♫ Dance With My Father ♫

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Luther Vandross, with help from Richard Marx, wrote this song shortly after he suffered a stroke on April 16, 2003, that left him in a coma for two months and eventually killed him two years later on July 1, 2005. The song is a tribute to his late father, and very poignant as it was one of Luther’s last songs. His father died when he was young, and Luther’s most poignant memory of his dad was him dancing in the house with his kids.

At the 2004 Grammy Awards, Vandross, by then confined to a wheelchair, appeared in a pre-taped video segment to accept his Song of the Year Award for “Dance with My Father”, saying, “When I say goodbye it’s never for long, because I believe in the power of love”. 

His last public appearance was on May 6, 2004, on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

I love this song, but it always leaves me with a tear or two.

Dance with My Father
Luther Vandross

Back when I was a child
Before life removed all the innocence
My father would lift me high
And dance with my mother and me
And then
Spin me around ’till I fell asleep
Then up the stairs he would carry me
And I knew for sure
I was loved

If I could get another chance
Another walk
Another dance with him
I’d play a song that would never ever end
How I’d love love love
To dance with my father again

When I and my mother
Would disagree
To get my way I would run
From her to him
He’d make me laugh just to comfort me
yeah yeah
Then finally make me do
Just what my mama said
Later that night when I was asleep
He left a dollar under my sheet
Never dreamed that he
Would be gone from me

If I could steal one final glance
One final step
One final dance with him
I’d play a song that would never ever end
Cause I’d love love love to
Dance with my father again

Sometimes I’d listen outside her door
And I’d hear how mama would cry for him
I’d pray for her even more than me
I’d pray for her even more than me

I know I’m praying for much to much
But could you send her
The only man she loved
I know you don’t do it usually
But Dear Lord
She’s dying to dance with my father again

Every night I fall asleep
And this is all I ever dream

Songwriters: Luther Vandross / Richard Marx
Dance with My Father lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management

11 thoughts on “♫ Dance With My Father ♫”

  2. Dear Jill,

    This song brings back the memories. My Mom and Dad were great dancers. I admired my Dad for actually knowing how to waltz. They looked great. Of course I was included but it was more fun watching them take over the dance floor.

    Thanks for the memories and for this song, “Dance With My Father.”

    Hugs, Gronda

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  3. I remember bursting into tears the first time that I heard this song on the radio in my car. It still has the power to reduce me to tears, but I love it. It takes me back to some of the best memories of my childhood. My parents were ballroom dancers, mostly for pleasure and occasionally competitively. My Mother also loved dancing to the 1940’s Big Band music and my Father indulged her. One Friday a month was their night out dancing. My Mother spent hours getting her hair styled, make-up done, perfumed and gowned. My eldest sister and I shared the privilege of getting my Father’s dance shoes, the choice depending on what type of dancing was planned. While waiting for my Mother to be ready, my Father would put some records on the phonograph player. He would sit, tap his foot and smile at our pleas of “Daddy, dance with me.” Then with his courtly bow and our proper curtsy, each daughter in turn danced with our darling Daddy. I, too, would love to dance with my Father again. Thank-you!

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  5. A lovely song and true… thanks for sharing!… I expect all of us have someone we wish we could dance with again!… 🙂

    “If I could be where you are, You’re missing, but you’re always a heartbeat from me” (Enya)

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