dancing in the dark

DANCING IN THE DARK, KEEP THE LIGHTS OFF

When you’re dancing in the dark
you hope that everyone will keep the lights off,
and that you’ll make your macho mark
when your gal agrees to takes her tights off.

If to do this she’s unready,
you’ll think they might as well have switched the lights on
while dancing in the dark, more heady
that she with whom you danced, but kept her tights on.

And yet if in the dark you dance,
and heads rush before the lights have been switched on,
you still may both enhance romance
by holding tight before some light has shone.
“Dancing in the Dark” is a popular song, with music by Arthur Schwartz and lyrics by Howard Dietz, that was first introduced by John Barker in the 1931 revue The Band Wagon. The 1941 recording by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra earned Shaw one of his eight gold records at the height of the Big Band era of the 1930s and 1940s. It was subsequently featured in the classic 1953 MGM musical The Band Wagon and has since come to be considered part of the Great American Songbook. In the film it is given a ‘sensual and dramatic’ orchestration by Conrad Salinger for a ballet performance by Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. The song has also been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Bea Wain, Bing Crosby, Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, Diana Krall, Tony Bennett, Diamanda Galas, and others.
Dancing in the dark 'til the tune ends
We're dancing in the dark and it soon ends
We're waltzing in the wonder of why we're here
Time hurries by, we're here and we're gone
Looking for the light of a new love
To brighten up the night, I have you love
And we can face the music together
Dancing in the dark
What - though love is old
What - though song is old
Through them we can be young
Hear this heart of mine
Wailin' all the time
Dear one, tell me that we're one
Looking for the light of a new love
To brighten up the night, I have you love
And we can face the music together
Dancing in the dark, dancing in the dark
Dancing in the dark


1/31/10