Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time and author Jim Adams from A Unique Title For Me is our current guest host. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.
The theme for Song Lyric Sunday this week is “Mom/Mother/Flowers”
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Dance with My Father Again was Luther Vandross’ last Top 40 single but it was one of his most critically acclaimed songs winning Song of the Year and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 2004 Grammy Awards.
Vandross was unable to promote the single, suffering a stroke a month before its release.
The song is about Vandross’ recollections of cherished times with his father, Luther, Sr., who died of complications from diabetes when Vandross was seven.
However, I chose Dance with My Father Again for this week’s theme because as much as those times with his father meant to young Luther, the song turns into a child’s plea for his mother when he sings. “… 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.”
Gets me every time.
FUN FACTS
- Although he and Richard Marx had collaborated on songs before, Vandross asked Marx to work on Dance with My Father Again because Richard had also lost his father (in 1997), and Vandross knew he could understand the feeling he was trying to convey.
- Luther’s mom, Mary Ida, loved the song and said, “I was amazed at how well Luther remembered his father, how we used to dance and sing in the house. I was so surprised that at 7 1/2 years of age, he could remember what a happy household we had.”
- While Vandross was hospitalized, a music video was shot for the single featuring musicians, singers, actors and sport stars with their fathers. The video features childhood snapshots of Vandross. However, near the end of the video there is a shot of Luther with his beloved mother. (Luther died in 2005 and his mom passed away in 2008.)
Enjoy!
See my Song Lyric Sunday selection for Nesie’s Place!
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Disclaimer: I have no copyrights to the song and/or video and/or hyperlinks to songs and/or videos and/or gifs above. No copyright infringement intended.
Dance with My Father Again
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 too 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
Felicia Denise, Author 
An interesting take on the theme.
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This is a very heartwarming song, I really enjoyed it.
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Beautiful song and beautiful video. He (Luther) passed way too soon 😦
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Oh, this one is getting to me…such beautiful sentiments ❤
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