she wants to dance. it’s the one thing she loves to do. so you buy a tape of line dancing for geriatrics, and I try to teach her the steps. she can no longer remember much, and even the first basic step — step, touch; step, touch — eludes her. you put on country music because it has the best beat for line dancing. you hold both her hands and try to lead her — step, touch; step touch. her face is a study in concentration. “I used to know all the dances,” she says. “Why can’t I remember?” you’re tired of trying to explain why. she doesn’t want to be what is. you leave the cable tv on the continuous country music, leave her trying so hard to remember how to do what she once loved so. you have her laundry to do. you find yourself humming and stepping to a Frank Sinatra song from the 40s.
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!!
I miss the romance of dancing.