Change Partners
Dance of Desire: A Plea for Change
Lyrics
Must you dance every dance
Expressing a question about the necessity of dancing every dance.
With the same fortunate man?
Asking whether the person always dances with the same fortunate man.
You have danced with him
Noting that the person has been dancing with the same man since the music started.
Since the music began
Highlighting the duration of dancing with the current partner.
Won't you change partners and dance with me
Requesting a change of partners and an invitation to dance with the speaker.
Must you dance quite so close
Questioning the closeness of the dance, particularly with lips touching the current partner's face.
With your lips touching his face
Expressing discomfort with the physical proximity of the dance.
Can't you see I'm longing to be in his place
Conveying a desire for the speaker to be in the current partner's place.
Won't you change partners and dance with me
Repeating the request for a change of partners and an invitation to dance with the speaker.
Ask him to sit this one out
Suggesting asking the current partner to skip a dance while the person dances with the speaker.
While you're alone
Expressing a desire for the person to be alone with the speaker.
I'll tell the waiter to tell him
Instructing the waiter to inform the current partner that he's wanted on the telephone.
He's wanted on the telephone
Indicating a method to get the current partner to leave temporarily.
You've been locked in his arms
Observing that the person has been physically close to the current partner for a long time.
Ever since heaven knows when
Indicating the duration of being locked in the current partner's arms.
Won't you change partners and then
Reiterating the request for a change of partners, emphasizing the potential positive outcome.
You may never want to change partners again
Suggesting that changing partners once may lead to a desire to continue doing so.
You have danced with him
Restating that the person has been dancing with the current partner since the music began.
Since the music began
Repeating the request for a change of partners and an invitation to dance with the speaker.
Won't you change partners and dance with me
Expressing the desire to be in the current partner's place.
Can't you see I'm longing to be in his place
Reiterating the request for a change of partners and an invitation to dance with the speaker.
Won't you change partners and dance with me
Blank line, possibly for musical transition or emphasis.
Ask him to sit this one out
Expressing the desire for the person to be alone.
While you're alone
Reinforcing the idea of asking the current partner to leave temporarily.
I'll tell the waiter to tell him
Providing a reason for the current partner to leave (a telephone call).
He's wanted on the telephone
Indicating a method to get the current partner to leave temporarily.
You've been locked in his arms
Reiterating the duration of being physically close to the current partner.
Ever since heaven knows when
Highlighting the extended period of being locked in the current partner's arms.
Won't you change partners and then
Repeating the request for a change of partners, emphasizing the potential positive outcome.
You may never want to change partners again
Suggesting that changing partners once may lead to a desire to continue doing so.
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