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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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.