The original band, billed simply as "The Modern Lovers", existed from 1970–74 but their recordings were not released until 1976 or later. It featured Jonathan Richman and bassist Ernie Brooks with drummer David Robinson (later of The Cars) and keyboardist Jerry Harrison (later of Talking Heads). The sound of the band owed a great deal to the influence of The Velvet Underground, and is now considered one of the leading bands of the "proto-punk" scene. It pointed the way towards much of the Punk, New Wave and Indie rock music of later decades. Their only album, the eponymous The Modern Lovers, contained stylistically unprecedented[citation needed] songs about dating awkwardness, growing up in Massachusetts, and love of life and the USA.
After recording several tracks in 1972 and '73, including "I'm Straight" (referring here to abstaining from drug use), and "Government Center", Richman wanted to scrap the tracks that were recorded and start over with a mellower, more lyrical sound. The rest of the band, while not opposed to such a shift later, insisted at the time that they record as they already sounded. They continued and eventually, the first album was released in 1976. Long before its release, however, creative differences split the band apart.
Later, Richman used the name Modern Lovers for a variety of backing bands, always billed as "Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers." These bands were quieter and featured more low-key, often near-childlike, songs, as Richman drew on folk-rock and other genres. Out of Richman's original bandmates, only Robinson was part of any of the other Modern Lovers incarnations.
Dance With Me
The Modern Lovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been out all alone in the cold night
and in the shopping centre at midnight
I've been out all alone in the moonlight
So I'm cold, but I can dance
and I say, dance with me
well hi now, I'm just back from Europe
I learned a lot, I used to dance in the big dances in the cities
well you're all alone in the dorm here
I'm excited and you're safe and warm
you're warm, I'm cold
and I say, dance with me
alright
and if you dance with me
right, look at me and smile
if you look at me
well then I hope you'll smile
because your face is pure sex when you smile
it's written in huge suburban letters
which say 'tenderness,' which say 'sex'
i say dance with me
but I came over here
I just shaved my face with a shaver
and I just did it to try and make myself handsome
your life must be dull in the dorm here
I'm excited and you're safe and warm
so you're warm, I'm cold
I say, dance with me
(alright, now for the middle part now)
well now, dear don't you love the city?
don't you love the idea of ???
you're my modern, suburban pretty
I say dance with me
alright
Am
well hi now, how's it goin? I'm just here from outside
I've been out all alone in the cold night
and in the shopping centre at midnight
I've been out all alone in the cold of the moonlight
so here I am cold, but I can dance
and I say, dance with me
The Modern Lovers' song "Dance With Me" is a charming and slightly awkward invitation to dance. The song's narrator is cold and has been wandering around alone outside, but despite this, he asks the object of his affection to dance with him. He tells her that he has just returned from Europe where he learned to dance in the big cities. He compliments her smile, which he describes as "pure sex," and asks her to dance with him again. He reveals that he just shaved his face to look handsome and implies that her life in the dorm is dull compared to his adventures in the city. The song ends with the singer asking her one last time to dance with him.
The lyrics to "Dance With Me" are characterized by their awkwardness and innocence, with a hint of sexuality. The singer's invitation to dance is not smooth or suave, but rather a little bit clumsy and even desperate. His fixation on his companion's smile adds to the song's sweetness, however the focus on her sex appeal is slightly uncomfortable. The song reflects a sense of yearning and longing for connection, and the singer's persistence in asking his partner to dance seems to be driven by this strong desire to connect with her.
Line by Line Meaning
Well hi dear I'm just here from outside
I have arrived and I am saying hello.
I've been out all alone in the cold night
I have been outside by myself in the dark and cold.
and in the shopping centre at midnight
I have been at a mall during the late hours of the night.
I've been out all alone in the moonlight
I have been outside by myself under the light of the moon.
So I'm cold, but I can dance
I may be cold, but I still know how to dance.
and I say, dance with me
I am asking someone to dance with me.
well hi now, I'm just back from Europe
I have returned from my trip to Europe.
I learned a lot, I used to dance in the big dances in the cities
During my travels in Europe, I learned new things, including how to dance at large city dances.
well you're all alone in the dorm here
It appears that you are by yourself in your dorm.
I'm excited and you're safe and warm
I am excited to be here with you and you seem to be comfortable and warm.
you're warm, I'm cold
You are comfortable and warm, while I am still cold.
and I say, dance with me
I am still asking you to dance with me.
and if you dance with me
If you dance with me,
right, look at me and smile
Then look at me and smile.
if you look at me
If you are looking at me,
well then I hope you'll smile
I am hoping that you will smile when you look at me.
because your face is pure sex when you smile
Your expression is very attractive when you smile.
it's written in huge suburban letters
Your attractiveness is not subtle; it is noticeable (like a large sign) in a suburban area.
which say 'tenderness,' which say 'sex'
The way you look and smile conveys both tenderness and sexual appeal.
i say dance with me
I am once again asking you to dance with me.
but I came over here
I came to this spot.
I just shaved my face with a shaver
I have recently shaved my face with an electric shaver.
and I just did it to try and make myself handsome
I did this in an attempt to enhance my appearance and look more attractive.
your life must be dull in the dorm here
I imagine that your life is not very exciting in this dormitory room.
I'm excited and you're safe and warm
Yet, I am still excited to be here with you, and you seem comfy and cozy.
so you're warm, I'm cold
Once again, you are warm, and I am still cold.
I say, dance with me
And, again, I am asking you to dance with me.
well now, dear don't you love the city?
Don't you adore the city, my dear?
don't you love the idea of
Do you not like the thought of
you're my modern, suburban pretty
You look like a modern, attractive person from the suburbs.
I say dance with me
Once more, I will ask you to dance with me.
alright
Okay, sounds good.
am
Here I am.
so here I am cold, but I can dance
Once more, I mention that I am cold but still able to dance.
and I say, dance with me
And, yet again, I ask you to dance with me.
Contributed by Adrian R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nathan Baker
The best song on this album.
Matias Rivera
The second take on roadrunner and she cracked are the best. This is the kinkiest
Matias Rivera
This is by far better than the modern lovers neon heart cover album
Horatio Houndini
Am Em Am
Well hi dear I'm just here from outside
Em
I've been out all alone in the cold night
Am Em Am
and in the shopping centre at midnight
Em
I've been out all alone in the moonlight
Am Em
So I'm cold, but I can dance
Am
and I say, dance with me
Em Am
well hi now, I'm just back from Europe
Em
I learned a lot, I used to dance in the big dances in the cities
Am Em Am
well you're all alone in the dorm here
Em
I'm excited and you're safe and warm
Am Em
you're warm, I'm cold
Am
and I say, dance with me
all right
Em
and if you dance with me
Am
right, look at me and smile
Em
if you look at me
Am
well then I hope you'll smile
Em
because your face is pure sex when you smile
Am Em
it's written in huge suburban letters
Am Em
which say 'tenderness,' which say 'sex'
Am
i say dance with me
but I came over here
Em Am
I just shaved my face with a shaver
Em
and I just did it to try and make myself handsome
Am Em Am
your life must be dull in the dorm here
Em
I'm excited and you're safe and warm
Am Em
so you're warm, I'm cold
Am
I say, dance with me
(all right, now for the middle part now)
Dm Am
well now, dear don't you love the city?
Dm Am
don't you love the idea of ???
Am Em
you're my modern, suburban pretty
Am
I say dance with me
all right
Am Em Am
well hi now, how's it goin? I'm just here from outside
Em
I've been out all alone in the cold night
Am Em Am
and in the shopping centre at midnight
Em
I've been out all alone in the cold of the moonlight
Am Em
so here I am cold, but I can dance
Am
and I say, dance with me
john call
Thanks Todd