we are from another planet
From out of this world
From a world that is not this one
Leave the real one far behind
We can leave the reality behind and be whoever we want to be
And we can dance
We have the freedom to dance
Or sing
We have the freedom to sing
We can go when we want to
We have the freedom to leave whenever we desire
Night is young and so am I
We have plenty of time to do what we want
And we can dress real neat
We can dress in a way that makes us happy
From our hats to our feet
We can dress up completely
And surprise 'em with the victory cry
We can surprise others with our dance moves
Say, we can act if we want to
We have the freedom to act however we want
If we don't, nobody will
If we do not act, then nobody will act for us
And you can act real rude and totally removed
We can act rudely and without care for others
And I can act like an imbecile
We can act silly and foolish if we want to
And say, we can dance, we can dance
We can express our freedom to dance
Everything's out of control
The situation is wild and chaotic
They're doing it from pole to pole
Others are also expressing their freedom to dance
Everybody look at your hands
Pay attention to the moment and enjoy it
Everybody's taking the chance
Everyone is taking the opportunity to have fun
Safety dance
A dance that is safe and enjoyable
Oh well, the safety dance
Ah yes, the safety dance
Ah yes, the safety dance
The safety dance is a great experience
We've got all your life and mine
We have our own lives to live
As long as we abuse it, never gonna lose it
As long as we use time wisely, we will never run out of it
Everything'll work out right
Everything will fall into place
I say, we can dance if we want to
We have the freedom to dance if we desire
Because your friends don't dance
Our friends who do not dance are not compatible with us
We're doing it from pole to pole
We are expressing our freedom to dance wherever we go
Oh, the safety dance, yeah
The safety dance is a great experience
Well, it's the safety dance
The safety dance is a fun and enjoyable experience
It's the safety dance
The safety dance is a dance that is safe and enjoyable
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ivan Doroschuk
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@affleberryfondue5288
I don't care what anyone says, I seriously don't see how anyone could not love this song. It's a thing of greatness.
@davehimlin2374
Well I despise it...and heres why..garbage music, garbage lyrics, garbage vocals.
@clintoncorriveau5515
I know and I love this song too.
@mjt1517
Anyone who doesn't like this song is no friend of mine.
@susan3200
Ikr, I like this song too. It's catchy and for some of us, if we make work fun... it is easier and better
@fredbannon
Dumb
@joshua9480
This is how i picture the people of ireland and scottland going about everyday life
@SunBunz
+chub'ntuck I wanna live there, dammit. lol
@wulfgar88-10
I would live there :D
@SunBunz
AEthul Wulf
Because we could dance if we wanted to!