I Won't Dance
Tony Bennett & Bill Charlap Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I won't dance, don't ask me
I won't dance, Madame, with you
My heart won't let my feet do things that you do
You know what? You're lovely
And so what? I'm lovely
I'm like an ocean wave that's bumped on the shore
I feel so absolutely stumped on the floor
When you dance, you're charming and you're gentle
Especially when we do the Continental
But this feeling isn't purely mental
For, heaven rest us, we're not asbestos
And that's why I won't dance, why should I?
I won't dance, how could I?
I won't dance, merci beaucoup
We know that music leads the way to romance,
So if I hold you in my arms I won't dance
When you dance, you're charming and you're gentle
Especially when we do the Continental
But this feeling isn't purely mental (Oh really)
For, heaven rest us, I'm not asbestos
And that's why I won't dance, why should I?
I won't dance, how could I?
I won't dance, merci beaucoup
We know that music leads the way to romance
So if I hold you in my arms
I won't dance
I won't dance
I won't dance
I won't dance
I won't dance, dance, dance,
I won't dance
Dance
The lyrics of Tony Bennett's "I Won't Dance" express the reluctance of the singer to dance with his partner, as he has deep feelings for her and is afraid of being overwhelmed by the physical proximity their dancing would entail. The repeated insistence of "I won't dance, don't ask me" underscores his determination to resist the seductive allure of music, which can easily lead to an emotional and physical attachment.
Despite acknowledging the beauty and charm of his partner, the singer feels helpless and overwhelmed by his passion, comparing himself to an "ocean wave bumped on the shore," and admitting that he feels "absolutely stumped on the floor." He muses on the power of music to create a romantic bond between two people and acknowledges that holding his partner in his arms would be too dangerous for his emotions: "we know that music leads the way to romance, so if I hold you in my arms I won't dance."
The song is a testament to the emotional power of music and the difficulty of resisting its allure when one's heart is involved. The singer's internal struggle between his desire to dance and his fear of the consequences creates a poignant narrative that speaks to anyone who has experienced the intense emotions that music can evoke.
Line by Line Meaning
I won't dance, don't ask me
I refuse to dance, please do not ask me to dance.
I won't dance, Madame, with you
I will not dance with you, Madame.
My heart won't let my feet do things that you do
I cannot dance like you because my heart is not inclined to do so.
You know what? You're lovely
You are a beautiful person.
And so what? I'm lovely
I am also a lovely person, but that does not change my decision.
But, oh, what you do to me
You have an effect on me, despite my reluctance to dance.
I'm like an ocean wave that's bumped on the shore
I feel overwhelmed and uncertain, like a wave that loses its direction on the shore.
I feel so absolutely stumped on the floor
I am completely stuck, unsure of how to proceed on the dance floor.
Especially when we do the Continental
You are particularly charming and graceful when we dance the Continental style.
But this feeling isn't purely mental
My reservations about dancing with you are not just in my head.
For, heaven rest us, we're not asbestos
We are not immune to the emotions that come with close physical contact and romance.
And that's why I won't dance, why should I?
This is the reason for my refusal to dance – why should I put myself in an emotionally vulnerable position?
I won't dance, how could I?
It is not possible for me to dance with you, given my reservations and emotions.
I won't dance, merci beaucoup
Thank you very much, but I still won't dance.
We know that music leads the way to romance
We are aware of the romantic implications of dancing.
So if I hold you in my arms I won't dance
Even if we embrace, I will not dance with you.
I won't dance
Once again, I must reiterate that I will not dance.
I won't dance, dance, dance
I refuse to dance, no matter how many times you ask.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern, Jimmy Mc Hugh, Oscar Hammerstein Ii, Otto Harbach
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind