♫ Dance With My Father ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, music, History

I had no music post yesterday, because I did put one out, but realized after putting it on the schedule, that I had just played it earlier this month!  I swear I am losing my marbles!  Anyway, I am playing one tonight that I know I haven’t played for a couple of years and … to me, it is a beautiful song, one that deserves a redux (sorry, Clive, as I’m pretty sure you won’t care for this one!)

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

22 thoughts on “♫ Dance With My Father ♫ (Redux)”

  2. I love this. ❤️ I’m not from a dancing family but I adore these feelings. Right after playing that song on YT, there was another one where a (v.good looking) dad played and sang at his daughter’s wedding and boy, was he terrific! My father was only very mildly into music but all 4 kids learned instruments and sang/sing all their lifetime. I wish for such a musical, dancing dad but even without that I think I had the best father possible 😍

    Liked by 1 person

    • I’m so glad you enjoyed the music, and I think that not every dad is a dancer, but each has his own talent that he shares with his children, and it sounds like your dad surely did! I did dance with my father, and those are beautiful memories for me. Merry Christmas, Kiki, and thank you so much for the Advent Calendar … I’m enjoying it so much!!!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Jill, do I have your permission to post a Christmas carol that I recently did with a harpest friend of mine? I think you guys will enjoy it. I didn’t want to just post the YouTube link in a comment without checking with you first.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Pingback: ♫ Dance With My Father ♫ (Redux) | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

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