The Proclaimers are a Scottish band composed of identical twin brothers, Ch… Read Full Bio ↴The Proclaimers are a Scottish band composed of identical twin brothers, Charlie and Craig Reid (born 5 March 1962, in Leith). They are probably best known for the songs "Letter from America", "I'm On My Way" and "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". The band tours extensively throughout Europe and other continents. They have released eleven studio albums from 1987 until the present, as well as two compilation albums and a DVD.

Craig Reid and Charlie Reid were born in Leith, Scotland in 1962, and grew up in Edinburgh, Cornwall and Auchtermuchty. After several punk rock bands at school they formed The Proclaimers in 1983.

The pair came to public attention when an Inverness based fan sent their demo to the British band The Housemartins, who were impressed enough to invite The Proclaimers on their 1986 UK tour. The exposure of the tour won them a January 1987 appearance on the British pop music television programme The Tube on Channel Four; "Letter from America" peaked at number 3 in the UK Singles Chart, whilst the album This is the Story went gold. The follow-up album Sunshine on Leith featured "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" and "I'm On My Way". They had a hit with their EP King of the Road, which reached number 9 in UK in 1990.

In March 2007 they recorded a new version of "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" with television comedy characters Andy Pipkin (played by Matt Lucas) and Brian Potter (Peter Kay) for the Comic Relief charity. A long list of celebrities were featured in the music video for this new version, including David Bellamy, Rod, Jane and Freddy, Paul O'Grady, David Tennant, Frank Sidebottom and many more. This new version of the song reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart.

The band was one of The B-52s' touring partners on their Funplex tour in Australia and New Zealand in November 2009, alongside Mental as Anything.

The brothers are fans of Hibernian Football Club, and "Sunshine on Leith" has become a theme song for the club, being played at home matches for important fixtures, such as the Edinburgh derby versus Heart of Midlothian FC, the club's city rivals. Charlie and Craig Reid appeared at their Easter Road stadium for the 'Hands Off Hibs' campaign in 1990 when Wallace Mercer, a wealthly Edinburgh businessman with direct connections to Hearts FC, attempted a takeover of the club but was defeated by fan pressure.

They are also well-known supporters of Scottish independence and have at various stages of their lives been activists for the Scottish National Party, expressing such views during their promotional tour of Britain in March 2007. However in April 2007 Charlie Reid announced that he had switched his allegiance to the Scottish Socialist Party in protest at the Scottish National Party's receipt of funding from big business. Many of their songs reflect their political views, such as "Letter from America" and "Cap in Hand".

On 16 May 2006 the twins announced their participation in a campaign to free a fellow Scot, Kenny Richey, from his death row sentence in Ohio, including an appearance at a charity concert. Also, in 2010 they participated with Billy Bragg in a show supporting Reprieve, charity that fights the death penalty. The Proclaimers also support other charities such as The Lighthouse Foundation (addiction victims), AICR (cancer research), Drake Music Scotland (help disabled people through music) or 500 miles (amputees or disabled people in Africa).

Dance With Me
The Proclaimers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Music sounds through the room
And you take a stance
Moving a tiny wee bit
Like you want to dance

Do you want to dance
Do you want to dance
And be held tenderly?

Do you want to dance
Do you want to dance
Want to dance with me?

My eyes rest on your hips
And the way they sway
I'm sure if I held you tight
I could move your way

Do you want to dance
Do you want to dance
And be held tenderly?
Do you want to dance
Do you want to dance
Want to dance with me?

Ooh, it would be ecstasy
Holding you against me

Now we move 'round the floor
But not too far
I guide you under the light
That shows how beautiful you are

Do you want to dance
Do you want to dance
And be held tenderly?
Do you want to dance

Do you want to dance
Want to dance with me?

Overall Meaning

The Proclaimers’ song "Dance With Me" is a love song. The lyrics give off a sense of eagerness and longing on the singer’s part towards the person they’re singing to. The first verse sets the scene with music in the background as the two individuals take their stances. The singer then asks if the other person wants to dance and be held tenderly. The second verse is filled with physical descriptions of the other person’s body, specifically their hips. It is revealed that they believe they can move the other person if they held them tightly enough. The chorus is repeated twice again after this verse, with the same questions and requests appearing.

The third verse has the two individuals moving on the dance floor together, with the singer guiding the other person to a place where they can see how beautiful they are under the light. The lyrics are not meant to be taken too seriously as they are light-hearted and meant to be fun. A dance can bring people together in a way that is intimate and personal. It is a way to connect and let loose, especially in a social setting like a party where decisions and actions are made in quick bursts. The song is meant to evoke that feeling and bring the listener into that moment with the two individuals.

Line by Line Meaning

Music sounds through the room
The song begins with the description of the atmosphere in the room, where the music plays and fills the environment.

And you take a stance
The singer notices someone in the room, and they take a position on the dance floor, indicating their willingness to dance.

Moving a tiny wee bit, Like you want to dance
The person starts to move slightly, showing interest in dancing, but perhaps feeling hesitant or shy.

Do you want to dance
The artist begins to engage with the person, posing the question of whether they would like to dance or not.

Do you want to dance, And be held tenderly?
The invitation to dance comes with a suggestion of a tender embrace, creating a romantic and intimate atmosphere.

Do you want to dance, Want to dance with me?
The singer is making a direct invitation to dance with them, expressing a desire to share the moment and ideally, to connect further.

My eyes rest on your hips, And the way they sway
The singer's attention focuses on the person's body and movement, appreciating their physicality and rhythm.

I'm sure if I held you tight, I could move your way
The artist expresses confidence in their ability to dance in sync with the person, with the implicit suggestion that such closeness could lead to further intimacy.

Ooh, it would be ecstasy, Holding you against me
The artist reinforces the idea that close contact would be pleasurable, using the word 'ecstasy' to indicate intense pleasure, joy or excitement.

Now we move 'round the floor, But not too far
The dance begins to unfold, but the artist is mindful of the boundaries of the dance floor, suggesting a sense of caution or respect for personal space.

I guide you under the light, That shows how beautiful you are
The singer takes a more active role in the dance, positioning their dance partner under a light that highlights their attractiveness, reiterating their appreciation of their beauty.

Do you want to dance, And be held tenderly?
The chorus repeats, reminding the person of the invitation to dance and the intimate setting that comes with it.

Do you want to dance, Want to dance with me?
The song ends with the same invitation, leaving the outcome of the dance open to interpretation or imagination.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: VICTORIA BANKS, TIA SILLERS, JOHNNY REID

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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