Williams has published four books of poetry: "The Seventh Octave", "S/he", ",said the shotgun to the head." and "The Dead Emcee Scrolls"; and released six albums: Amethyst Rock Star, the self titled Saul Williams, The Inevitable Rise and Liberation Of Niggy Tardust, Volcanic Sunlight, MartyrLoserKing and most recently, Encrypted & Vulnerable.
dance
Saul Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the angels and the gods do what they're told
You wanna catch a little glimpse of how the truth unfolds
You just dance, dance, dance
Tick, tick, explode
Hey, hey, everybody, come and dance with me
Leave your fears at the door carved from the tree
So shut the door, set your floor
Crush, crush the seeds
You wanna live
You wanna jump and fly
You wanna crack that whip
You wanna get inside
Come on, come on
Let me take you for a ride
You wanna kiss
You wanna get into
What the preachers and the teachers
Told you not to do
If only for tonight, sweetheart
Be God
Dance, dance where the saints all come to play
And the angels dyed their feathers cool, cool decay
And if your judging by the shoes you'll think God is gay
Watch Marry work that thing down Magdalene
Little momma, come and dance with me
Let that tight rope get you from that A to B
Now pull that turning trigger then
Stop and freeze until the grippo quit and then
Drop the beat
You wanna live
You wanna jump and fly
You wanna transcend more than meets the eye
The stars are all aligned tonight
Let's try
You wanna kiss
You wanna get into
What the preachers and the teachers
Told you not to do
Well, when you kiss me
Look me in my eye
Cause I wanna see
Who's dancing with me
I wanna know
Which trumpet to blow
I may need to blow
Stare into the O
I'm ready to blow
What's more that you know
This is Niggy Pop
He's dancing
She's dancing
Keep dancing
I'm dancing
The lyrics to Saul Williams's song "Dance" encourage the listener to let go of their inhibitions and simply dance. The opening lines set the scene in a fantastical place where the streets are paved with gold and angels and gods follow instructions. The sense of freedom and possibility is palpable, and the lyrics suggest that it can be accessed through dance. The line "tick, tick, explode" creates a sense of urgency and momentum, as if the listener is about to burst if they don't start dancing.
The rest of the lyrics continue to reinforce the idea that dancing is a way to access a higher state of being. The repetition of the line "you wanna live, you wanna jump and fly" speaks to a desire for expansion and growth, and the idea that dancing can provide an avenue for that. There's also a sense of rebellion in the lyrics, as the listener is encouraged to do the things that preachers and teachers have told them not to do, at least for one night.
The final lines of the song bring in some unexpected elements, such as the reference to Iggy Pop and the use of multiple voices. These fragments of ideas and sounds add to the overall feeling of abandon and chaos, creating a sense of being lost in the moment of dance.
Overall, "Dance" is a song that celebrates the joy and freedom of dance, while also hinting at deeper spiritual and emotional possibilities that can be unlocked through movement.
Line by Line Meaning
Dance, dance where the streets are paved with gold
Let's dance in a place where everything seems perfect and untouchable, like the streets paved with gold.
And the angels and the gods do what they're told
In this perfect place, even the angels and gods follow orders and don't question their superiors.
You wanna catch a little glimpse of how the truth unfolds
If you want to know how things really work, then you need to dance in this perfect place and see for yourself.
You just dance, dance, dance
Dancing seems to be the only way to understand the truth and the workings of this perfect place.
Tick, tick, explode
This perfect place may not be as perfect as it seems, as hinted by the ticking sound leading to an inevitable explosion.
Hey, hey, everybody, come and dance with me
Let's gather everyone to dance together in this perfect place.
Leave your fears at the door carved from the tree
To fully enjoy the dance and understand the truth, everyone has to let go of their fears and enter the place with an open mind.
They say the apple never falls far from repeat
People tend to repeat their mistakes, just like the story of Adam and Eve who disobeyed God by eating from the forbidden apple.
So shut the door, set your floor
Close the door and prepare yourself for the dance.
Crush, crush the seeds
Get rid of any negative thoughts or actions that may hold you back from understanding the truth.
You wanna live
There's more to life than just existing; it's about experiencing and enjoying it to the fullest.
You wanna jump and fly
You want to break free from the constraints that hold you down and experience life without limitations.
You wanna crack that whip
You want to take control of your life and make things happen.
You wanna get inside
You want to explore and understand the deeper meaning of life and existence.
Come on, come on
Let's do this together!
Let me take you for a ride
Let me lead you on this journey and show you what life can truly offer.
If only for tonight, sweetheart
Even if it's only for a short while, let's forget our worries and enjoy the moment.
Be God
Let's embrace our inner God and feel powerful and in control of our lives.
Dance, dance where the saints all come to play
Let's dance in a place where saints, or perfect individuals, come to enjoy themselves.
And the angels dyed their feathers cool, cool decay
Even the perfect beings, such as angels, can be corrupted by decay and deterioration.
And if your judging by the shoes you'll think God is gay
Don't judge solely based on appearances or stereotypes, as they can be misleading.
Watch Marry work that thing down Magdalene
Observe and appreciate the beauty and talent of others, even those who may not fit societal norms.
Little momma, come and dance with me
Women, or mothers, should also be encouraged and allowed to dance and enjoy themselves.
Let that tight rope get you from that A to B
Take risks and step out of your comfort zone to get from one point in life to another.
Now pull that turning trigger then
Make things happen by being proactive and taking action.
Stop and freeze until the grippo quit and then
Take a moment to pause and reflect before carrying on with your actions, as sometimes patience and waiting can bring better results.
Drop the beat
Let the music move you and fuel your actions.
You wanna transcend more than meets the eye
Life is not just about materialistic pursuits, but also about experiencing the spiritual and transcendent parts of it.
The stars are all aligned tonight
This moment feels perfect and predestined, like the stars aligning in the sky.
Let's try
Let's make the most of this moment and take a leap of faith.
Well, when you kiss me
When we share a moment of intimacy and connection.
Look me in my eye
Show me that you are fully present in this moment and not holding back.
Cause I wanna see
I want to truly connect with you and not just have a meaningless interaction.
Who's dancing with me
I want to understand and appreciate the person who is sharing this dance with me.
I wanna know
I desire a true connection with someone and want to understand them fully.
Which trumpet to blow
I want to know which path to take and which decisions to make.
I may need to blow
I may need to take control and lead the way.
Stare into the O
Look into the unknown and find meaning behind it.
I'm ready to blow
I am ready to make things happen and take charge.
What's more that you know
There's always room for more understanding and knowledge.
This is Niggy Pop
This is an introduction to the next part of the song, now led by Niggy Pop.
He's dancing
Niggy Pop is dancing and leading the song.
She's dancing
Perhaps referring to a female singer or dancer, who is also actively participating in the song.
Keep dancing
Don't stop moving and enjoy the moment.
I'm dancing
The singer himself is also dancing and enjoying the moment.
Contributed by Addison V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@iliyamarinov3444
One of the most underrated artists of our time...
@xrzeropoint7989
This video could be extended to be a movie or show! To see deep into that world would be phenomenal!
@jordansanders3979
The moment you try to put Saul Williams into a box or define him, that's the moment you cease from understanding him or true artistry.
@the2ndcoming135
Already know😎
@THEShogunBallistic
True for any genius of the art~
@THEShogunBallistic
@@the2ndcoming135are you part of the awareness in second coming enlightenment beyond Christ cons inclusive of all to infinite reasoning
@the2ndcoming135
@@THEShogunBallistic n*gga put the crack pipe down.
@ysahehre4316
I'm always intringued by him. i don't necessarily enjoy ALL his songs but I like many.
@the2ndcoming135
Hey, people steal sh*t. Gotta stop giving up that good D all the time🤷🏽♂️
@AliAkbar-de8we
Hey.. Disco 82 sample!! Wicked!