When fans decide to choose their favorite Garth Brooks song from his extensive Country Music catalog, quite often, one track is mentioned.
It is a tune that has become Garth Brooks’ signature song and one that is instantly recognizable. But the lyrics can be confusing if you consider what they are all about. So, let’s take a closer look and consider the meaning behind “The Dance” by Garth Brooks.
Brooks’ Beginnings
Brooks didn’t have the archetypal poverty-ridden start in life that many American Country singers had. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he had a settled early life. One without money problems and an extended family that often performed music to entertain themselves.
Garth taught himself guitar and banjo and graduated from University after receiving an athletics scholarship from Oklahoma State University. While at school, he worked as a bouncer at clubs and formed his first band.
They were very much a Pop/Country band and played whatever the people wanted to hear. The band worked the local bars in Oklahoma, and as I said, they were popular because the material wasn’t limited to a single genre.
After hearing George Strait for the first time…
…Garth was convinced he wanted to be a Country Music singer. Musically, that chance encounter changed everything. Garth Brooks’ first album, the self-titled Garth Brooks, released in 1989, was his breakthrough. One of the tracks on that album was “The Dance.” It was released as a single in 1990 and went to #1 on both American and Canadian Country music charts.
As of today, he has released 16 studio albums and 51 singles and sold over 170 million records. He married Country singer Trisha Yearwood in 2005 and is now a grandfather. But, as I said earlier, we are focusing on just one song. What is “The Dance” by Garth Brooks about?
The Origin Of The Song
It isn’t a Brooks composition. “The Dance” was written by songwriter Tony Arata. He and Brooks were struggling artists in Nashville at the time, just barely scratching a living, trying to get some sort of deal.
Arata says the inspiration for the song came from the film Peggy Sue Got Married. And part of the song’s meaning is hidden in one scene from the film.
The Meaning Behind “The Dance” By Garth Brooks – A Story Hidden In The Lyrics
Brooks has said that he considers there to be two separate meanings to the song “The Dance.” Both of them approach the lyrical content from different directions. The first explanation and meaning are quite obvious but still have a rather oblique reference to “The Dance.”
Brooks talks about a relationship that he couldn’t have known at the time would ever end. He calls this relationship and everything that went on between them “The Dance.” This could mean literally a dance under the moonlight or just the interaction in the relationship between them. And he sees that the interaction that did go on between them was a very personal thing to only them.
He looks back on the memory of those interactions that formed the relationship, or ‘The Dance.’ Garth recognizes that he is glad he didn’t know that it would one day end. That would have interrupted “The Dance.” He says that lives are “better left to chance.”
Then, he emphasizes the importance of enjoying the dance while it was still there…
He says that he could have avoided all the pain of the breakup he is feeling now. But, he would have had to “miss the dance.” And that would not have been worth it.
Even though he is feeling the pain of the broken relationship, he still recognizes the importance of the relationship they had. He wouldn’t have wanted to have missed it.
You could call this a ‘”love that has gone bad” song. American Country Music is dominated by songs that have that as their subject matter. Few of those are as cleverly worded as this song.
A Second Meaning
This is where the song becomes full of conjecture as an alternative understanding of “The Dance” by Garth Brooks is applied to the same lyrics. From a love-gone-bad song with all the sense of loss and pain associated with it, it becomes an expression of sacrifice.
There have been people who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for something they believed in. So much so that it cost them their life. As an American songwriter, Brooks has naturally chosen the American people. But, of course, every nation has its own.
He mentions John F Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and the Space Shuttle Challenger Crew. All of them, amongst others, died for things they believed in passionately. The meaning of the song is now using the same sentiments but in a different way. It’s now saying that all of them would say they were glad “they didn’t know.”
What fates awaited them, or how things would turn out?
They might say they could have missed all the pain by not pursuing their dream. But then, they would “have to miss the dance.” To them, participating in “The Dance” was more important.
An interesting, but in many ways, very appropriate understanding of how the lyrical content can apply to other situations. We don’t get to pick and choose our memories, and we should be grateful for that.
In The Mood For Some Great Country Music?
Well, check out our thoughts on the Best Country Love Songs, the Best Country Songs About Fishing, the Best 90s Country Songs, the Saddest Country Songs about Death, or the Best Country Karaoke Songs for more amazing song selections.
The Meaning Behind “The Dance” By Garth Brooks – Final Thoughts
A song with a difference. We can see it is a song that is well-written lyrically. It also has a nice piano intro before the acoustic guitars join in. From there, it becomes an excellent Country ballad. Brooks has often said that out of all the songs he has recorded, this is probably his favorite. There are a lot of people that would agree with that.
Until next time, happy listening.
