They are hard to find because Garth doesn’t want his music streamed. However, I think he’s making a mistake in today’s world by not allowing it. He’s missing out on a whole generation of new fans.
I lost my husband 2 years ago this month and this song helped me appreciate "the Dance" (life). We were married almost 30 years, a total of 10,623 days. The loss was/is devastating and I agree, "I'm glad I didn't know how it all would end. I could've missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance".
Sorry for your loss. I lost my wife of 26 years a little over 5 years ago, this song was used in the commemerative video we made for the funeral showing pictures of our lives together. I still have a hard time getting through it seeing the memories of the happier times, but I wouldn't have missed the dance for the world.
Your story is my story. I married in 1982. My wife was an early COVID patient and passed away in April of 2020. We loved this song, and now it seems almost like a prophecy. I still grieve for her.
The dance, was their lives together! The things they experienced. About living your life the way you want, no matter the consequences...divorce....death....etc. No matter what, at least you got to dance
@@npkrn6764 thanks for the translation. I was born way back in 1962 so I'm a living fossil that's not really up to date on new technology and terminology. Again I appreciate the help, take care. Love this song by the way even though I'm more of a rock and roll fan. There's a video on UA-cam by the way, that you may or not be aware of and it's of the writer of The Dance telling stories to some journalists and he ends with playing guitar and singing this song. He does such a good job and I was so impressed that I wonder why he didn't keep it for himself and release it to make himself a star even if he became a one hit wonder?
@@robertwilson7301 Hey Robert I'm not much younger than you and I'm not up on a lot of the text jargon either! And yes - I'm happy a lot of old music, TV, interviews are here for us to enjoy again and for the younger generations to see and enjoy too. My Mom and I just watched a bunch of the old Saturday Night Live clips on here with Belushi and the others. Land 🦈 Shark was always my favorite as a kid! 😁😂 I'm more of a rock music person too but some country music (like this song) is just so good - who wouldn't like this song?? Keep rocking!
This song was played at 3 different funerals for friends I lost when I was in high school. It's always brings tears to my eyes. I love watching you guys. ❤️
First, it's a cover! Garth Brooks has more depth to his voice and the song itself has a haunting quality to it. And the dance refers to the big picture. As in, sure, had I walked away from so and so, I could have avoided the heartache, but I would have missed all the sweet moments (the dance). It just means don't avoid things from a place of fear. You may suffer from it at some point but there is so much to be gained too. You may lose your love, but could you live without the memory of holding each other and dancing... don't miss the forest for the trees.
"The Dance" is the 18 years I had with my amazing and precious husband. The pain when I lost him 3.5 years ago to pancreatic cancer was so great. If I had known, would I have still done it? Absolutely! Because I would have missed that beautiful dance we had for those 18 years! That's what this song is about. Thr dance is life. We have to have the pain in order to have the dance of life. Love you guys!!!
Asia is on the right track. The dance is like the dash between years on a headstone, its all that good stuff that you would have missed to avoid the hurt of losing a person due to a break up or death.
@@michaelcullen5308 Look up Dakota Meyer. He's a medal of honor winner who speaks about "owning the dash". How we need to live life fully and embrace that dash because it matters more than the dates on either side of it.
@@michaelcullen5308 I'm very late on this, but there's actually a Garth Brooks song on this exact subject! It's called "Pushing Up Daisies," and it's really spectacular.
This song is talking about a relationship that ends, either in tragedy or just because it wasn’t meant to be. The deeper meaning behind it to me is this. If I had known how things would turn out in any situation I might have changed it, but if I had changed it I would have missed all the important memories, life lessons, everything that makes life worth living. Great reaction guys!
A good Cover of Garth's Song. Live versions are the only real way to hear him in video format. The Dance is referring to Life it self, the constant dance of going from one to another adventure while growing up and experiencing Life - if you had a chance to do it all over, would you and miss all the things that you have witnessed or life's you have touched?
Garth is very protective of his music on utube. To get an AUTHENTIC Garth song - you need to react to his LIVE concert footage. The Dance is one of Garth's BEST songs - but this is unfortunately NOT him. The Thunder Rolls, Papa Love Mama, Friends in Low Places are all MUST see videos - but you have to do the concert versions of them all.
💕YOU HAVE TO WATCH THE OFFICIAL VIDEO WHILE LISTENING TO THIS BEAUTIFUL SONG. IT BRINGS IT ALL TOGETHER. GARTH BROOKS IS SO TALENTED WITH AN AMAZING VOICE.🎸
This isn’t Garth Brooks. It is extremely difficult to find anything on him… Amazon Music has a little bit. Garth is an incredibly talented singer and his voice is very distinctive. He also did a side project as an alter ego named Chris Gaines, a rock star. It’s even harder to find any of that music unless you bought the actual recordings back in the day. He’s phenomenal! His concerts are wild and crazy and super fun!
The “dance” is the important, happy moments in life…it’s better not to know how our life goes, how our relationships end, because if we knew, we would not experience the joy.
Asia, BJ.. The first time I heard (& became a fan of) Garth was after watching his epic concert in New York’s Central Park in 1997. For those who saw it, it was an incredible show & I would’ve loved to have been there. This song is stunning & so heartfelt ✊️😌❤️
Central Park show was amazing... I had such a great time (100% sober mind you), that for the life me I can't remember how the heck we got there from South Jersey (Exit 2 & 3 NJTP) or how we left, or frankly the last name of the girl that went with me 🤣. Concert was amazing & for me a life long Billy Joel fan to see Billy & Garth do New York State of Mind. It blew me away 🤯!
@@1776SOL … I’m in Australia & a friend of mine, who is a huge country music fan, suggested I watch a DVD of the concert & that it would change my views on country music (I wasn’t a fan at the time). I LOVED the whole show & seeing Billy Joel make a guest appearance (the man is a legend) just made it so much better. I later became a bigger fan thanks to artists like Shania Twain (thanks to “Whose bed have your boots been under?”) & The Dixie Chicks & to this day, the list just gets bigger. My favourite Aussie country group are “The McClymonts”, an all-sisters trio who always give great shows. But, my love for country music will forever be traced back to Garth’s 1997 epic NYC concert 🇺🇸👍🇺🇸. I wish I could’ve been there & I’m so happy for you that you were able to attend.
The Dance is a metaphor for a relationship (or life spent with someone). He’s saying he could’ve avoided pain of loss if he knew how it would end by not starting The Dance in the first place, but then he would’ve missed all the good things that happened during it. “I’m glad I didn’t know the way it all would end…my life is better left to chance…I could’ve missed the pain, but I’d have had to miss The Dance.” PS Another good one from Garth is “Unanswered Prayers”
As someone else said - it's about ALL of life and the eternal human struggle of loss. It makes me think that he's saying we all lose people- whether we lose them through death or something else. In our grief, we cannot see beyond that pain - but as time goes on, we realize that pain comes from our ability to love deeply and he has come to the decision that no matter how much pain the loss caused - it was worth it. There would've been no pain if there hadn't been deep love and millions of beautiful memories. And he would've had to miss all that hence the line "....I would've missed the pain, but I'd have had to miss the dance." I hope I've explained that correctly! A beautiful song and so true ❤
My very good friend Randy who was a cowboy. He loved country music. I was a headbanger. Randy for almost a year, would tell me, “you have got to hear this new song by Garth Brooks, I know you will love it, because you like ballads as well as your hard stuff”. It never came to pass that he could present the song to me, something always got in the way. I heard it for the first time, at his funeral, winter of 1990, A fellow sung it live. Whenever I hear “The Dance”, I can’t help not crying when I hear this song, because my friend Randy was right, he new me well, I love the song, but to me, the song is about my friend whom I still miss do very much. “Randy Parks”. RIP brother.
This song came out not long after my husband died of a terminal illness. He would always take me out to a place we knew for dinner and then dance. I cried so many tears over this song.
Actually, the dance is the whole situation, from beginning to end where they split up the whole dance is their time together that is what this means to dance it isn't a physical dance, it is the whole experience being with each other, the dance
The "Dance" is referencing his relationship with her. The message is that he could have missed the pain but, to miss the pain would also have meant he'd have missed the dance, or, all the moments he had with her.
As many have stated the song is about life and what the lyrics are saying is that if we knew that things were going to go wrong we might change our future. Specifically the song is talking about the singers relationship with someone they loved at one time, but the relationship ended and even though there was pain, the singer feels that "The Dance" was more important and that if he had changed things, he would have lost "The Dance". Why "The Dance" ended is not as important as the fact that we get to have "The Dance".
She nailed it. I could have avoided all of the pain, but then I would have had to miss all the wonderful times. The dance represents the happy moments. It might have been a tragic situation or it may have just been a breakup. He's saying I could have avoided all the pain I feel now, but I would have missed all the memories I have going forward
@Asia and BJ- One of my fav songs ever. I am not what Garth is actually referring to by The Dance but I do know its played at funerals a lot. I was lucky enough to see Garth and Trisha in concert 5 years ago and he put on a show.
The song is a metaphorical analysis of life. It’s better that we not know about things to come, because although some things would be tragic, those events shape who we will become in significant ways. We wouldn’t be the same people with the same strengths if we could cherry pick our moments.
The Dance is our lives and everything involved with it. He's saying that if we live life trying to know everything that will happen in it, we will totally miss the random life of our dance and all that happens in it.
Interpreted literally, he’s reminiscing about a moment in time with someone he felt connected to, but the relationship eventually ended. He’s saying that if he had the choice to do it again, or to pass on the experience and avoid the heartbreak, he would still do it all over again. The weight of that perfect moment, is heavier than the pain that followed. If missing out on that pain meant missing out on that dance, then he’d still choose to have that moment. Interpreted broadly it’s a metaphor for life.
Originally written by Tony Arata who is a fellow country singer and friend of Garth's. Garth ask Tony if he could sing it, and here we are. Tony said it was based on the movie when Peggy Sue Got Married, in it she wished she never married her husband, suddenly every part of their relationship disappeared like it never happened (or something like that), Beautiful song, Thanks Asia and BJ.
I really appreciate you two for your musicality and your perception and interpretation of all of these songs and how y'all work together to dig into them.
His live version of him singing this with a cancer patient in the croud is beautiful. With Mother's Day approaching, his song from a few years ago is well worth listening to. The title is "Mom". I haven't seen any reactions to it. There are a few live ones on UA-cam but the one I saw was live on the Ellen Show.
My favorite Garth Brooks song, hands down, is "If Tomorrow Never Comes". He was doing a lot of introspective stuff like "Unanswered Prayers" and the like at this time in his career. Sure, give "Friends In Low Places" a listen for that raucus don't-give-a-damn country song. But if looking back is your thing, you'll like these softer songs. Thanks for doing "The Dance". My late sister loved this song so we played it at her memorial service. There wasn't a dry eye in the place, including the pastor!
He's talking about the dance of life. Like when you die you don't want to know when. Or when you loose someone. You remember all the good times yall had
Anything that has a meaningful experience that causes u heartfelt pain or regret... Would the joy u learned about ... B worth the pain at the end .. the dance is knowing both sides the good journey .. and the end of one
I have used "The Dance" as a reference to losing my dad to complications of dementia; moreover, it expresses that I couldn't change the outcome and truly appreciated the precious time I had with him.
I feel that the dance is more of a metaphor of life's journey verses one singular relationship. Trying to be in those moments with everyone you love and lost. Going through the hardships as well as all of the beautiful moments. Makes me think about when my parents were alive and how I was blessed to know the two giants in my life, and how much I miss them. ...And all the others that I have loved and lost.
To me this song describes life’s good times/meaningful times as the dance. Dances end life ends. Looking back if you could choose to miss the pain you might, but then you miss the dance. My father died at 46 and this song helped me out of a dark place. Beautiful song.
The dance is a metaphor for the love and life he shared with her. I lost the love of my life two years ago and the pain is unimaginable and I have often thought that if I could turn back time would I choose a different path in order to avoid the destruction of my heart and soul but the love we shared is worth doing it all again...
Its saturday and at home feeling a little ill and your channel is starting to make me feel better. But this song does bring back a bittersweet memory of a past love.
Really the actual dance is just symbolic. It stands for all the good times. It could have been a vacation, a night at the fireworks, the birth of a child, all the glorious things you experience in a relationship. He just picked a memorable dance. The point is that some things are worth hurting for.
It's well 9:30 and I clicked on this without thinking, I have a special place for this song and wanted to see what you thought about it ... in Sept of '75 I met the girl who became my high school sweetheart, and the love of my life. I was a year ahead so when I graduated and went to school we faced a few challenges. Still we continued our dance. As time went on we agreed we didn't want to start life together ... knowing a family would come soon after ... in an apartment so decided to save and start right. May 4th, 1984 the night before I was going to officially propose she was in a horrific accident and at approximately 9:30 PM she was officially pronounced as having passed from her injuries. I have been thinking of her all day ... I never married she was it for me ... I wanted to feel some joy, some music. This song hit me differently than others, for me it spoke to how I survived her loss even though I didn't know how our dance would end. We all need to remember there are no promises in life, but the joy of living far exceeds anything promised. I had nearly 9 years and thought I had a lifetime, I didn't but damn if I would give up 1 second of those nine years. Kate gave me unconditional love and for that I'm eternally grateful. Your reactions here are beautiful and help remind us all that life matters.
Its like ,,, Think of someone you love more then anything and they get taken away... would you have rather not known them to spare you the pain of missing them and miss all the time you spent together( the dance )
The Dance is symbolism ffor life.. and we all dance all the way to the end.. its a look to.. if you knew what was coming would you still do it? Its better to not know and Dance.. You should watch this in a live show.. you think you have goose bumps.. his concerts are the best.. I've seen hundreds of concerts.. The crowd singing.. the change from high energy to slow.. humble pauses.. yelling screaming.. just plain.. Fun!! I cant hear this song with out tearing up.. watch it live..
The beauty of a song allows everybody to take it in and interrupt it in their own way. A song will touch millions of people in millions of ways, depending where they are in their own Journey and what they've been through thus far in life. Love you guys. ❤️✌️❤️✌️
I have a very emotional attachment to this song. Every time I hear it I cry. I identify this song as a bad divorce with a woman I truly loved but it was my fault it ended. Through thick and thin and how it ended I would never trade the time I had with her because the time I had with her I treasure.
I've always understood it as a metaphor like going into something without knowing what the outcome would be. Taking chances and not looking back with regrets so to speak.
One of the most beautiful songs ever made. The dance , life with someone" the dance "and then the end of a relationship, death, the person leaves the relationship, yeah thats the meaning.
The studio version is available here on UA-cam. Garth Brooks - The Dance (Original - Not A Cover) is what you want to look for. It's night and day between this one and the one and only original Garth Brooks !
Man this hit me right in the feels. Got tears in my eyes. Quick story and you'll know why. I'm a country transplant. Was living in DC and moved to the country when I was a freshman in high school. This girl I knew was the first person to speak to me or have anything to do with a Metalhead from a major city. We became very close friends. In our sofmore year she tragically kill In an accident. They played this at her funeral. And even though it been almost 30 years it still gets to me. For me "the dance" refers to the fact that I decided to be friends with her instead of pushing her away. And yes despite what happened, I'm so glad to the chance and excepted "the dance." Despite what happened.
Sorry y'all, this is a cover. Real Garth YT vids are hard to find, you typically have to do a live video.
Yeah. This isn’t the same
They are hard to find because Garth doesn’t want his music streamed. However, I think he’s making a mistake in today’s world by not allowing it. He’s missing out on a whole generation of new fans.
It comes down to money. IMHO. Streaming pays very little.
you are wrong
@@randallbundy108 which you are you referring to about being wrong?The interpretation of the song or a commenter?
I lost my husband 2 years ago this month and this song helped me appreciate "the Dance" (life). We were married almost 30 years, a total of 10,623 days. The loss was/is devastating and I agree, "I'm glad I didn't know how it all would end. I could've missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance".
Sorry for your loss. I lost my wife of 26 years a little over 5 years ago, this song was used in the commemerative video we made for the funeral showing pictures of our lives together. I still have a hard time getting through it seeing the memories of the happier times, but I wouldn't have missed the dance for the world.
Your story is my story. I married in 1982. My wife was an early COVID patient and passed away in April of 2020. We loved this song, and now it seems almost like a prophecy. I still grieve for her.
@@jayholland2632 So sorry for your loss.😔
I'm so sorry for your loss.
@SnJnPreps So sorry for your loss.
The dance, was their lives together! The things they experienced. About living your life the way you want, no matter the consequences...divorce....death....etc. No matter what, at least you got to dance
The dance is a metaphor for life!!
^^ This ^^
@@kenqb5450 Sorry, I don't understand what your comment means. I'm a little slow.
@@robertwilson7301 His comment means you are right on! 👍
@@npkrn6764 thanks for the translation. I was born way back in 1962 so I'm a living fossil that's not really up to date on new technology and terminology. Again I appreciate the help, take care. Love this song by the way even though I'm more of a rock and roll fan. There's a video on UA-cam by the way, that you may or not be aware of and it's of the writer of The Dance telling stories to some journalists and he ends with playing guitar and singing this song. He does such a good job and I was so impressed that I wonder why he didn't keep it for himself and release it to make himself a star even if he became a one hit wonder?
@@robertwilson7301 Hey Robert I'm not much younger than you and I'm not up on a lot of the text jargon either! And yes - I'm happy a lot of old music, TV, interviews are here for us to enjoy again and for the younger generations to see and enjoy too. My Mom and I just watched a bunch of the old Saturday Night Live clips on here with Belushi and the others. Land 🦈 Shark was always my favorite as a kid! 😁😂 I'm more of a rock music person too but some country music (like this song) is just so good - who wouldn't like this song?? Keep rocking!
This song was played at 3 different funerals for friends I lost when I was in high school. It's always brings tears to my eyes. I love watching you guys. ❤️
Pretty glad I didn't go to high school with you. ;-)
When I was young it was “old friends” by Willie and crew.
First, it's a cover! Garth Brooks has more depth to his voice and the song itself has a haunting quality to it. And the dance refers to the big picture. As in, sure, had I walked away from so and so, I could have avoided the heartache, but I would have missed all the sweet moments (the dance). It just means don't avoid things from a place of fear. You may suffer from it at some point but there is so much to be gained too. You may lose your love, but could you live without the memory of holding each other and dancing... don't miss the forest for the trees.
ya thats not garth singing
Wrong
"The Dance" is the 18 years I had with my amazing and precious husband. The pain when I lost him 3.5 years ago to pancreatic cancer was so great. If I had known, would I have still done it? Absolutely! Because I would have missed that beautiful dance we had for those 18 years! That's what this song is about. Thr dance is life. We have to have the pain in order to have the dance of life. Love you guys!!!
Asia is on the right track. The dance is like the dash between years on a headstone, its all that good stuff that you would have missed to avoid the hurt of losing a person due to a break up or death.
The dash between years on a headstone - I'm going to steal that and start using it :)
@@michaelcullen5308 me to that is a cool thought
@@michaelcullen5308 Look up Dakota Meyer. He's a medal of honor winner who speaks about "owning the dash". How we need to live life fully and embrace that dash because it matters more than the dates on either side of it.
@@michaelcullen5308 I'm very late on this, but there's actually a Garth Brooks song on this exact subject! It's called "Pushing Up Daisies," and it's really spectacular.
My wife died in my arms. This song always gets me. A song that makes people feel differently is a gem.
God bless you ❤
The dance is life... and everything that comes with it.. the good and the bad... never take a chance, never fall in love... you miss the dance..
This song is talking about a relationship that ends, either in tragedy or just because it wasn’t meant to be. The deeper meaning behind it to me is this. If I had known how things would turn out in any situation I might have changed it, but if I had changed it I would have missed all the important memories, life lessons, everything that makes life worth living. Great reaction guys!
A good Cover of Garth's Song. Live versions are the only real way to hear him in video format.
The Dance is referring to Life it self, the constant dance of going from one to another adventure while growing up and experiencing Life - if you had a chance to do it all over, would you and miss all the things that you have witnessed or life's you have touched?
Nothing is ever gonna be like GARTH LIVE!!!
Garth is very protective of his music on utube. To get an AUTHENTIC Garth song - you need to react to his LIVE concert footage. The Dance is one of Garth's BEST songs - but this is unfortunately NOT him. The Thunder Rolls, Papa Love Mama, Friends in Low Places are all MUST see videos - but you have to do the concert versions of them all.
actually you're wrong, that is him.
That’s his picture. That is absolutely not Garth singing.
@@shanetteglenn3998 you’re right it’s not actually Garth. It’s also a slightly different arrangement of the music
It's Absolutely Garth.....💯
Definitely see him in concert. I just did and holy WOW! This is him singing.
💕YOU HAVE TO WATCH THE OFFICIAL VIDEO WHILE LISTENING TO THIS BEAUTIFUL SONG. IT BRINGS IT ALL TOGETHER. GARTH BROOKS IS SO TALENTED WITH AN AMAZING VOICE.🎸
Yes, definitely a cover, this man has such a distinct voice you know when it's him. With that said I love this song.
The dance is life. Whether it’s a death or heartbreak. The dance is go big or go home.
The Dance is a metaphor for Life. He could have missed the pain of an ended relationship but he'd have missed his Life.
The dance is not just one moment, it is a metaphor for his life and relationship with a loved one.
This song, along with another song of his ("Unanswered Prayers"), is about looking back at your life without regrets.
Absolutely agreed, amazing song, it truly is.
Opportunities for love come and go. You take the risk of love or heartbreak, it's the dance.
This isn’t Garth Brooks. It is extremely difficult to find anything on him… Amazon Music has a little bit. Garth is an incredibly talented singer and his voice is very distinctive. He also did a side project as an alter ego named Chris Gaines, a rock star. It’s even harder to find any of that music unless you bought the actual recordings back in the day. He’s phenomenal! His concerts are wild and crazy and super fun!
Ok I was confused. I'm like I'm pretty sure garth didn't "cover" the dance
iHAVE ALL cds original plus a 10 albun world concert series all in concert magnificent
It's called greed. Not surprising.
The “dance” is the important, happy moments in life…it’s better not to know how our life goes, how our relationships end, because if we knew, we would not experience the joy.
Asia, BJ.. The first time I heard (& became a fan of) Garth was after watching his epic concert in New York’s Central Park in 1997. For those who saw it, it was an incredible show & I would’ve loved to have been there. This song is stunning & so heartfelt ✊️😌❤️
Central Park show was amazing... I had such a great time (100% sober mind you), that for the life me I can't remember how the heck we got there from South Jersey (Exit 2 & 3 NJTP) or how we left, or frankly the last name of the girl that went with me 🤣. Concert was amazing & for me a life long Billy Joel fan to see Billy & Garth do New York State of Mind. It blew me away 🤯!
@@1776SOL … I’m in Australia & a friend of mine, who is a huge country music fan, suggested I watch a DVD of the concert & that it would change my views on country music (I wasn’t a fan at the time). I LOVED the whole show & seeing Billy Joel make a guest appearance (the man is a legend) just made it so much better. I later became a bigger fan thanks to artists like Shania Twain (thanks to “Whose bed have your boots been under?”) & The Dixie Chicks & to this day, the list just gets bigger. My favourite Aussie country group are “The McClymonts”, an all-sisters trio who always give great shows. But, my love for country music will forever be traced back to Garth’s 1997 epic NYC concert 🇺🇸👍🇺🇸. I wish I could’ve been there & I’m so happy for you that you were able to attend.
This song is the musical representation of the famous quote: “it’s better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all“
Well said!!!
My favorite Garth song, and it’s real hard to choose! This one holds a special place in my heart #RIP to my Daddy 💔
He is talking about life as dance, and the loss of a loved one
Yooo! As a native Oklahoman, gotta support the Garth reactions! Do “Friends in Low Places.” Far more of a party vibe.
The Dance is a metaphor for a relationship (or life spent with someone). He’s saying he could’ve avoided pain of loss if he knew how it would end by not starting The Dance in the first place, but then he would’ve missed all the good things that happened during it. “I’m glad I didn’t know the way it all would end…my life is better left to chance…I could’ve missed the pain, but I’d have had to miss The Dance.”
PS Another good one from Garth is “Unanswered Prayers”
Oh my word!!! Love me some Garth, and the dance.. oh man. Tears right here.
As someone else said - it's about ALL of life and the eternal human struggle of loss. It makes me think that he's saying we all lose people- whether we lose them through death or something else. In our grief, we cannot see beyond that pain - but as time goes on, we realize that pain comes from our ability to love deeply and he has come to the decision that no matter how much pain the loss caused - it was worth it. There would've been no pain if there hadn't been deep love and millions of beautiful memories. And he would've had to miss all that hence the line "....I would've missed the pain, but I'd have had to miss the dance." I hope I've explained that correctly! A beautiful song and so true ❤
it's a metaphor about life, enjoying it and not knowing how it ends, be it death or sorrow of losing someone. "the pain was worth the dance"
1. Life equates to the Dance 2. A relationship over equates to the dance....any event could be the dance.
Top three greatest country songs of all time.
He said in the song he didn't know she would say Goodbye! The Girl he gave his heart to, but he had to do the Dance of Life!
The dance he's talking about is the Dance of LIFE!
My very good friend Randy who was a cowboy. He loved country music. I was a headbanger. Randy for almost a year, would tell me, “you have got to hear this new song by Garth Brooks, I know you will love it, because you like ballads as well as your hard stuff”. It never came to pass that he could present the song to me, something always got in the way.
I heard it for the first time, at his funeral, winter of 1990, A fellow sung it live. Whenever I hear “The Dance”, I can’t help not crying when I hear this song, because my friend Randy was right, he new me well, I love the song, but to me, the song is about my friend whom I still miss do very much. “Randy Parks”. RIP brother.
This song came out not long after my husband died of a terminal illness. He would always take me out to a place we knew for dinner and then dance. I cried so many tears over this song.
To avoid pain, you will miss the dance. That’s what I get from it. Beautiful song. Thanks for the reaction.
"How could I of know that you'd ever say goodbye" gets me every time.
I always took it as the relationship, it ended but he was glad to go through and experience life with her
Actually, the dance is the whole situation, from beginning to end where they split up the whole dance is their time together that is what this means to dance it isn't a physical dance, it is the whole experience being with each other, the dance
It’s the dance of life together. Even with pain it was worth it.
It's about losing someone but you are grateful for the time you had together.Thus song is playes alot at funerals
I sang this to my wife at her funeral. "The Dance" is the life we shared as a couple.
The "Dance" is referencing his relationship with her. The message is that he could have missed the pain but, to miss the pain would also have meant he'd have missed the dance, or, all the moments he had with her.
As many have stated the song is about life and what the lyrics are saying is that if we knew that things were going to go wrong we might change our future. Specifically the song is talking about the singers relationship with someone they loved at one time, but the relationship ended and even though there was pain, the singer feels that "The Dance" was more important and that if he had changed things, he would have lost "The Dance". Why "The Dance" ended is not as important as the fact that we get to have "The Dance".
She nailed it. I could have avoided all of the pain, but then I would have had to miss all the wonderful times. The dance represents the happy moments. It might have been a tragic situation or it may have just been a breakup. He's saying I could have avoided all the pain I feel now, but I would have missed all the memories I have going forward
The dance is the whole experience! The whole relationship! But yeah this is a cover! He does it so much better!
The dance is about living your life going thru the struggles of it and seeing the beauty in it the dance
@Asia and BJ- One of my fav songs ever. I am not what Garth is actually referring to by The Dance but I do know its played at funerals a lot. I was lucky enough to see Garth and Trisha in concert 5 years ago and he put on a show.
They’re life together over the years was the dance
The dance was the good time spent together. I always took it as a lost love song.
You got it . Life. The beautiful things that happen to you as a couple. Dances, Kids graduations , holidays, vacations, but they separated .
The song is a metaphorical analysis of life. It’s better that we not know about things to come, because although some things would be tragic, those events shape who we will become in significant ways. We wouldn’t be the same people with the same strengths if we could cherry pick our moments.
He talking about our journey (dance) through life in general. The pain we go through in life never outweigh the great things we get to experience.
The Dance is our lives and everything involved with it. He's saying that if we live life trying to know everything that will happen in it, we will totally miss the random life of our dance and all that happens in it.
Interpreted literally, he’s reminiscing about a moment in time with someone he felt connected to, but the relationship eventually ended. He’s saying that if he had the choice to do it again, or to pass on the experience and avoid the heartbreak, he would still do it all over again. The weight of that perfect moment, is heavier than the pain that followed. If missing out on that pain meant missing out on that dance, then he’d still choose to have that moment. Interpreted broadly it’s a metaphor for life.
Originally written by Tony Arata who is a fellow country singer and friend of Garth's. Garth ask Tony if he could sing it, and here we are. Tony said it was based on the movie when Peggy Sue Got Married, in it she wished she never married her husband, suddenly every part of their relationship disappeared like it never happened (or something like that), Beautiful song, Thanks Asia and BJ.
I really appreciate you two for your musicality and your perception and interpretation of all of these songs and how y'all work together to dig into them.
The dance is the journey through it all
His live version of him singing this with a cancer patient in the croud is beautiful. With Mother's Day approaching, his song from a few years ago is well worth listening to. The title is "Mom". I haven't seen any reactions to it. There are a few live ones on UA-cam but the one I saw was live on the Ellen Show.
If you ever get the chance to see him in concert… Do It!!!
Wife here..Though the song is a beautiful for life.., and Garth is amazing..this song depresses me at my age..Love You Two!!
Dude! The dance was their life together. Love you guys.
My favorite Garth Brooks song, hands down, is "If Tomorrow Never Comes". He was doing a lot of introspective stuff like "Unanswered Prayers" and the like at this time in his career. Sure, give "Friends In Low Places" a listen for that raucus don't-give-a-damn country song. But if looking back is your thing, you'll like these softer songs. Thanks for doing "The Dance". My late sister loved this song so we played it at her memorial service. There wasn't a dry eye in the place, including the pastor!
THE INTENSITY ON BOTH YOUR FACES- PRICELESS!
He's talking about the dance of life. Like when you die you don't want to know when. Or when you loose someone. You remember all the good times yall had
I always took it as the end of someone that you loves life and the dance was the dance of life you had with that person
Great song! He's cherishing the dance they had that started their relationship, but ended later...Garth was king in those days!
The dance is your life. They way you lived, the way you interacted.. Your relationship.
Anything by Garth is worth listening to. The dance can have many meanings. It's used a lot at funerals
Anything that has a meaningful experience that causes u heartfelt pain or regret... Would the joy u learned about ... B worth the pain at the end .. the dance is knowing both sides the good journey .. and the end of one
This is NOT Garth Brooks but a person who sounds a lot like him. If you want the real Garth, you have to do a live version.
Totally agreed.
I have used "The Dance" as a reference to losing my dad to complications of dementia; moreover, it expresses that I couldn't change the outcome and truly appreciated the precious time I had with him.
I'm a grown ass man and this song makes me cry like a baby! Garth #1
"Shameless"... "Friends In Low Places" are a must.
The dance of life. He couldve missed the pain but then would've never experienced the love.
I feel that the dance is more of a metaphor of life's journey verses one singular relationship. Trying to be in those moments with everyone you love and lost. Going through the hardships as well as all of the beautiful moments. Makes me think about when my parents were alive and how I was blessed to know the two giants in my life, and how much I miss them. ...And all the others that I have loved and lost.
He is singing about living life how you want with no regrets....much love
To me this song describes life’s good times/meaningful times as the dance. Dances end life ends. Looking back if you could choose to miss the pain you might, but then you miss the dance. My father died at 46 and this song helped me out of a dark place. Beautiful song.
The dance is a metaphor for the love and life he shared with her. I lost the love of my life two years ago and the pain is unimaginable and I have often thought that if I could turn back time would I choose a different path in order to avoid the destruction of my heart and soul but the love we shared is worth doing it all again...
Its saturday and at home feeling a little ill and your channel is starting to make me feel better. But this song does bring back a bittersweet memory of a past love.
Really the actual dance is just symbolic. It stands for all the good times. It could have been a vacation, a night at the fireworks, the birth of a child, all the glorious things you experience in a relationship. He just picked a memorable dance. The point is that some things are worth hurting for.
The person died, I could have missed the pain, but, I would have missed the dance. The Video brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful!!
The Dance is Life my friends! Often played at funerals, special occasions,etc. Beautiful song.
This is my #1 all-time favorite song! BTW that wasn't Garth Brooks, but someone covering this song.
Asia is on the mark. You experience the love and the joy of life with someone. And eventually you lose them. Tragically.
I feel like the dance is representing life itself... I've heard it sang at funerals
It's well 9:30 and I clicked on this without thinking, I have a special place for this song and wanted to see what you thought about it ... in Sept of '75 I met the girl who became my high school sweetheart, and the love of my life. I was a year ahead so when I graduated and went to school we faced a few challenges. Still we continued our dance. As time went on we agreed we didn't want to start life together ... knowing a family would come soon after ... in an apartment so decided to save and start right. May 4th, 1984 the night before I was going to officially propose she was in a horrific accident and at approximately 9:30 PM she was officially pronounced as having passed from her injuries. I have been thinking of her all day ... I never married she was it for me ... I wanted to feel some joy, some music. This song hit me differently than others, for me it spoke to how I survived her loss even though I didn't know how our dance would end. We all need to remember there are no promises in life, but the joy of living far exceeds anything promised. I had nearly 9 years and thought I had a lifetime, I didn't but damn if I would give up 1 second of those nine years. Kate gave me unconditional love and for that I'm eternally grateful. Your reactions here are beautiful and help remind us all that life matters.
Its like ,,, Think of someone you love more then anything and they get taken away... would you have rather not known them to spare you the pain of missing them and miss all the time you spent together( the dance )
I believe this is one of the best summaries, if not the best summary, of what this song is about.
The Dance is symbolism ffor life.. and we all dance all the way to the end.. its a look to.. if you knew what was coming would you still do it? Its better to not know and Dance.. You should watch this in a live show.. you think you have goose bumps.. his concerts are the best.. I've seen hundreds of concerts.. The crowd singing.. the change from high energy to slow.. humble pauses.. yelling screaming.. just plain.. Fun!! I cant hear this song with out tearing up.. watch it live..
The beauty of a song allows everybody to take it in and interrupt it in their own way.
A song will touch millions of people in millions of ways, depending where they are in their own Journey and what they've been through thus far in life.
Love you guys.
❤️✌️❤️✌️
I have a very emotional attachment to this song. Every time I hear it I cry. I identify this song as a bad divorce with a woman I truly loved but it was my fault it ended. Through thick and thin and how it ended I would never trade the time I had with her because the time I had with her I treasure.
I've always understood it as a metaphor like going into something without knowing what the outcome would be. Taking chances and not looking back with regrets so to speak.
One of the most beautiful songs ever made. The dance , life with someone" the dance "and then the end of a relationship, death, the person leaves the relationship, yeah thats the meaning.
The dance was their life together.
Bingo Asia. He loved. He lost. It hurt. But if he didn't take a chance he would of missed the love they shared. The dance of their lives.
The studio version is available here on UA-cam. Garth Brooks - The Dance (Original - Not A Cover) is what you want to look for. It's night and day between this one and the one and only original Garth Brooks !
This is already on my Playlist.
You guys have no idea, of the magnitude of the service you are doing.
Man this hit me right in the feels. Got tears in my eyes. Quick story and you'll know why. I'm a country transplant. Was living in DC and moved to the country when I was a freshman in high school. This girl I knew was the first person to speak to me or have anything to do with a Metalhead from a major city. We became very close friends. In our sofmore year she tragically kill In an accident. They played this at her funeral. And even though it been almost 30 years it still gets to me. For me "the dance" refers to the fact that I decided to be friends with her instead of pushing her away. And yes despite what happened, I'm so glad to the chance and excepted "the dance." Despite what happened.