They put a parking lot on a piece of land
Where the supermarket used to stand
Before that they put up a bowling alley
On the site that used to be the local palais
That's where the big bands used to come and play
My sister went there on a Saturday

Come dancing
All her boyfriends used to come and call
Why not come dancing?
It's only natural

Another Saturday, another date
She would be ready but she's always make them wait
In the hallway, in anticipation
He didn't know the night would end up in frustration
He'd end up blowing all his wages for the week
All for a cuddle and a peck on the cheek

Come dancing
That's how they did it when I was just a kid
And when they said "come dancing"
My sister always did

My sister should have come in at midnight
And my mum would always sit up and wait
It always ended up in a big row
When my sister used to get home late

Out of my window, I could see them in the moonlight
Two silhouettes saying goodnight by the garden gate

The day they knocked down the palais
My sister stood and cried
The day they knocked down the palais
Part of my childhood died, just died

Now I'm grown up and playing in a band
And there's a car park where the palais used to stand
My sister's married and she lives on an estate
Her daughters go out, now it's her turn to wait
She knows they get away with things she never could
But if I asked her, I wonder if she would

Come dancing
Come on, sister, have yourself a ball
Don't be afraid to come dancing
It's only natural

Come dancing
Just like the palais on a Saturday
And all her friends would come dancing
While the big bands used to play


Lyrics submitted by numb, edited by bobsto12, StarmanDX

Come Dancing Lyrics as written by Ray Davies

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Come Dancing song meanings
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22 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    You always look back. No matter how awful the rollerdisco seemed at the time, it'll be hilarious in twenty years. The past doesn't have to be all roses, but it was different, often more naive. At least parts of it for most of us.

    Personally, I think it's the same brain malfunction that decides at 50 that high school was the best time of your life, and prompts women to have more than one child.

    eww2006on February 16, 2007   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    "pally" should be spelled "Palais"--a French word for "Palace."

    Susan_The_BassPlayeon November 23, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    What everyone else said... nostalgia. And hoping that some of the old days might still be a alive, a little bit... if he was willing to look hard enough.

    TheSilverNobleon April 02, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think HydrolicToaster is right. Even if you look in the video, it seems they chose a child to look like a young Ray Davies. I think it could be a reflection on his own childhood, and he is talking about one of his older sisters. There were 5 of them, so I'm not sure which.

    ginteardropson April 25, 2010   Link
  • +1
    My Opinion

    He'd end up blowing all his wages for the week

    That line just fits the music perfectly, its beautiful to listen to just that line :D

    Paradeoxyon December 27, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is awsome. i dont understand anyone hasn't commented on it yet. The lyrics are very cool. Pretty straight forward. The old days were great, and the golden days seem to have dissapeared. So true.

    hawk_er_8on July 31, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    please, someone?

    hawk_er_8on August 01, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's not the best "Kinks" song ("Waterloo Sunset" is) but it's kinda groovy.

    WorkingClassLoseron September 29, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song and the end moves me. I really like the kinks and their flair for iorny. By the way waterloo Sunset is very great

    benlevine68on January 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    grr the kinks - screamo all the way! :p

    FinalHourJoeon January 08, 2006   Link

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