Private Dancer by Tina Turner

Album: Private Dancer (1984)

Charted: 26 7

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

This song is about either a prostitute or stripper who prefers to consider herself a "private dancer," describing how empty she feels inside. It was an unlikely title track to Turner's wildly successful comeback album, as the subject matter didn't relate to her life or her return to fame.

Tina wrote some songs in the '70s when she performed with her husband, Ike Turner, notably "Nutbush City Limits," which describes life where she grew up in Tennessee. But after leaving Ike and going solo, she recorded songs written by others based on their hit potential or inspirational qualities. She used other media to tell her own remarkable story: her autobiography, I, Tina, was a bestseller, and the movie based on her life, What's Love Got To Do With It, was a hit at the box office.

In a nutshell, Tina's marriage to Ike quickly turned abusive, but it was years before she could find the strength to leave him. To get the divorce settled, she ceded to Ike's demands, walking away with just her name (born Anna Mae Bullock, Ike named her "Tina Turner" when they started performing, and claimed rights to that name). She was 42 when she started her comeback in an industry that prizes youth, especially among female performers. Through hard work, talent and determination, she overcame the odds, landing a #1 album with Private Dancer at age 44.
Mark Knopfler wrote this song for his band Dire Straits, but realized that it didn't work with a guy singing it, so he pitched it to Turner, who was beginning her comeback. In a 2004 interview with her fan club, Tina Turner described her reaction when Knopfler played her the song: "Mark said this song is not for a man, it's a girl's song. He recorded it but won't use it so when he put the demo on, he sang 'I'm a private dancer, dancer for money, do what you want me to do,' I told him, 'I think you're right, it's not a song for a guy. I liked it a lot. I wasn't sure whether the girl was a hooker or a very classical private dancer but I thought I'd take it."
Turner didn't realize until after this song was released that is was perceived as being about a prostitute. Early in her career, she did private shows (the musical kind) in Texas, so she saw the "private dancer" as someone who performs very innocently at these events. "I can be naive about some of these things," she said in the book Classic Albums. "I took it because it was an unusual song. I'd never sung a song like it."
Members of Dire Straits played on this track, including their bass player John Illsley and drummer Terry Williams. Jeff Beck played the guitar solo, as Mark Knopfler did not perform on it.
Turner chose this song as the title track from the album after the photo was taken for the cover. In that shot, she sits in a chair wearing a classy dress while a black cat stands in front of her, staring into the camera. She felt the photo suited the "Private Dancer" character better - it's also a more compact title than "What's Love Got To Do With It."

Comments: 15

George Pope from Vancouver BcChris Fox: Io think t he person in the song is living the sordid side of that life --I've been there myself - it in no way disparages all. Survival is a bitch.
George Pope from Vancouver Bc@Paige: Thanks for your story -- interesting & amazing! I suspect you understand this song better than Tina did, but in her way -- doing small shows. You're obviously well-read & intelligent-- now I'm going to go get me some Erickson to read! As I'm autodidactically learning Developmental Psychology
George Pope from Vancouver BcThe fact she didn't write this one suggests that it's not about her life. This is clearly about a private stripper, who does personal shows in men's hotel suites, & possibly 'more,' as is usual in such a profession. Nowadays it could be about a male gigolo who bills himself as a dancer, to keep it classier, & not admit ot others or self that he's a whore. Tina classes the song up, & I can believe it's not the sordid story of a stripper-prostitute, but, as she describes her impressions, about an actual dancer, who is classy, & works as part of a small troupe, dancing for small audiences. I love this woman's voice & stage moves! I had a GF who had the exact same legs as Tina, just shorter; &, oh boy, did I love 'em!
Paige- Cheerleaders Throwback from Philadelphia/nj SuburbsIm conflicted with the news of TINA TURNER having no primary ties to this song. Im always happy for those who only saw this life from a window safely on the outside. Curious however, to the song writer- the inspiration- as to where these words may EXACTLY frame the first several decades of my life… my opinion, def “ a dancer”.
As a woman, who has spent her first “ grown-up” 20 years - (age 19-39) -( with no extended family, only an immediate family torn by abuse and alcohol) singularly raising a child at a naive and scared 19 years old) continued on an “abusive (mentally & emotionally & physically) family tradition, beginning ADULT LIFE AT 16 with only a GED in hand. I found refuge and independence in the 1990s as a DANCER in Nj/PHILA. I found myself surrounded by young women in the same boat- not the media-scarred reputations that most middle-upper class easily scorn upon as a way to maintain their own social status. But young women who were blessed with beauty yet cursed with a proper upbringing and values… young women left to make decisions based initially on survival (ie ERIKKSONS THEORYOF EMOTIONAL GROWTH) and ultimately socially isolated by their life choices, as they continued through the LORDS plan, raising children and finding themselves. These women & MYSELF can relate to these words of PRIVATE DANCER. I’m only now, at 15 years removed, occupation as an RN, 2 girls raised 25 years apart, struggling through life’s societal demands and expectations (it’s cruel hand outs when the piece doesn’t fit) that I am proud of what I did- in the face of MY LIFES TURMOILS, and I hope I can represent the women I encountered over the years, as finding pride, forgiveness and ultimately solace in reflection of their past- and most importantly- NOT TO ASSUME THAT THEIR JOURNEY SHOULD BE DISMISSED c of their “ ending point” but to relish in the lords strength that carried us through the journey that began at a different starting point.
Superstarr from New JerseyChris Fox, those lyrics are excellent! Good work!
Chris Fox from San FranciscoI've always loved this song musically as well as Tina Turner's delivery, and I think the lyrics work whether there is prostitution involved or not. The ambiguity there makes the song relevant to more circumstances. But at the same time, as a sex worker myself, the message has always bothered me. The character in the song is definitely in the wrong line of work – she can't even see her clients as human! With apologies to Mark Knopfler and Tina Turner, as written it sends a harmful message of sex workers as exploited victims.

So I've taken it on myself to pen some revised lyrics – I call it "Private Dancer (the sex-positive remix)". Since the song isn't originally mine, I'm putting these out there for anyone who wants to use them. For me, they more genuinely capture the true spirit of our profession, and the joy and benevolence it ought to embody.

All the hopeful nervous faces
Life can be a bitter game
Don’t forget that we’re all human
Smile warmly, ask their names
You don’t worry about the stigma
Keep an eye out for the law
Tonight we’re gonna have a good time
We’re gonna have a ball

I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money
Believe me I love what I do
I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money
An artist of pleasure for you

Gonna make my clients happy
Show them how fun this can be
Everyone needs some connection
While we’re together it’s you and me
All the hopeful nervous faces
Life can be a bitter game
Don’t forget that we’re all human
Smile warmly, ask their names

I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money
Sex symbol, love what I do
I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money
A healer with pleasure for you

I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money
Believe me I love what I do
I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money
An artist of pleasure for you

Worth every dollar
Bitcoin or other crypto is perfect, thank you
Let me help you with that collar
Tell me, do you feel done or shall we do it again?

I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money
Why shouldn’t I love what I do?
I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money
A healer with pleasure for you

All the hopeful nervous faces
Life can be a bitter game
Don’t forget that they’re all human
Smile warmly, ask their names
You don’t worry about the stigma
Keep an eye out for the law
Tonight we’re gonna have a good time
We’re gonna have a ball

I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money
I hope you’ll love what I do
I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money
An artist of pleasure for you

I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money
Believe me I love what I do
I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money
A healer with pleasure for you

I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money
I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money
I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money
Just a private dancer, a dancer for money
Chris from Germany Wow what would be if Tina Turner had not released this Album and especially those singles on that album.
Tina Turner reached new paths and new generations of fans with this album. I am rather young and i don't know all the Dire Straits stuff and especially not the early works but Private Dancer is a typical Mark Knopfler song. Some can hear the similarities to Dire Straits songs.
I remember the video it was even played in the early 90s on MTV.
George from Vancouver, CanadaClearly a stripper; &, to me, I agree that it sounds like a classy one(thus unlikely to do double-duty as a prostitute); the only dance a hooker's gonna do is the Horizontal Mambo!
Eric from Beaverton, OrI didn't know this was written by Mark Knopfler, but now that I think about it, it definitely sounds like one of his songs.
Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiMy favorite Tina Turner song! She doesn't sound like a prostitute.
Joshua from Twin Cities, MnNot only was this intended for Dire Straits' Love Over Gold album, but the chorus of that album's title track is, melodically, an echo of this song's chorus.
Scott from Blackwood, NjThe 'Private Dancer' is not a prostitute or stripper. The character is in fact a Dancer, much along the lines of the girls in Sweet Charity. While yes there was usually sex involved, in the early 20th century there were dance hall girls who men would pay to dance with (sex was implied but never expected).
Joey from Boston, MaI always thought this song was about a stripper, not a prostitute. Some people might think they're the same thing, but there's a difference IMO.
Wes from Springfield, VaI think it's a modern version of Richard Rodgers' bluesy "Ten Cents a Dance," about a dance hostess, notably sung by Doris Day in "Love Me or Leave Me" (1955).
Marvin from East Brady, PaMark Knopfler originally planned on using it on the Dire Straits album Love Over Gold but left it off so he gave it to Tiny Turner.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Fields Of GoldSting

Sting wrote "Fields of Gold" after buying a house near a barley field and enjoying the majestic sunsets.

Lust For LifeIggy Pop

Iggy Pop wrote "Lust For Life" with David Bowie, who came up with the music on a ukulele.

PillowtalkZayn

Zayn's "Pillowtalk" reached #1 on the Hot 100, something his former One Direction bandmates never achieved.

Thinking Out LoudEd Sheeran

When Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud" climbed to the top of the UK singles chart in its 19th week, the song broke the record for the slowest continual ascent to #1.

Tainted LoveSoft Cell

"Tainted Love" started as a 1964 soul song by Gloria Jones, became a huge hit when Soft Cell covered it in 1981, and was the basis for Rihanna's 2006 #1 "S.O.S. (Rescue Me)."