Ten Cents a Dance
Doris Day
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I work at the Palace Ballroom, but, gee that Palace is cheap; When I get back to my chilly hall room I'm much too tired to sleep. I'm one of those lady teachers, a beautiful hostess, you know, the kind the Palace features for only a dime a throw. Ten cents a dance that's what they pay me, gosh, how they weigh me down! Ten cents a dance pansies and rough guys, tough guys who tear my gown! Seven to midnight I hear drums. Loudly the saxophone blows. Trumpets are tearing my eardrums. Customers crush my toes. Sometime I think I've found my hero, but it's a queer romance. All that you need is a ticket, Come on, big boy, ten cents a dance. Fighters and sailors and bowlegged tailors can pay for their ticket and rent me! Butchers and barbers and rats from the harbors are sweethearts my good luck has sent me. Though I've a chorus of elderly beaux, stockings are porous with holes at the toes. I'm here till closing time, Dance and be merry, it's only a dime. Sometime I think I've found my hero, But it's a queer romance. All that you need is a ticket. Come on, big boy, ten cents a dance.
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Written by: LORENZ HART, RICHARD RODGERS
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
7 facts about this song
History"Ten cents a dance" is a popular song that was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart.
- It was first introduced by Barbara Newberry in a musical titled "Simple Simon."
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CompositionThe song describes the life of a dance hostess who gets paid by male patrons for dances.
- The lyrics express the woman's struggles and hardships, leading it to be considered a torch song.
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Ruth Etting VersionRuth Etting, popular during the 1930s, made this song one of her signature performances.
- Her performance made the song a classic in American popular music.
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Recording by Doris DayDoris Day recorded a rendition of "Ten cents a dance" in the album "What Every Girl Should Know" in 1960.
- Day also played Ruth Etting in the 1955 film "Love Me or Leave Me" where she portrayed the stories of Etting's life and career; however, she did not sing "Ten Cents a Dance" in the movie.
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Other PerformancesThe song has been covered by numerous other artists, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker, and Frank Sinatra.
- It has also notably featured in films including "Annie" (1982) and "Pennies from Heaven" (1981).
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Critical Reception"Ten Cents a Dance" is recognized as one of the great songs from the American Songbook, due to its poignant lyrics and memorable melody.
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LegacyThe song's title "Ten cents a dance" has been referenced in various other media, showcasing its lasting cultural impact.
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Citation
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"Ten Cents a Dance Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/6463483/Doris+Day/Ten+Cents+a+Dance>.
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