After time in the Army Reserves, Paxton moved to New York City where he frequented the city's Greenwich Village coffeehouse circuit. His early success in Greenwich Village coffeehouses led to an ever-increasing circle of work. He made his professional debut at the Gaslight, the renowned folk haunt that also issued the singer's first album. In 1962 Gaslight Records would press 2,000 copies of his debut album, I'm The Man Who Built The Bridges.
Paxton also auditioned to join the Chad Mitchell Trio, but although he failed, the group enjoyed a 1963 hit with "The Marvelous Toy," one of Paxton's early songs. Paxton performed at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival, a performance that would be recorded-and released-by Vanguard Records. Paxton would go on to record a second album with Vanguard-at the Newport Folk Festival the following year - but his association with that record company lapsed, and it would not be until the year 2000 that Vanguard once again released a Tom Paxton album, Tom Paxton: Best of the Vanguard Years. In 1964 Paxton was signed to Elektra Records for whom he recorded his best-known work. Then in 1965 he made his first tour of the United Kingdom - the beginning of a still-thriving professional relationship that has included at least one tour in each of the succeeding years.
He and his wife Midge have been married since 1963 and have two daughters, Jennifer and Kate. All three women have served as inspiration for many of Paxton's songs. He now has three grandsons, Christopher, Sean, and Peter.
In addition to songwriting, Tom Paxton has written many critically acclaimed children's books, some of which were inspired by his songs for children.
He has performed thousands of concerts around the world in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Scandinavia, France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, England, Scotland, Ireland and Canada. Paxton enjoys a strong relationship with fans throughout the world. His songs have experienced enduring appeal, including modern standards such as "The Last Thing on My Mind" (perhaps Paxton's best-known song, it has been recorded by dozens of artists, including Judy Collins, Sandy Denny, Dolly Parton, and Porter Wagoner), "Ramblin' Boy", "Bottle of Wine", "Whose Garden Was This", "The Marvelous Toy", and "The Hostage" (which recounts the 1971 uprising at Attica State Prison).
In February 2002, Tom Paxton was honored with the ASCAP Lifetime Achievement Award in Folk Music. A few days later, he received three Wammies (Washington, DC, Area Music Awards); as Best Male Vocalist in the "traditional folk" and "children's music" categories, and for Best Traditional Folk Recording of the Year for Under American Skies (the duo album he made with Anne Hills in 2001). This was the first Paxton album to receive an award of any kind.
Paxton has been nominated four times for Grammy Awards in his career, all since 2002.
In 2004, the Martin Guitar Company introduced the HD-40LSH Tom Paxton Signature Edition acoustic guitar in his honor.
In 2005, Paxton received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting at BBC Radio 2's Folk Awards at London's Brewery Arts Centre.
In 2006, Paxton received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance.
On January 22, 2007, Paxton was honored with an official UK Parliamentary tribute at the British House of Commons at the start of his 2007 United Kingdom tour.
On May 3, 2008, Paxton was honored with a special lifetime tribute from the World Folk Music Association, and a concert was held at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus, in Alexandria, Virginia.
Dance in the Shadows
Tom Paxton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where I begged for a taste from the table,
She made me know there was need to go slow,
When she taught me to dance in the shadows.
Where were my hands that were mine to command?
Now they seemed to be somewhere in China.
She brought them back, God bless her for that!
Oh, she could have laughed at me; oh, she could have left me for dead.
What did I know? Less than nothing; so I listened and did as she said.
And back in the grass I heard the moon pass,
I listened to stars spreading rumours.
With dawn coming fast, I murmured "At last"
"she had taught me to dance in the shadows."
The lyrics of Tom Paxton's "Dance in the Shadows" tell the story of a young boy who learned an important lesson from a wise woman. The boy, who was raised in the woods, had evidently not learned how to behave properly, as seen in the line "Where I learned to say 'Please', where I begged for a taste from the table." However, this wise woman, who is unnamed, taught him how to move slowly and elegantly by teaching him to dance in the shadows.
The lyrics describe the boy's journey of metamorphosis, from having a lack of control over his own limbs ("Where were my hands that were mine to command? Now they seemed to be somewhere in China") to developing self-awareness and self-control ("She brought them back, God bless her for that! When she taught me to dance in the shadows"). The boy gains knowledge and experience, and he murmurs "At last" as the dawn comes fast, signifying that he has finally learned the lesson the woman was trying to teach.
Overall, the lyrics of "Dance in the Shadows" relay a simple yet inspirational story about growth, guidance, and finding oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Back in the trees, where I learned to say "Please"
In my early days, when my tone used to be polite and courteous.
Where I begged for a taste from the table,
I was not privileged and used to ask for food shamelessly.
She made me know there was need to go slow,
She advised me to take my time and not rush into things.
When she taught me to dance in the shadows.
She showed me how to act or move quietly and secretly.
Where were my hands that were mine to command?
I had lost control of my own hands and movements.
Now they seemed to be somewhere in China.
They were lost and out of my reach, far away in some foreign land.
She brought them back, God bless her for that!
She helped me regain control and dexterity over my hands.
When she taught me to dance in the shadows.
She taught me how to move in a secret or unobserved manner.
Oh, she could have laughed at me; oh, she could have left me for dead.
She had the option to ridicule and abandon me but chose not to.
What did I know? Less than nothing; so I listened and did as she said.
I was ignorant and had no knowledge of my surroundings, so I followed her guidance.
And back in the grass I heard the moon pass,
I was lying in the grass and heard the sound of the night moon passing by.
I listened to stars spreading rumours.
I was fascinated by the discussions of imaginary talks by the stars.
With dawn coming fast, I murmured "At last"
I was happy that there was light at the horizon and a new day of learning awaits.
"she had taught me to dance in the shadows."
Thanks to her, I can now move and act in a concealed manner without being noticed.
Contributed by Emma J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.