The pair wrote nine musicals together and collaborated on a musical film, State Fair. As producers, they also brought Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun to the stage, leaving an indelible mark on American musical theater and a legacy of successes that has never been equaled.
Our greatest living Broadway composer, Steven Sondheim, spent summers with Oscar Hammerstein during his formative adoplescent years. The legacy lives on.
Shall We Dance?
Rodgers And Hammerstein Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We've just been introduced,
I do not know you well,
But when the music started
Something drew me to your side.
So many men and girls,
It made me think we might be
Similarly occupied.
Shall we dance?
On a bright cloud of music shall we fly?
Shall we dance?
Shall we then say "Goodnight" and mean "Goodbye"?
Or perchance,
When the last little star has left the sky,
Shall we still be together
With our arms around each other
And shall you be my new romance?
On the clear understanding
That this kind of thing can happen,
Shall we dance?
Shall we dance?
Shall we Dance?
(Dialogue)
Shall we dance?
KING
One, two, three and?
ANNA
On a bright cloud of music shall we fly?
KING
One, two, three and?
ANNA
Shall we dance?
KING
One, two, three and?
ANNA
Shall we then say "Goodnight" and mean "Goodbye"?
KING
One, two, three and?
ANNA
Or perchance,
When the last little star has left the sky,
Shall we still be together
With our arms around each other
And shall you be my new romance?
On the clear understanding
That this kind of thing can happen,
BOTH
Shall we dance? Shall we dance? Shall we Dance?
In the Rodgers and Hammerstein's song "Shall We Dance," the singer, Anna meets a man for the first time. Despite not knowing him well, something draws her to his side when the music starts playing. As she looks around the room, she sees so many other people dancing with each other, and it leads her to think that they might "similarly be occupied." She then suggests they dance together on a "bright cloud of music," questioning whether they should say goodbye at the end of the night or continue holding each other until the last star leaves the sky.
This song explores the idea of taking chances and being open to the possibility of love, even when meeting someone for the first time. It also highlights the importance of being present in the moment and not worrying about what might happen in the future. The repeated question, "Shall we dance?" acts as a continuous invitation to take that chance and explore what could happen between two individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
We've just been introduced,
We've only met recently and haven't had a chance to get to know one another.
I do not know you well,
I am not familiar with your personality or character.
But when the music started,
However, when the music began to play,
Something drew me to your side.
I felt a strong attraction towards you and was drawn to be near you.
So many men and girls,
There are many couples dancing together,
Are in each other's arms.
holding each other closely.
It made me think we might be
This made me consider the possibility that we could also dance together.
Similarly occupied.
in the same situation.
Shall we dance?
Would you like to dance with me?
On a bright cloud of music shall we fly?
Shall we let the music take us to a happy and carefree place?
Shall we then say 'Goodnight' and mean 'Goodbye'?
Once the dance is over, will we say goodbye and part ways forever?
Or perchance,
Perhaps,
When the last little star has left the sky,
When the night is over and there are no more stars in the sky,
Shall we still be together
Will we still be together,
With our arms around each other
Holding each other closely,
And shall you be my new romance?
Could you become my new love?
On the clear understanding
With the full knowledge,
That this kind of thing can happen,
That we could fall in love and start a new romance,
Shall we dance?
Shall we dance together?
(Dialogue)
Anna and King continue to dance.
One, two, three and?
Counting the beats of the music to keep rhythm.
Shall we dance?
Repeating the invitation to dance.
Shall we dance? Shall we dance? Shall we Dance?
Repeating the question, emphasizing the joy of dancing together.
Contributed by Elijah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@carolinegodden4364
Thanks for sharing the fun side of your beautiful, mother & daughter relationship.
What fun that must have been. Wow it's great that you remember the joy 😂 of her presence, not the pain and endurance it does take for a mum or dad to carry on life , as best as they can with children who are inflicted with dis ease.
Would be great for 🙏 wavers to lift all disease off children, in the name of OUR LORD, JESUS 🤶.
Ah ha ha, my buddy 'CRACKERS' calls him JAYSUZ, it makes me laugh.
May God Bless you and yours , all the days of your life. May you experience GREAT LOVE 😍 and happiness and the best of everything, in all your endeavours.
And so it is
And so it always shall be
FOREVER MORE
💋 Catoline x Australia 🇦🇺 STRAYA
@Laceykat66
Yul Brynner OWNS this role.
@user-bj2lu9qt3o
I guess he owned every role he played.
@adrianloveslucius
He owned all the roles he performed.
@gailchypyha2781
I miss him so much!! He was an amazing actor. The commercials he did about smoking came across very strong and to the point!!
@seanniles9153
Saw him perform this on stage before he died. He wanted to tour to selected cities with this amazing musical. He was frail, BUT, when it cam to this moment he took full control of the stage. Standing ovation for what seemed forever. When the music stopped, he waited when the applause ended, looked to the audience and he looked back to the young lady playing Anna, and said, with great command, “ONE MORE TIME!” The music was stronger, louder and he set the stage to blaze!! I tear up just thinking of that moment.
@bettyparrot2464
@@seanniles9153 Omg.
@jenniferwintz2514
The dress should have won an Oscar for best supporting actress for this scene. She was as fantastic as the king and Anna.
@rocketmom60
The only dress to come close is Lily James' dress in Cinderella.
@Sigma0283
Deborah Kerr's gowns each weighed between 30 and 40 pounds, due to all the pleats, hoops and petticoats. She also suffered continual bruising from the hoops in her skirt while filming this scene.
@jenniferwintz2514
@@Sigma0283 wow, I was not aware of that. The things people do for style! She gave an amazing performance as Anna.