Old 97's are an alt-country band originally based in Dallas, Texas, USA. Th… Read Full Bio ↴Old 97's are an alt-country band originally based in Dallas, Texas, USA. The group formed in 1993 and took their name from a song popularized by Johnny Cash, "Wreck of the Old '97". They describe themselves as a rock band with influences as varied as the Kinks, the Beatles, Pixies, David Bowie, X, and Merle Haggard. The band often performs songs made famous by the latter two musicians, and has interspersed a number of these on their eight releases since 1994.

Old 97's have been heralded as a great live band. They included five live songs as a bonus disc on Satellite Rides, and released a live double CD set recorded at historic Gruene Hall in 2005, Alive and Wired. Singer/guitarist Rhett Miller has released three solo albums and singer/bassist Murry Hammond released his first solo effort in April 2008. Ken Bethea plays lead guitar for the band and playing the drums/singing is Philip Peeples.

For photographs and additional information see the official website, www.Old97s.com.

Dance with Me
Old 97's Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Underneath the foreign stars
In a foreign place where they don't love you
I do care,
In the pale moonlight
Your eyes are wide
And the band plays...
Everybody wants you

And he takes your hand tenderly
And he whispers
Sweet surrender, nothing
How he feels about girls like you
Your flip flop smiles,
And your big blue eyes
On vacation

[Chorus]
Dance with me into the ocean
Roll with me into the sea
Don't tell me the world is in trouble

Do you want to dance with me?

Go, changes hands as the big waves
Crash and dream don't die
But I do
Where were you when I needed you
Right now
The telephone just rings,
I'm gonna find you...

[Chorus]

Do you want to dance with me, oh
Do you want to dance with me?

Underneath the foreign sun
With a foreign man who is gone and almost forgotten
Take everything you see
And remember us and wonder,
If you will be forgiven...

[Chorus]

Don't tell me the world is in trouble

[Chorus]

Do you want to dance with me

Do you want to dance with me, oh
Do you want to dance with me?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Dance With Me" by Old 97's speak to the idea of fleeting moments and the desire to connect with someone, even if just for a moment. The singer of the song is in a foreign place, surrounded by people who don't know or care about him, but he finds comfort in the connection he shares with the woman he's singing to. He describes her physical appearance with romantic imagery, such as her "flip flop smiles" and "big blue eyes," which add to the sense that he's caught up in the moment and overwhelmed by the beauty of the experience.

The chorus offers a temporary escape from reality as the singer asks the woman to dance with him into the ocean and the sea. He wants to forget the troubles of the world and live in the moment with her. The final verse returns to reality and the realization that the moment is fleeting, and the woman will soon be gone, forever classified as a "foreign man" who is "almost forgotten." The singer begs the woman to take everything she's seen with her, to remember them, and to wonder if they will ever be forgiven for their moment of shared intimacy.

The lyrics of "Dance With Me" by Old 97's capture the feeling of wanting to escape reality with someone you're attracted to, even if only for a short time. It's a song about seizing the moment and allowing oneself to feel something genuine, even if it's just for a little while.

Line by Line Meaning

Underneath the foreign stars
Amidst unfamiliar surroundings, in a place where you don't feel at home

In a foreign place where they don't love you
In a place where you don't receive the affection that you're used to

I do care,
But I care about you regardless

In the pale moonlight
The dim light of the moon provides a romantic atmosphere

Your eyes are wide
Your gaze is filled with curiosity and excitement

And the band plays...
The music sets a lively and upbeat mood

Everybody wants you
You're the center of attention and the object of desire

And he takes your hand tenderly
He approaches you gently and with care

And he whispers
He speaks softly and intimately

Sweet surrender, nothing
He's asking you to let go and just be in the moment, without expectations

How he feels about girls like you
He's trying to express his admiration for the kind of person you are

Your flip flop smiles,
Your radiant and carefree expressions

And your big blue eyes
Your striking and captivating gaze

On vacation
In a temporary escape from normal life

[Chorus]
Refrain: Inviting you to dance and escape from reality together

Dance with me into the ocean
Let's share a moment of daring freedom and surrender

Roll with me into the sea
Let's take a risk and dive into the unknown

Don't tell me the world is in trouble
Let's ignore the problems of the world and just focus on us

Do you want to dance with me?
A repeated and insistent invitation to live the moment together

Go, changes hands as the big waves
The unpredictable nature of life, which can change suddenly like the ocean waves

Crash and dream don't die
Although things can be tumultuous and uncertain, there is still hope and possibility

But I do
Despite trying to keep an optimistic outlook, the singer is still struggling personally

Where were you when I needed you
Looking for an explanation or attempt to understand the singer's struggles

Right now
Currently in the present, dealing with these emotions

The telephone just rings,
Feeling like he's reaching out for help but not receiving a response

I'm gonna find you...
Determined to find a resolution or answers for his struggles

[Chorus]
Refrain

Underneath the foreign sun
Continuing to exist in unfamiliar and uncomfortable surroundings

With a foreign man who is gone and almost forgotten
Remembering someone who is no longer present, maybe even feeling distant or disconnected from them

Take everything you see
Absorbing the experiences of the moment and the surroundings

And remember us and wonder,
Reflecting on past connections or relationships and feeling nostalgic

If you will be forgiven...
Uncertain if past actions or decisions will be overlooked or left unjudged

[Chorus]
Refrain

Do you want to dance with me
Closing with a final and hopeful invitation to connect and enjoy the moment together

Do you want to dance with me, oh
Repeating and emphasizing the desire to share this experience

Do you want to dance with me?
Final invitation to connect and share a moment together

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KENDALL DEWAYNE BETHEA, MURRAY HAMMOND, PHILIP WAYNE PEEPLES, STEWART RANSOM MILLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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