I Won't Dance

Peggy Lee · Other Songs - Peggy Lee

I won't dance, don't ask me

I won't dance, don't ask me

I won't dance, Madame, with you

My heart won't let my feet do things that they should do



You know what?, you're lovely

You know what?, you're so lovely

And, oh, what you do to me

I'm like an ocean wave that's bumped on the shore

I feel so absolutely stumped on the floor



When you dance, you're charming and you're gentle

'specially when you do the Continental

But this feeling isn't purely mental

For, heaven rest us, I am not asbestos



And that's why

I won't dance, why should I?

I won't dance, how could I?

I won't dance, merci beaucoup

I know that music leads the way to romance,

So if I hold you in arms I won't dance



I won't dance, don't ask me,

I won't dance, don't ask me

I won't dance, Madame, with you

My heart won't let me feet do things that they want to do



You know what?, you're lovely,

Ring-a-ding-ding, you're lovely

And, oh, what you do to me

I'm like an ocean wave that's bumped on the shore

I feel so absolutely stumped on the floor



When you dance, you're charming and you're gentle

'Specially when you do the Continental

But this feeling isn't purely mental

For, heaven rest us, I am not asbestos



And that's why

I won't dance, I won't dance

I won't dance, merci beaucoup

I know that music leads the way to romance

So if I hold you in arms I won't dance!!

I Won't Dance

Peggy Lee's 1956 recording of 'I Won't Dance' stands as a definitive example of mid-century jazz vocal performance. The track features Lee's signature phrasing and emotional delivery, transforming a standard pop composition into a compelling character study of a woman who refuses to compromise her integrity for social approval. With her distinctive contralto voice and the song's melancholic yet defiant tone, Lee captures the tension between personal desire and societal expectations. This recording remains a cornerstone of her discography, showcasing her ability to convey complex narratives through melody and vocal nuance without relying on explicit lyrical exposition.