In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Sally dances on the floor
She says that she can't do it anymore
She walks down St. Marks Place
And eats natural food at my place
Now Sally can't dance no more
she can't get it off of the floor
Sally can't dance no more
Sally, she can't dance no more
Sally is losing her face
She lives on St. Marks Place
In a rent-controlled apartment, eighty dollars a month
She has lots of fun, she has lots of fun
But, Sally can't dance no more
Oh Sally she can't dance no more
She went and carried on and can't get off of the floor
Now Sally, oh she can't dance no more
She was the first girl in the neighborhood
To wear tied-dyed pants, like she should
She was the first girl that I've ever seen
That had flowers painted on her jeans
Now she wears a sword, like Napoleon
And she kills the boys and acts like a son
Sally can't dance no more
Sally can't dance no more
Sally can't dance no more
Sally, hey she can't dance no more
Sally can't dance
Sally can't dance
She knew all the really right people
She went to Les Jardins
She danced with Picasso's illegitimate mistress
and wore Kenneth Lane jewels, really hey, it's trash, but
Sally, can't dance no more, yeah
Sally, she can't dance no more, you tell 'em about it
Sally can't get herself off the floor
Hey, Sally, girl, she can't dance no more
Sally can't dance
Sally can't dance
(Sally can't dance, Sally can't dance)
(Sally can't dance, Sally can't dance)
(Sally can't dance, Sally can't dance)
(Sally can't dance, Sally can't dance)
She says that she can't do it anymore
She walks down St. Marks Place
And eats natural food at my place
Now Sally can't dance no more
she can't get it off of the floor
Sally can't dance no more
Sally, she can't dance no more
Sally is losing her face
She lives on St. Marks Place
In a rent-controlled apartment, eighty dollars a month
She has lots of fun, she has lots of fun
But, Sally can't dance no more
Oh Sally she can't dance no more
She went and carried on and can't get off of the floor
Now Sally, oh she can't dance no more
She was the first girl in the neighborhood
To wear tied-dyed pants, like she should
She was the first girl that I've ever seen
That had flowers painted on her jeans
Now she wears a sword, like Napoleon
And she kills the boys and acts like a son
Sally can't dance no more
Sally can't dance no more
Sally can't dance no more
Sally, hey she can't dance no more
Sally can't dance
Sally can't dance
She knew all the really right people
She went to Les Jardins
She danced with Picasso's illegitimate mistress
and wore Kenneth Lane jewels, really hey, it's trash, but
Sally, can't dance no more, yeah
Sally, she can't dance no more, you tell 'em about it
Sally can't get herself off the floor
Hey, Sally, girl, she can't dance no more
Sally can't dance
Sally can't dance
(Sally can't dance, Sally can't dance)
(Sally can't dance, Sally can't dance)
(Sally can't dance, Sally can't dance)
(Sally can't dance, Sally can't dance)
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
Sally Can't Dance Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
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So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
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Silent Planet
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
It’s allegedly about the late Edie Sedgwick who was a “big model” that used to “ball folk singers” (Bob Dylan), though some suggest Nico is another candidate. Yet since Sedgwick was dead from a drug overdose when the song was penned, and certainly couldn’t dance no more, it’s likely to be about her. One of Reed’s nastiest songs, yet a classic nonetheless. It should be noted that the single version removes any references to drug addiction, rape and murder, meaning most listeners will simply presume the song is about a chick that dances badly. Reed’s ‘Femme Fatale’ is also supposedly about Sedgwick.
Party animal?
I wouldn't necessarily say it's "about" Edie, but definitely based loosely on her and probably a few others. I cant for the life of me figure where the name Sally came from though...
@dullife My take on the name Sally is that Lou may have been referring to Sally Rand, the famous burlesque ostrich feather dancer, the star of the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. She was arrested and (couldn't "dance no more") the Fair began losing money. Her supporters got her out of prison and back up on the stage.
For me this song is about Edie, she used to dance and she did it really well, but she lost her self into so many drugs. She was the first girl in everything, was a boomb, and she learn how to distrust some man, cause she was "raped" by his dad, altought she trust Andy too much. She was a big model, well she was, the "it" girl, and she had a kind of affair with Dylan, altought Dylan hadn't admit it, Lou is telling us in some way. She knew all the really right people cause she was someone, people wanted to be by her side cause she had some kind of light inside her, but she has lost everything.
I think that's what Lou's saying. I'm sorry Edie, you used to dance like a goddess, and be a goddess, but darling you can't dance forever.