I Gotta Dance to Keep from Crying
The Miracles Lyrics

Come on everybody
Addressing to everyone present, invitation to gather around and listen

Gather 'round my friends here
Encouragement to the listeners to come close so they can hear and understand better

Help me forget my hurtin' tears
Requesting the listeners to help in alleviating sorrow and pain by dancing along to the music

About the only girl I ever loved
Narrating about the heartbreak caused by the loss of a girl who was the only one ever loved

The only one baby
Emphasizing the exclusivity and uniqueness of the relationship with the girl who was lost

I gotta dance to keep from cryin' (crying)
Stating that the only way to cope with the pain and sadness is to dance and forget the tears

I've got to dance to keep from crying' (crying)
Repeating the necessity of the action and its purpose

Whoa, do the flop (do the flop)
Suggesting a dance move called the flop to accompany the music

Do the twist (do the twist)
Suggesting another dance move called the twist to accompany the music

Everybody, it goes like this
Inviting everybody to follow the easy-to-follow dance moves to help forget the pain

You gotta dance, got me swayin', got me, alright
Expressing how the dance and music are helping to cope with the heartbreak by swaying along and feeling alright

Gotta dance, got me swayin', got me, alright
Repeating the positive effect of the music and dance on the emotional state of the person

'Cause I'm so lonely since we parted
Explaining the main reason for the heartbreak and sorrow is due to the loneliness after the relationship ended

Our memories leaves me so broken hearted
Elaborating that the memories of the relationship are the sources of the heartbreak

Do the bird (do the bird)
Proposing yet another dance move called the bird to accompany the music

Do the fly (do the fly)
Proposing another dance move called the fly to accompany the music

Come on, gang, you know, by by by, oh yeah
Encouraging the audience to follow along and have fun dancing to forget the pain

Do the bang, yeah, you can't miss
Proposing yet another dance move called the bang to accompany the music

Everybody, yeah, it goes like this
Reaffirming that the dance moves are easy to follow and everyone can do it

Heartaches can gather 'round
Notifying how heartaches and emotional pain can accumulate and become overwhelming

Misery I surely found
Expressing that the emotional pain and heartbreak are leading to misery

Ooh, you've got the wrong girl
Responding to someone who is accusing of making too much noise and noting that they are mistaken about something

I think you're makin' up too much noise
Noting that someone is being too loud and causing a distraction from the music and dance

So get soft, oh, just a little bit soft
Asking the person to lower the volume or intensity of their voice

Oh, just a little bit soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, just a little bit soft, soft, soft
Repeating the request in different variations to emphasize the importance of reducing the noise level

Guess, I turn it up, I, guess I turn it up, I, guess I turn it up, higher, just a little bit
Saying that the music may need to be turned up to be louder to drown out the noise from the person who is being too loud

Come on and dance with me, swing, dance with me swing
Inviting someone to join in the dance and sway to the music

I do that move, I do that move
Pointing out that they know how to do the dance moves and are leading them

I gotta dance to keep from cryin' (crying)
Repeating the main theme of the song that dancing is the only way to cope with the pain and sorrow

I've got to dance to keep from crying' (crying)
Reaffirming that dance is their only escape from crying and suffering