I Won’t Dance
| PROFILE | |
| Composer | Jerome Kern |
| Lyricists (1934) | Oscar Hammerstein, Otto Harbach |
| Lyricists (1935) | Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields |
| Year Written | 1934 |
| About I Won’t Dance | |
| “I Won’t Dance” was originally written in 1934 for a London musical called Three Sisters, though the show was a flop and was quickly forgotten. The following year, a film of Roberta was made, and the song was re-purposed, this time with the new Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields lyrics. | |
Lyrics
I won’t dance, don’t ask me
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 they should do
You know what?, you’re lovely
You know what?, you’re so lovely
And, oh, what you do to me
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
‘specially when you do the Continental
But this feeling isn’t purely mental
For, heaven rest us, I am 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
I know that music leads the way to romance,
So if I hold you in arms I won’t dance
I won’t dance, don’t ask me,
I won’t dance, don’t ask me
I won’t dance, Madame, with you
My heart won’t let me feet do things that they want to do
You know what?, you’re lovely,
Ring-a-ding-ding, you’re lovely
And, oh, what you do to me
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
‘specially when you do the Continental
But this feeling isn’t purely mental
For, heaven rest us, I am not asbestos
and that’s why
I won’t dance, I won’t dance
I won’t dance, merci beaucoup
I know that music leads the way to romance
So if I hold you in arms I won’t dance!!
Session / Album Information
2014
“I Won’t Dance” was recorded in 2014 with Lady Gaga and released that year on Cheek To Cheek. It was arranged by Marion Evans.
This recording released on:
- 2014: Columbia/RPM/Streamline/Intercept Records: B0021493-02 – Cheek To Cheek (standard edition)
- 2014: Columbia/RPM/Streamline/Intercept Records: B0021494-02 – Cheek To Cheek (deluxe edition)
- 2014: Columbia/RPM/Streamline/Intercept Records: B0021861-03 – Cheek To Cheek (Target edition)
- 2014: Columbia/RPM/Streamline/Intercept Records: B0021688-02 – Cheek To Cheek (HSN edition)
- 2014: Columbia/RPM/Streamline/Intercept Records: Cheek To Cheek (iTunes edition)
2015
“All The Things You Are” was recorded by Tony Bennett in 2015 and was released on The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. It was arranged by Bill Charlap.
2015: Columbia/RPM CD: 8875 45742 — The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern