Won't Somebody Dance With Me

Album: The Best of Lynsey de Paul (1973)
Charted: 14
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Though the Ivor Novello awards were first presented in 1955, it was not until 1974 that one was claimed by a member of the fair sex. Lynsey de Paul was that woman, and this was the song that won it for her. "Won't Somebody Dance With Me" has no question mark, one would imagine because the stunningly attractive Miss de Paul was asking a rhetorical question, but this ballad about a lonely wallflower was inspired by personal experience. In a January 1975 interview published in Melody Maker, the singer-songwriter told Caroline Coon that as a teenager she was really fat but that she lost a lot of weight when she was confined to a hospital bed for three months after being hit by a bus. She also suffered some facial damage in the accident, but although she made a full recovery this was clearly a traumatic experience at a time when most of her peers would have been enjoying their first relationships with the opposite sex.
  • At the end of the song, a male voice (belonging to BBC DJ Ed Stewart) asks "May I have the pleasure of this dance?"
  • "Won't Somebody Dance With Me" was recorded on MAM backed by "So Good To You." The sheet music, which sold for 20p, is copyright 1973 by ATV Music of London and published by ATV Music and Music Sales Ltd. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 3

Comments: 2

  • Roscoe B from Munich, Germany...and according to a recent interview, it's still the song she is most proud of.
  • Roscoe B from Munich, GermanyLynsey's version of her song "Won't Somebody Dance With Me" also made number 7 on the Irish charts and number 17 on the Dutch charts.

    The song has been covered by Beach Boy Bruce Johnson and Lena Zavaroni and featured in "The Muppet Show", "The Mickey Mouse Show" and the film "The Big Sleep".
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New York

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New YorkSong Writing

Our chat with Barney Hoskyns, who covers the wild years of Woodstock - the town, not the festival - in his book Small Town Talk.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.