Never Gonna Dance

Fred Astaire, Jerome Kern, Johnny Green

About Never Gonna Dance

"Never Gonna Dance" is a song performed by Fred Astaire and danced with Ginger Rogers in their movie Swing Time. The lyrics were written by Dorothy Fields and the music was by Jerome Kern. This dramatic dance was performed at the end of the movie after John 'Lucky' Garnett (Astaire) finds out Penelope 'Penny' Carroll (Rogers) is engaged to Ricardo 'Ricky' Romero (played by Georges Metaxa). This is a dance of desperation, despair and love. It starts slowly, Lucky not wanting Penny to leave. As she is walking up the stairs, he begins his serenade to her in hopes that she will understand how heartbroken he is over losing her. After he is done singing, he tries to win her back one more time dancing. So, elegantly and desperately, he pulls out all the stops, hoping to change her mind. At first, the dance is slow and somber, but eventually the pace and tempo pick up, and Lucky and Penny seem to be together again. However, in the final movement, Penny twirls out of the room and doesn't come back, leaving Lucky standing there forlorn. 


Year:
2016
3:05
32 
#1

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Though, I'm left without a penny
The wolf was discreet
He left me my feet
And so, I put them down on anything
But the la belle
La perfectly swell romance

Never gonna dance
Never gonna dance
Only gonna love
Never gonna dance

Have I a heart that acts like a heart
Or is it a crazy drum
Beating the weird tattoos
Of the St. Louis Blues?

Have I two eyes to see your two eyes
Or see myself on my toes
Dancing to radios
Or Major Edward Bowes?

Though, I'm left without a penny
The wolf was discreet
He left me my feet
And so, I put them down on anything
But the la belle
La perfectly swell romance

Never gonna dance
Never gonna dance
Only gonna love
Never gonna dance

I'll put my shoes on beautiful trees
I'll give my rhythm back to the breeze
My dinner clothes may dine where they please
For all I really want is you

And to Groucho Marx, I give my cravat
To Harpo goes my shiny silk hat
And to heaven, I give a vow
To adore you, I'm starting now
To be much more positive that

Though, I'm left without my penny
The wolf was not smart
He left me my heart
And so, I cannot go for anything
But the la belle
La perfectly swell romance

Never gonna dance
Never gonna dance
Only gonna love you
Never gonna dance

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Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer, musician and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute. He is particularly associated with Ginger Rogers, with whom he made ten films. more »

3 fans

Written by: DOROTHY FIELDS, JEROME KERN

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Artists' Contribution
"Never Gonna Dance" is a song performed by renowned artists Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Jerome Kern is the composer behind this fantastic musical composition.
Movie Soundtrack
The song is a part of the soundtrack for the 1936 movie "Swing Time", directed by George Stevens, where Astaire and Rogers star as the lead characters.
Oscar Win
The film "Swing Time" won an Oscar for Best Music, Original Song, recognizing the contributions of Jerome Kern (music) and Dorothy Fields (lyrics) for the song "The Way You Look Tonight".
Chart Achievement
Though we don't have specific chart data for "Never Gonna Dance" alone, it's part of one of the most successful movie musicals of all time, and that era saw numerous songs become chart-toppers from the soundtrack.
Key Scene
In "Swing Time", "Never Gonna Dance" is featured in a pivotal scene that showcases Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' dancing prowess – the pair performs a sorrowful and intricate dance number on a grand art deco set.
Nominated Choreography
The choreography in "Never Gonna Dance" was created by the legendary Hermes Pan, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his work in "Swing Time".
Dance Style
One of the standout elements in the song's dance sequence is the unique style of tap dance, mixed with elements of ballroom, showcasing the versatility of Astaire and Rogers.
Signature Kern Composition
Jerome Kern's signature musical composition is evident in "Never Gonna Dance" which features a blend of sentimentality, sophistication, and melodic creativity.
Film Impact
Despite the title, "Never Gonna Dance" is ironically the last dance number in "Swing Time", and it's also considered one of the greatest dance sequences in cinema history.
Tribute to the Song
The song was performed by Barbara Cook on her Oscar-winning tribute album "Barbara Cook Sings Mostly Sondheim" in 2002, showing the long-lasting impact and influence of "Never Gonna Dance".

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