The Old Fashioned Way
Shirley Bassey Lyrics


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Dance in the old-fashioned way.
Won't you stay in my arms ?
Just melt against my skin and let me feel your heart.
Don't let the music win by dancing far apart.
Come close where you belong, let's hear our secret song.

Dance in the old-fashioned way.
Won't you stay in my arms
And we'll discover heights we never knew before,
If we just close our eyes and dance around the floor.
That gay, old-fashioned way that makes me love you more.

Come closer, forget about the others.
It's nice to be like this, cheek to cheek,
In the old-fashioned way.
It's funny, but, I have the feeling that we are dancing as our parents used to do.
Well, maybe they weren't wrong :
The world changes, love stays.

Dance in the old-fashioned way.
Won't you stay in my arms
And we'll discover heights we never knew before,




If we just close our eyes and dance around the floor.
That gay, old-fashioned way that makes me love you more.

Overall Meaning

The song "The Old-Fashioned Way" by Shirley Bassey is a romantic ballad that encourages dancing in the traditional and intimate way that has been lost in modern times. The lyrics express a desire to hold someone close and feel the warmth of their skin against yours, as you move in sync with each other to the rhythm of the music. The song suggests forgetting about others and focusing on the joy of being cheek to cheek, just like our parents might have danced in earlier times. The singer reminisces with nostalgia about the past, while acknowledging that love remains constant even as the world changes.


The old-fashioned way of dancing described in the song involves the couple being close to each other, with no space between them, and moving their bodies in unison. The emphasis is on the tactile experience of being together and feeling each other's energy. The lyrics suggest that this style of dance is more intimate and romantic than modern styles that allow for more distance between partners. The song speaks to a desire for deeper human connections and a longing for times gone by when people had more time for each other and slower, more sensuous ways of enjoying each other's company.


Overall, "The Old-Fashioned Way" is a poignant and romantic ode to the past, evoking a sense of nostalgia and loss for simpler times. It encourages listeners to embrace the warmth and intimacy of traditional dance and to connect with others on a deeper level. The song is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with listeners around the world.


Line by Line Meaning

Dance in the old-fashioned way.
Let's dance together in a classic, traditional way.


Won't you stay in my arms ?
Can you stay close to me and hold me while we dance?


Just melt against my skin and let me feel your heart.
Press against me closely and let me feel the beat of your heart.


Don't let the music win by dancing far apart.
Let's not let the music separate us, we should stay together.


Come close where you belong, let's hear our secret song.
Come near me where you belong, and we'll share our intimate, private song.


And we'll discover heights we never knew before, If we just close our eyes and dance around the floor.
We'll experience new and exciting things if we let loose and dance like no one's watching.


That gay, old-fashioned way that makes me love you more.
Doing things the way our parents used to do them makes me love you more, in a happy and old-fashioned way.


Come closer, forget about the others.
Get closer to me and ignore everyone else around us.


It's nice to be like this, cheek to cheek, In the old-fashioned way.
It's pleasant to be embracing each other like this, face to face, in the classic way.


It's funny, but, I have the feeling that we are dancing as our parents used to do.
It's amusing, but I think we're dancing like how our parents used to dance.


Well, maybe they weren't wrong : The world changes, love stays.
Maybe our parents were right about love and relationships. The world changes, but love remains constant.




Contributed by Kylie N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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