About the song
Background:
- Co-written and performed by Brad Paisley [Wikipedia – We Danced]
- Released in June 2000, the fourth single from his debut album “Who Needs Pictures” [Wikipedia – We Danced]
- Interestingly, it was Paisley’s first single without an accompanying music video [Wikipedia – We Danced]
- The songwriting started with the idea of a bar owner cleaning up after closing, but the story evolved into something much more personal [Wikipedia – We Danced]
Themes:
- Nostalgia and the power of memory: The song revolves around the simple act of dancing, but it becomes a trigger for a flood of memories about a past relationship
- Love at first sight and the beginnings of romance: The lyrics suggest the couple’s initial connection sparked on the dance floor
- Full-circle moments and commitment: The song ends with the couple dancing again, hinting at an engagement, suggesting their journey has come full circle
- The importance of shared experiences: Dancing becomes a symbol of shared moments that define a relationship
Video
Lyrics
The bar was empty
I was sweeping up the floor
That’s when she walked in
I said, “I’m sorry but we’re closed”
And she said “I know,
But I’m afraid I left my purse”
I said, “I put one back behind the bar
I bet it’s probably yours”
And the next thing that I knew
There we were, lost in conversation
And before I handed her her purse
I said, “You’ll only get this back on one condition”
[Chorus]
And we danced
Out there on that empty hardwood floor
The chairs up and the lights turned way down low
The music played, we held each other close
And we danced
And from that moment
There was never any doubt
I had found the one
That I had always dreamed about
And then one evenin’
When she stopped by after work
I pulled a diamond ring out of the pocket of my shirt
And as her eyes filled up with tears
She said, “This is the last thing I expected”
And then she took me by the hand
And said, “I’ll only marry you on one condition”
[Chorus]
Like no one else had ever danced before
I can’t explain what happened on that floor
But the music played
We held each other close
And we danced
Yeah, we danced