One More Dance
Miriam Makeba Lyrics


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Darling, go home
Your husband is ill
Is he ill?
Let them give him a pill
Oh, come my dear Franz
Just one more dance
Then I'll go home to my poor old man
Then I'll/she'll go home to my/her poor old man

Darling, go home
Your husband is worse
Is he worse?
Well, I am no nurse
Oh, come my dear Franz
Just one more dance
Then I'll go home to my poor old man
Then I'll/she'll go home to my/her poor old man

Darling, go home
Your husband is dead
Is he dead?
There's no more to be said
Oh, come my dear Franz
Just one more dance
Then I'll go home to my poor old man
Then I'll/she'll go home to my/her poor old man

Darling, go home
The will's to be read
What's that you said?
I said the will's to be read
Oh, no, no, my dear Franz
This is no time to dance




I must go weep for my poor old man
I/she must go weep for my/her poor old man

Overall Meaning

Miriam Makeba's song One More Dance tells a story of a young woman who is asked to go home to her sick husband but chooses to stay and dance with her lover, Franz. The lyrics show the exchange between Franz and the woman as he tries to convince her to stay for one more dance, even when her husband is ill, worse, and eventually dead. Despite her love for Franz, she ultimately feels the obligation to mourn her poor old man when news comes of his death.


The lyrics highlight the difficulty of weighing love and obligation, and the possibility of regrets when choices are made. It also sheds light on the patriarchal society that forces women into loveless marriages, where they have to choose between their duty to their husbands and their desire for freedom and true love. Makeba's beautiful voice brings out the emotions in the words, making the story more complex and relatable to people struggling with similar issues.


Line by Line Meaning

Darling, go home
Miriam is telling someone, likely a woman, to go home.


Your husband is ill
The woman's husband is sick.


Is he ill?
Miriam is asking for confirmation about the husband's illness.


Let them give him a pill
Miriam is suggesting medication as treatment for the husband's illness.


Oh, come my dear Franz
Miriam is calling someone named Franz to come to her.


Just one more dance
Miriam requests for one more dance with Franz.


Then I'll go home to my poor old man
Miriam plans to go home to her old husband after the dance.


Your husband is worse
The woman's husband's condition is getting worse.


Is he worse?
Miriam is asking for confirmation about the worsening of the husband's condition.


Well, I am no nurse
Miriam is admitting that she does not have any nursing skills that can help the husband.


Your husband is dead
The woman's husband has died.


Is he dead?
Miriam is asking for confirmation about the husband's passing.


There's no more to be said
Miriam acknowledges the finality of the husband's death.


The will's to be read
The husband's will is going to be read.


What's that you said?
Miriam is asking for clarity about what was said regarding the will.


Oh, no, no, my dear Franz
Miriam is rejecting Franz's invitation to dance due to the solemnity of the moment.


This is no time to dance
Miriam believes that the current moment is inappropriate for dancing.


I must go weep for my poor old man
Miriam needs to go and grieve for her own old husband.


I/she must go weep for my/her poor old man
The pronouns 'I' and 'she' in this line refer to Miriam and the woman she was originally addressing, respectively.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: C.C. CARTER, ROSEMARY PRIMONT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Agnethatheredhairkid

Miriam's facial expressions are priceless. What a voice! What a song! What a lady!

@olebileolebile4847

Her attitude on stage was everything

@ezennacharles5746

Ageless!!! One can not help but love this performance.

@dzehoi

Darned! Even after 50 years, this song still cracks me up.. and now it also tears me up from memories of a certain age, time and an incomparable artist..

@stanzaafrika5206

This song always make my day... Keep resting in peace mama Miriam Makeba 💔💔💔💜

@ezekieludo1856

Even as a lad then, I always felt heavenly when listening to this timeless piece. Forever in my heart, Miriam.

@fezmai1282

This gem..this Mirriam this LEGEND..our Makeba...thank you for sharing...

@nanaaba1000

This is warm 🥰

@imochima5978

Been looking for this song since 1986

@hyacinthreynolds997

I love this song dearly the late Miriam Makeba was one of my favorite singers. She has left a legacy behind. May her soul rest in peace.😢😢😢

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