This song to me is about my first husband, he died after a long illness, we found out he was terminal when I was pregnant, I could have missed the pain of his death but I wouldn't have our daughter, she is My Dance! I saw Garth in concert, held up my sign saying My daughter is My Dance while he sang this song, he pointed at me, held his hands up in the air like he was holding a sign, touched his heart and kept singing. Such a fantastic memory!
we have lost this kind of music in the 2020s. god bless the old songs and those whom Rember them. make them part of your life. understand there is no best or worst in life ^^ its what we make it. love. hate. confusion. it all helps us grow in to better people.
Is Garth Brooks, “The Dance”, a one hit wonder? I could only laugh 😂! From Wiki..”As of 2020, Brooks is now the only artist in music history to have released nine albums that achieved diamond status in the United States (surpassing the Beatles' former record of six);”
My mom requested this song to be played at her memorial service. So did my husband. My mom died from brain cancer and my husband from complications of heart and organ failure due to diabetes
My friend from school met the love of her life. They were engaged and he always felt like something would happen to him so he made this “their song”. Anywhere they were if it came on he made her dance with him, grocery store, mall, anywhere. He had bought tickets for the concert to take her, but he was killed in a car accident days before it while driving to her house. The concert was the night of his funeral, so her twin sister went with her. Years have passed she is married with kids, but this song she will always think of him. The song is about not knowing the future or what will happen, and no matter how much it will hurt to lose someone the time (the dance) is worth the pain.
It's not really sad.. it's saying that relationships aren't a waste of time. The blessings and love in a relationship remain even when things don't work out. Kind of like his song about "Standing in the Fire".. that you need to take risks in life and love.. don't stand on the sidelines in fear of what might happen.
I married a wonderful woman who was disabled. We spent twenty two years together before she passed away from her disability. Before she met me no men wanted to stay with her because of her disability. I got to have two decades married to a wonderful woman. I'm glad I took the chance with her.
Garth Brooks is the best selling solo artist of all time in the United States. Not only is he incredibly talented, but his onstage showmanship is outstanding.
My interpretation is thst not everyone that comes into our lives stays forever. But even if they don:t they served a purpose for the time they stayed. People grow and change over time, not always at the same direction or same path. Still they served a valuable purpose for the time they were in our lives. I wouldn't have missed the growth experience for anything even if it lasted only for a time. Even years. They were right for the time.
Agreed. It’s a really life affirming song that wholly endorses embracing life as it is - good and bad - because life is a series of smaller dances that take place at a larger dance. So long as we can go on to the next dance-We should remember the good times fondly accept the bad (acknowledge it’s value) and move on. I don’t know that it’s a everything happens for a reason song inasmuch as I interpret it as a who knows why things happen like they do, but chance aspect of life doesn’t diminish its value.
"The Dance"" is a song I want played at my funeral. I love this song and has a lot of meaning for me. There are things that I went through in my life that were very painful to me, but this song says it all for me on many levels. I'm not dying right now but the time will come. May God bless you all and give you peace.
Me too. And that is what the song reminds me of. I wouldn’t have missed a second with either of them. I didn’t expect to lose my two great loves by the time I was 43. I’m sorry for your losses. 💔
A widow twice, both lives robbed of their massive potential, how unfair, but I know that if I knew that’s how their lives would be , before I met them , I’m just so grateful that I was able to share a life with 2 people who made such an impact in so many peoples lives . The pain was my price to pay for the Dance that so many people experienced .
Very meaningful song by him. The song speaks to everyone in one way or the other. This song holds so many different meanings. This was played at my father in law's memorial. Wonderful request Dee! HAP your reaction was priceless. ❤️❤️❤️
Garth didn’t write this. He tells the story how when he was new to Nashville trying to “make it” he heard a guy sing this in one of the cafe/clubs there. He told the guy if he ever got noticed he wanted to record this song. He remembered it & went back & recorded this guys song. It means something different to everyone as it can lend itself to so many of life’s situations.: the death of a loved one, divorce, addiction...so many things. We all have our own “dance”, don’t we? Thanks for the reaction Hap. (By the way, he’s made the song’s author a wealthy man!)
I was listening to Country pretty much exclusively during the late 80s and early 90s when Garth was so huge. Gotta admit I wasn't as big a fan as most listeners BUT this song is just a masterpiece to me. Thanks for reacting to The Dance❤️
What can I say that already hasn't been said . A truly exceptionally beautiful song sung by no other than Garth Brooks ! Thank you for your reaction, hap!! Great song choice, Dee!!💜💜💜
You are the first one to actually find Garth Brooks singing and not a cover. Such a beautiful song. It makes me sad and happy and just glad that I am still enjoying the dance
There is an old religious song that uses dance as an analogy for life. Watching the official video this is the meaning Garth gave to the word. He is remembering people who are now gone that he admired.
GARTH BROOKS IS THE FURTHEST THING FROM A ONE HIT WONDER!!! He holds the record for the largest crowd at central park amongst many other things, he’s influenced millions of not billions of people. His music has gotten me through some of my hardest times
It’s basically about life and losing a loved one in your life. It can be a spouse, siblings, parents, friends, anyone that you’ve lost that meant a lot to you.
My mother loved this song and one man only, my father. Unfortunately she had the same bitter sweet experience with love; her dance with my father ended after we all grew up. The pain started when he left her. She never loved another, always saying she would marry him again if she had the chance. He never came home or remarried & he died young, only 58. His sudden death was a shock to us all so discovering he had taken care of all his burial arrangements offered a little relief. A big surprise awaited my mother however and I remember she cried when she was presented his last gift to her. An envelope addressed to her with a letter for her eyes only plus a deed to a plot he had purchased for her, right beside his. She lived another 20 years but they're together now, both finally at peace and laying side by side again, for eternity.
I have a love-hate relationship with this song I love how it sounds when it makes me cry every time, first love got killed by drunk driver when we were 19 and the dance reminds me of that
This song has a different meaning to each person. As other women have said, it reminds me of my husband. He passed away 5 years ago and just imagine... if we hadn't met. imagine all of the love that would have been lost.. I wouldn't have been the one that helped him through his pain. What an honor.
The Dance of Life! As the great write C.S. Lewis said: "With love, comes pain. That's the deal". No one lives forever. If you don't take a chance in the Dance of Life, you're not really living. You have to take a chance. Go For It!
My husband used to take me out for our anniversary for dinner and dancing, he became sick with a terminal disease and this song takes me back to those days.
My story about “The Dance” ... I was about 23 years old when this song came out in 1989. I live in area of western Canada where country music is quite popular , but I wasn’t much of a fan at the time. In fact , we had a tv station that was solely committed to country music videos. While flipping channels one day , I past by and saw the video for “The Dance” being shown , and the song blew me away. I was dating a girl at the time , and she had four younger siblings. One was a 17 year old brother who was part of a dance company. His group was travelling through the Rocky Mountains by bus on their way to a competition , and a truck heading towards them spilled a load of long , heavy pipe while going around a bend. Some of the pipe tore through the side of the bus , and tragically killed three people ... the driver , a 9 year old girl , and his dance partner. I told him about this song , and showed him the video , as I had recorded it on an old VCR. He quickly learned the song , and sang it at the funeral of the dance partner he lost. The song hadn’t been out very long , and not many people knew of it. Some attending the funeral thought he had written it , because it was so incredibly appropriate for the moment.
This is my husband's favorite song. He's a military veteran and that song carried him through hard times. Yes, there were hard moments, but he'd have missed the good ones too, hence the Dance.
Garth Brooke's will always be one of the greats, he left singing for a while to raise his kids, I don't blame him, I quit driving a truck making killer money to watch my son grow up, but he's back to singing, and who knows, my son just turned 18 in Jan. Maybe I'll hit the road again some day soon. But this song really hits my heart hard, was married 12 yrs, our son was 4, and my wife passed, just kills me to think I've had 12 great yrs with her, but he's got to go a whole life time with out her. Laid here and bawled like a baby, and yrs ago hearing Garth, never cried, but as we get older, all these things we hear older singers sing about, will start to touch us in one way or another. Enjoy life, enjoy your partners, never know when that goodbye comes and you didn't get to say goodbye. Got to react to his song , if tomorrow never comes, that's another soul jerker.
The first time I saw a video of"the dance" it showed the astronauts waving and getting ready to go into space. The lift off very sadly exploded. A very sad time in history so when I saw the video I cried.the song has a lot of meaning to me about life, but always reminds me of that time.. I don't comment much but watch you and your reactions everyday and really enjoy your reactions to Queen band and now loving reactions to other singers and bands. Thank you for being you!! Don't go away!! Love to you from the USA
So bittersweet. The dance became our favorite song when it came out in 1989. I never dreamed it would be so prophetic, so real, when I lost my wonderful wife of 34 years, some 4 years ago. She was such a treasure. No, I would not have missed the dance.
Such a beautiful song by Garth, one of if not his most famous. I think the interpretation of the song is for the listener, but I have always taken it as life is full of ups and downs, highs and lows, love and laughter and pain, but along with the high points and great things comes the pain. If we didn’t go through the pain of loss, we would have missed the joy of the DANCE that brought us to the eventual pain of the loss. Pretty deep song and a wonderful way to look at life’s hardships and sorrow. Great reaction Hap! ♥️
Great reaction Hap, to a powerful and beautiful song!🔥🎶💕 Better to have loved and lost, than to have never experienced the love at all. ❤ Oh how I can relate and it touches my heart so deeply. It rsally spoke to me 🎼💔🎶 Peace J ✌ ☮
“To a lot of people, I guess 'The Dance' is a love gone bad song. Which, you know, that it is. But to me it's always been a song about life. Or maybe the loss of those people that have given the ultimate sacrifice for a dream that they believed in, like the John F. Kennedy's or the Martin Luther King's. John Wayne's or the Keith Whitley's. And if they could come back, I think they would say to us what the lyrics of 'The Dance' say." -GARTH BROOKS “I wrote the song after watching a scene in a movie about two people in a bad marriage.” -TONY ARATA (songwriter) So, I typed all that out to tell anyone who needs to hear it, that whatever emotions or memories a song stirs in you… whatever you believe a song is “about”…you’re exactly right. That’s what makes music so special. A thousand different people can interpret one song a thousand different ways. And all one thousand of them will be right every time. Just my two cents 🤷🏻♂️
Very true. I can write something and you can give it your own meaning. It may not have been my original meaning, but it certainly doesn't make your meaning wrong. That's the beauty of art in general. Its meaning, in part, comes from what we bring to it.
The DANCE is LIFE. If you didn't live the life you chose you would have missed the DANCE. I've had tons of pain in my life but if I had to go back and undo that pain...then I would have missed the beautiful time's of my life which is the DANCE. The meaning of the song has several layers and the (your) DANCE cuts threw them all. Powerful deeply powerful song! 💕
This song meant so much to me when my son was born still in 1997. I could have missed the pain, but I would have missed being his Mom for all eternity. How fitting that I heard Garth sing this in concert on my son’s 27th birthday.
It's in honor of Dale Sr who died from injuries from racing when I hear this song I start crying thinking of dale Sr and Kramer Williamson Kramer was the king of sprint car racing
He's actually talking about the life dance if you could go back and change it would you or would you leave it like it is. Garth Brooks sings this song at the end of every concert. I'm a huge fan of Garth Brooks and have went and seen him three times but you can't get more country than him.
Yo. Randomly this vid popped up. Glad to see you checking out Garth. He was my favorite back in Texas. This song was top 3. Friends in Low Places being the best.
The Dance is life. One of the videos out there shows pictures of JFK and Marilyn Monroe, and referring how their "Dance" was cut so short. Live your life to the best possible one. No regrets.
+HAP3SPEAKZ In order to get a real feel for this song you need to see the official video to it. The video features Martin Luther King, JFK, the Challenger Astronauts, Keith Whitley (died tragically due to alcohol poisoning), Lane Frost (tragically killed by a bull he was riding), and John Wayne.
My dear friend Hap, thank you for reacting to “The Dance” as I requested! My song for my first husband and I. Country music tells the real story of people. Your reaction was fabulous! Unfortunately I never had the chance to see Garth in person but because of his songs he’s my favorite country artist. Ivan relate to so many of his songs. Thanks again my dear friend for “The Dance”. Love ❤️ from across the pond, Dee
I was a Country radio announcer during Garth’s rise to fame and total dominance of the music industry. The impact of this song when it was released can’t really be described other than no one could hear it enough. It was a revolution in what Country music was and was going to be. It’s a crossover ballad sung by a Country artist so it’s a Country song. If it had been released by The Backstreet Boys it would have been a Pop song because it is that at its core. Regardless, you were wondering who he’s singing about. In all the years I’ve played this song and lived with it, the countless Garth interviews I’ve seen or done myself I don’t recall him ever saying. The song was written by Tony Arata and it’s true origins are unclear. Some songs are written in the first person but don’t have to be a reflection of a singers life, they just work better that way as a composition. This is one of those songs.
I’m so glad that you’re doing a reaction to this song. I’m not sure but I believe this was his mother’s favorite song that Garth did. Sometime later Garth did do a song called mom but this is before that.
I had to listen to it again after you read the lyrics because I missed the point of the song the first time..Avoiding bad things can make you miss the good ones, they sometimes come together.. You said everything: melodic, hypnotic, beautiful! I think someone mentioned before that Garth admired Freddie as a performer (I hope I'm not wrong) so the flowers he brought on the stage reminded me of Freddie doing that early on Queen concerts and throwing it in the audience. I wonder if Garth did that at the end of this video 🙂
For the longest time every time I heard this song the image that came to mind was from (Saved by the Bell) the scene at the prom where Zack and Kelly where outside in costume Prince Charming and Cinderella and Zack had just found out how Kelly had fell for another guy and they were in the middle of a break up but they could still hear the music from the gym and they shared a slow dance. That is what I always thought but then I saw a official video to it that was showed on The CMT channel and it showed all kind of images of people from history like Martin Luther King and others who were massive but also ended tragically so I think the Dance is referring to our lives. "Our lives are better left to chance. I could have missed the pain but I would have to miss the pain." FOR A MOMENT I WAS THE KING BUT IF I HAD KNOWN HOW THE KING WOULD FALL WHO KNOWS I MIGHT HAVE CHANGED IT ALL. NOW THINK ABOUT THAT THEN THINK OF PEOPLE LIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING, THE PRESIDENT WHO GOT SHOT IN DALLAS DRAWING A BLANK BUT I THINK BOTH WERE IN THAT VIDEO EVEN ELVIS PRESLEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN THAT VIDEO BUT IT HAS BEEN YEARS SINCE I SAW THAT VIDEO.
I like the way you always do the meaning of the lyrics. Country/folk/blues songs always have meaning to them. It is about people's lives. Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, if you ever look at their music, have been writing music for a very long time and the experiences of people in the country are embedded in it. Country wasn't exactly my genre either but I have moved around the country quite a bit outside New York City, Washington D.C., L.A. & San Francisco and then to Colorado (major culture shock the last one). Country music makes sense if you are in a more rural environment different life experiences.
The song makes a lot more since in the meaning when you watch the official video. Which is full of famous people that lost their lives early. He is saying that he is glad he didn’t know their death was coming because if he did it would change things and their dance would of not been the same. They would of missed all the love they changed. Life is meant to just happen and your not meant to know until it happens. You are just meant to live and not worry about the what ifs. You have the best life with someone by just living in the here and now.
Growing up in Oklahoma I was exposed by family members to all kinds of country music growing up. The old time twangy stuff for real. It was a breath of fresh air that I could actually love country music when Garth came along. And choose to listen to it. I had to come into my own music really, into Queen, into Michael Jackson, into the Journey, into the rest. My brothers helped that along but were still into country very strongly. Garth changed it all. He is a BIG deal, changed country music for masses of people, across genres. This music is played for all kinds of reasons and all kinds of occasions. He just received the Kennedy Center Honors and Kelly Clarkson performed this song and Garth had tears. And went crazy at the end. It was THAT great! ❤️
This one still makes me cry. This is about life, and loss of those we love. We played this at my late Husband's funeral...And now I'm glad I didn't know The way it all would end, the way it all would go Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain But I'd have had to miss the dance
This song to me is about my first husband, he died after a long illness, we found out he was terminal when I was pregnant, I could have missed the pain of his death but I wouldn't have our daughter, she is My Dance! I saw Garth in concert, held up my sign saying My daughter is My Dance while he sang this song, he pointed at me, held his hands up in the air like he was holding a sign, touched his heart and kept singing. Such a fantastic memory!
I can relate to your experience. ❤
Same with my brother 7 years with his sweetheart and then lost her to cancer
thanks for sharing your very touching story. God bless
we have lost this kind of music in the 2020s. god bless the old songs and those whom Rember them. make them part of your life. understand there is no best or worst in life ^^ its what we make it. love. hate. confusion. it all helps us grow in to better people.
@jag03ljg I’m very sorry for your lost and honestly I appreciate all the love and support ❤
Is Garth Brooks, “The Dance”, a one hit wonder? I could only laugh 😂! From Wiki..”As of 2020, Brooks is now the only artist in music history to have released nine albums that achieved diamond status in the United States (surpassing the Beatles' former record of six);”
I thought this too as he said it 😂
I mean let’s face it Garth has sold more records than Elvis Presley
Omg Garth Brooks a one hit wonder. Dude.
His music is only available on Amazon
Garth is Sooo NOT a one hit wonder. He has 9 platinum albums, more than the Beatles.
My mom requested this song to be played at her memorial service. So did my husband. My mom died from brain cancer and my husband from complications of heart and organ failure due to diabetes
This guy outsold every artist on the planet at one time .. He is still Number 2 .. only behind the Beatles.
Best song ever!
My friend from school met the love of her life. They were engaged and he always felt like something would happen to him so he made this “their song”. Anywhere they were if it came on he made her dance with him, grocery store, mall, anywhere. He had bought tickets for the concert to take her, but he was killed in a car accident days before it while driving to her house. The concert was the night of his funeral, so her twin sister went with her. Years have passed she is married with kids, but this song she will always think of him. The song is about not knowing the future or what will happen, and no matter how much it will hurt to lose someone the time (the dance) is worth the pain.
It's not really sad.. it's saying that relationships aren't a waste of time. The blessings and love in a relationship remain even when things don't work out. Kind of like his song about "Standing in the Fire".. that you need to take risks in life and love.. don't stand on the sidelines in fear of what might happen.
Actually look up what this song and standing in the fire are really about, it may surprise you. I was totally surprised when I found out.
Its about everyone you ever loved and lost...dance is the relationship..
Not just a relationship. Life itself.
Lost my wife after 40 years of the dance. Still missing her today, my life will never be the same
I married a wonderful woman who was disabled. We spent twenty two years together before she passed away from her disability. Before she met me no men wanted to stay with her because of her disability. I got to have two decades married to a wonderful woman. I'm glad I took the chance with her.
Garth Brooks is the best selling solo artist of all time in the United States. Not only is he incredibly talented, but his onstage showmanship is outstanding.
@kristineneumann I appreciate all the love and support ❤
The official video is stunning. With images of John and Jackie Kennedy dancing in black tie, etc. Must see!
My interpretation is thst not everyone that comes into our lives stays forever. But even if they don:t they served a purpose for the time they stayed. People grow and change over time, not always at the same direction or same path. Still they served a valuable purpose for the time they were in our lives. I wouldn't have missed the growth experience for anything even if it lasted only for a time. Even years. They were right for the time.
@Toni Hagan..... well said.
Agreed. It’s a really life affirming song that wholly endorses embracing life as it is - good and bad - because life is a series of smaller dances that take place at a larger dance. So long as we can go on to the next dance-We should remember the good times fondly accept the bad (acknowledge it’s value) and move on.
I don’t know that it’s a everything happens for a reason song inasmuch as I interpret it as a who knows why things happen like they do, but chance aspect of life doesn’t diminish its value.
It’s the journey that counts
It's also about the people in his life that died and he could missed the pain of losing them but then he would have missed the love.
I appreciate all the love and support ❤
"The Dance"" is a song I want played at my funeral. I love this song and has a lot of meaning for me. There are things that I went through in my life that were very painful to me, but this song says it all for me on many levels. I'm not dying right now but the time will come. May God bless you all and give you peace.
I've buried 2 husbands. This song always hits me. I wouldn't have changed anything.
Sorry for your loss. I lost a wife and wouldn't trade the time I had with her for anything.
@@ControlTouchMaster 💕
Me too. And that is what the song reminds me of. I wouldn’t have missed a second with either of them. I didn’t expect to lose my two great loves by the time I was 43.
I’m sorry for your losses. 💔
@rhiahIMT I appreciate all the love and support ❤
The best concert I ever attended! Garth is Phenomenal!
I Absolutely agree!!
My all time favorite song!!!
I don’t care what anyone in this world says - this man is my goddamn Hero!
The Dance = There life
Great song, but I always want to cry when I hear it. It hits so close to home, as it does for most people who have experienced a lost love.
@lynlandham3779 I appreciate all the love and support ❤
My all time favorite song of his
My favorite song of all time!
Renders the heart. Always gives me an OUCH
As an FYI, Tony Arata wrote this amazing song. Garth brings it to life.
Love me some Garth!!! He was the go to and Shania Twain back in the 90s...he puts on a Hell of a concert and he LOVES HIS FANS!!
A widow twice, both lives robbed of their massive potential, how unfair, but I know that if I knew that’s how their lives would be , before I met them , I’m just so grateful that I was able to share a life with 2 people who made such an impact in so many peoples lives . The pain was my price to pay for the Dance that so many people experienced .
RIP Betsy Smittle - You were so proud of your little brother
The video is what makes it
Beautiful song ❤🎉
Very meaningful song by him. The song speaks to everyone in one way or the other. This song holds so many different meanings. This was played at my father in law's memorial. Wonderful request Dee! HAP your reaction was priceless. ❤️❤️❤️
A man told me one time that country music tells a story that everybody can relate to.
Life is a dance, no regrets, no holding grudges. My funeral song.
Garth didn’t write this. He tells the story how when he was new to Nashville trying to “make it” he heard a guy sing this in one of the cafe/clubs there. He told the guy if he ever got noticed he wanted to record this song. He remembered it & went back & recorded this guys song. It means something different to everyone as it can lend itself to so many of life’s situations.: the death of a loved one, divorce, addiction...so many things. We all have our own “dance”, don’t we? Thanks for the reaction Hap. (By the way, he’s made the song’s author a wealthy man!)
THE DANCE is a metaphor for LIFE !!
I was listening to Country pretty much exclusively during the late 80s and early 90s when Garth was so huge. Gotta admit I wasn't as big a fan as most listeners BUT this song is just a masterpiece to me. Thanks for reacting to The Dance❤️
I appreciate all the love and support ❤💯
What can I say that already hasn't been said . A truly exceptionally beautiful song sung by no other than Garth Brooks ! Thank you for your reaction, hap!! Great song choice, Dee!!💜💜💜
This song is about life, the dance
I was on a Garth Brooks concert in Oslo around 1994, it was amazing. ♥️
You are the first one to actually find Garth Brooks singing and not a cover. Such a beautiful song. It makes me sad and happy and just glad that I am still enjoying the dance
There is an old religious song that uses dance as an analogy for life. Watching the official video this is the meaning Garth gave to the word. He is remembering people who are now gone that he admired.
GARTH BROOKS IS THE FURTHEST THING FROM A ONE HIT WONDER!!!
He holds the record for the largest crowd at central park amongst many other things, he’s influenced millions of not billions of people.
His music has gotten me through some of my hardest times
It’s basically about life and losing a loved one in your life. It can be a spouse, siblings, parents, friends, anyone that you’ve lost that meant a lot to you.
My mother loved this song and one man only, my father. Unfortunately she had the same bitter sweet experience with love; her dance with my father ended after we all grew up. The pain started when he left her. She never loved another, always saying she would marry him again if she had the chance. He never came home or remarried & he died young, only 58. His sudden death was a shock to us all so discovering he had taken care of all his burial arrangements offered a little relief. A big surprise awaited my mother however and I remember she cried when she was presented his last gift to her. An envelope addressed to her with a letter for her eyes only plus a deed to a plot he had purchased for her, right beside his. She lived another 20 years but they're together now, both finally at peace and laying side by side again, for eternity.
I have a love-hate relationship with this song I love how it sounds when it makes me cry every time, first love got killed by drunk driver when we were 19 and the dance reminds me of that
This song has a different meaning to each person. As other women have said, it reminds me of my husband. He passed away 5 years ago and just imagine... if we hadn't met. imagine all of the love that would have been lost.. I wouldn't have been the one that helped him through his pain. What an honor.
@sharikraft1706 I appreciate all the love and support ❤
The Dance of Life! As the great write C.S. Lewis said: "With love, comes pain. That's the deal". No one lives forever. If you don't take a chance in the Dance of Life, you're not really living. You have to take a chance. Go For It!
I appreciate all the love and support ❤
This is my favorite song by Garth Brooks. I can listen to this song over and over.
I cant listen to this without crying. I miss my Dad so much.So very much.
My husband used to take me out for our anniversary for dinner and dancing, he became sick with a terminal disease and this song takes me back to those days.
My story about “The Dance” ... I was about 23 years old when this song came out in 1989. I live in area of western Canada where country music is quite popular , but I wasn’t much of a fan at the time. In fact , we had a tv station that was solely committed to country music videos. While flipping channels one day , I past by and saw the video for “The Dance” being shown , and the song blew me away. I was dating a girl at the time , and she had four younger siblings. One was a 17 year old brother who was part of a dance company. His group was travelling through the Rocky Mountains by bus on their way to a competition , and a truck heading towards them spilled a load of long , heavy pipe while going around a bend. Some of the pipe tore through the side of the bus , and tragically killed three people ... the driver , a 9 year old girl , and his dance partner. I told him about this song , and showed him the video , as I had recorded it on an old VCR. He quickly learned the song , and sang it at the funeral of the dance partner he lost. The song hadn’t been out very long , and not many people knew of it. Some attending the funeral thought he had written it , because it was so incredibly appropriate for the moment.
This is my husband's favorite song. He's a military veteran and that song carried him through hard times. Yes, there were hard moments, but he'd have missed the good ones too, hence the Dance.
@belledede01 I appreciate all the love and support ❤
Garth Brooke's will always be one of the greats, he left singing for a while to raise his kids, I don't blame him, I quit driving a truck making killer money to watch my son grow up, but he's back to singing, and who knows, my son just turned 18 in Jan. Maybe I'll hit the road again some day soon. But this song really hits my heart hard, was married 12 yrs, our son was 4, and my wife passed, just kills me to think I've had 12 great yrs with her, but he's got to go a whole life time with out her. Laid here and bawled like a baby, and yrs ago hearing Garth, never cried, but as we get older, all these things we hear older singers sing about, will start to touch us in one way or another. Enjoy life, enjoy your partners, never know when that goodbye comes and you didn't get to say goodbye. Got to react to his song , if tomorrow never comes, that's another soul jerker.
The first time I saw a video of"the dance" it showed the astronauts waving and getting ready to go into space. The lift off very sadly exploded. A very sad time in history so when I saw the video I cried.the song has a lot of meaning to me about life, but always reminds me of that time.. I don't comment much but watch you and your reactions everyday and really enjoy your reactions to Queen band and now loving reactions to other singers and bands. Thank you for being you!! Don't go away!! Love to you from the USA
Better to love and lost than to never love at all
So bittersweet. The dance became our favorite song when it came out in 1989. I never dreamed it would be so prophetic, so real, when I lost my wonderful wife of 34 years, some 4 years ago. She was such a treasure. No, I would not have missed the dance.
Such a beautiful song by Garth, one of if not his most famous. I think the interpretation of the song is for the listener, but I have always taken it as life is full of ups and downs, highs and lows, love and laughter and pain, but along with the high points and great things comes the pain. If we didn’t go through the pain of loss, we would have missed the joy of the DANCE that brought us to the eventual pain of the loss. Pretty deep song and a wonderful way to look at life’s hardships and sorrow. Great reaction Hap! ♥️
That's a very good way to put it
Listen to "Shameless" and "The Thunder Rolls".
One of my favorite Garth Brooks recordings. The others are The River and If Tomorrow Never Comes.
Great reaction Hap, to a powerful and beautiful song!🔥🎶💕 Better to have loved and lost, than to have never experienced the love at all. ❤ Oh how I can relate and it touches my heart so deeply. It rsally spoke to me
🎼💔🎶 Peace J ✌ ☮
Another great country song to react to is Brooks and Dunn, Believe!! Or Sugarland, Stay. Both very powerful
“To a lot of people, I guess 'The Dance' is a love gone bad song. Which, you know, that it is. But to me it's always been a song about life. Or maybe the loss of those people that have given the ultimate sacrifice for a dream that they believed in, like the John F. Kennedy's or the Martin Luther King's. John Wayne's or the Keith Whitley's. And if they could come back, I think they would say to us what the lyrics of 'The Dance' say."
-GARTH BROOKS
“I wrote the song after watching a scene in a movie about two people in a bad marriage.”
-TONY ARATA (songwriter)
So, I typed all that out to tell anyone who needs to hear it, that whatever emotions or memories a song stirs in you… whatever you believe a song is “about”…you’re exactly right. That’s what makes music so special. A thousand different people can interpret one song a thousand different ways. And all one thousand of them will be right every time. Just my two cents 🤷🏻♂️
Very true. I can write something and you can give it your own meaning. It may not have been my original meaning, but it certainly doesn't make your meaning wrong. That's the beauty of art in general. Its meaning, in part, comes from what we bring to it.
The DANCE is LIFE. If you didn't live the life you chose you would have missed the DANCE. I've had tons of pain in my life but if I had to go back and undo that pain...then I would have missed the beautiful time's of my life which is the DANCE. The meaning of the song has several layers and the (your) DANCE cuts threw them all. Powerful deeply powerful song! 💕
@susanevhevarria4320 I appreciate all the love and support ❤
This song meant so much to me when my son was born still in 1997. I could have missed the pain, but I would have missed being his Mom for all eternity. How fitting that I heard Garth sing this in concert on my son’s 27th birthday.
It's in honor of Dale Sr who died from injuries from racing when I hear this song I start crying thinking of dale Sr and Kramer Williamson Kramer was the king of sprint car racing
He's actually talking about the life dance if you could go back and change it would you or would you leave it like it is. Garth Brooks sings this song at the end of every concert. I'm a huge fan of Garth Brooks and have went and seen him three times but you can't get more country than him.
Yo. Randomly this vid popped up. Glad to see you checking out Garth. He was my favorite back in Texas. This song was top 3. Friends in Low Places being the best.
After the spaceship blew up with so many on it… this song was played… I remember like it was yesterday!! ❤️tennessee
Another great reaction trust me the songs I left you will love
It's the dance of life, and not to miss out on it just because we know how it ends.
He was also talking about all of the people who have been lost in death.
The Dance is life. One of the videos out there shows pictures of JFK and Marilyn Monroe, and referring how their "Dance" was cut so short. Live your life to the best possible one. No regrets.
+HAP3SPEAKZ In order to get a real feel for this song you need to see the official video to it. The video features Martin Luther King, JFK, the Challenger Astronauts, Keith Whitley (died tragically due to alcohol poisoning), Lane Frost (tragically killed by a bull he was riding), and John Wayne.
Yes the video is the best!
Garth is amazing in concert. Such a great human.
The song is about loss. The loss of life saying he could stand the pain but miss the person
My dear friend Hap, thank you for reacting to “The Dance” as I requested! My song for my first husband and I. Country music tells the real story of people. Your reaction was fabulous! Unfortunately I never had the chance to see Garth in person but because of his songs he’s my favorite country artist. Ivan relate to so many of his songs. Thanks again my dear friend for “The Dance”. Love ❤️ from across the pond, Dee
I saw Garth Brooks in concert. He ALWAYS puts on an AWESOME show.
Love That you are doing Garth ♥️♥️😘😘❤️❤️!! Oh and a Big fan of Queen 👑❤️ and Freddie ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️!!! Thank U 😁😁
If Tomorrow never comes what's his first number one G B he makes every fan of his concert like they belong there he's singing right to them
What a beautiful and meaningful song from an artist with such amazing talent! I'm so glad you reacted to this one. Thank you, Hap3speakz.
I was a Country radio announcer during Garth’s rise to fame and total dominance of the music industry. The impact of this song when it was released can’t really be described other than no one could hear it enough. It was a revolution in what Country music was and was going to be. It’s a crossover ballad sung by a Country artist so it’s a Country song. If it had been released by The Backstreet Boys it would have been a Pop song because it is that at its core. Regardless, you were wondering who he’s singing about. In all the years I’ve played this song and lived with it, the countless Garth interviews I’ve seen or done myself I don’t recall him ever saying. The song was written by Tony Arata and it’s true origins are unclear. Some songs are written in the first person but don’t have to be a reflection of a singers life, they just work better that way as a composition. This is one of those songs.
I’m so glad that you’re doing a reaction to this song. I’m not sure but I believe this was his mother’s favorite song that Garth did. Sometime later Garth did do a song called mom but this is before that.
Having been at one of his concerts this is real!
I had to listen to it again after you read the lyrics because I missed the point of the song the first time..Avoiding bad things can make you miss the good ones, they sometimes come together.. You said everything: melodic, hypnotic, beautiful! I think someone mentioned before that Garth admired Freddie as a performer (I hope I'm not wrong) so the flowers he brought on the stage reminded me of Freddie doing that early on Queen concerts and throwing it in the audience. I wonder if Garth did that at the end of this video 🙂
He didn’t bring those on stage back in the day fans would bring him all of that during his shows in which he said he still has most of it still
For the longest time every time I heard this song the image that came to mind was from (Saved by the Bell) the scene at the prom where Zack and Kelly where outside in costume Prince Charming and Cinderella and Zack had just found out how Kelly had fell for another guy and they were in the middle of a break up but they could still hear the music from the gym and they shared a slow dance. That is what I always thought but then I saw a official video to it that was showed on The CMT channel and it showed all kind of images of people from history like Martin Luther King and others who were massive but also ended tragically so I think the Dance is referring to our lives. "Our lives are better left to chance. I could have missed the pain but I would have to miss the pain." FOR A MOMENT I WAS THE KING BUT IF I HAD KNOWN HOW THE KING WOULD FALL WHO KNOWS I MIGHT HAVE CHANGED IT ALL. NOW THINK ABOUT THAT THEN THINK OF PEOPLE LIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING, THE PRESIDENT WHO GOT SHOT IN DALLAS DRAWING A BLANK BUT I THINK BOTH WERE IN THAT VIDEO EVEN ELVIS PRESLEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN THAT VIDEO BUT IT HAS BEEN YEARS SINCE I SAW THAT VIDEO.
If you ever get a chance to see the actual official video for this song, Garth explains what he believes the meaning is of this song.
I like the way you always do the meaning of the lyrics. Country/folk/blues songs always have meaning to them. It is about people's lives.
Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, if you ever look at their music, have been writing music for a very long time and the experiences of people in the country are embedded in it.
Country wasn't exactly my genre either but I have moved around the country quite a bit outside New York City, Washington D.C., L.A. & San Francisco and then to Colorado (major culture shock the last one). Country music makes sense if you are in a more rural environment different life experiences.
The song makes a lot more since in the meaning when you watch the official video. Which is full of famous people that lost their lives early. He is saying that he is glad he didn’t know their death was coming because if he did it would change things and their dance would of not been the same. They would of missed all the love they changed. Life is meant to just happen and your not meant to know until it happens. You are just meant to live and not worry about the what ifs. You have the best life with someone by just living in the here and now.
I cry every time... This one hits me personally
The best song writer ever IMO - he wrote all his songs & they were ALL majors HITS!!! 💖
He didn't write all of his owns ones. Tony Arata wrote the dance.
Love this song in my opinion this has the best music and singing combination of many music genres that I listen to.
It's better to have love and lost than never love at all. Same thing.
Growing up in Oklahoma I was exposed by family members to all kinds of country music growing up. The old time twangy stuff for real. It was a breath of fresh air that I could actually love country music when Garth came along. And choose to listen to it. I had to come into my own music really, into Queen, into Michael Jackson, into the Journey, into the rest. My brothers helped that along but were still into country very strongly. Garth changed it all. He is a BIG deal, changed country music for masses of people, across genres. This music is played for all kinds of reasons and all kinds of occasions. He just received the Kennedy Center Honors and Kelly Clarkson performed this song and Garth had tears. And went crazy at the end. It was THAT great! ❤️
I just saw him for the first time a few weeks ago. Imagine 60,000 people singing this. It was incredible
Chris Stapleton is a must for American Country music
His discography is amazing but I grew up on it lol
👍🏻
To me, the dance is living… life. I’d rather live life to the fullest than been too scared to experience it!
Love Garth ❤❤ better late than never thanks Hap !!
This one still makes me cry. This is about life, and loss of those we love. We played this at my late Husband's funeral...And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end, the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd have had to miss the dance
I cry every time i hear this. My husband passed when he was 35, i was 31 and we had 3 kiddos. Hardest time of my life.❤😢