I'm Dancing in the Show Tonight
"I'm Dancing in the Show Tonight" is a song by Ween from the 1997 album The Mollusk.
Song Details[edit | edit source]
Origin, Recording and Composition[edit | edit source]
"I'm Dancing in the Show Tonight" was not written by Ween; Dean Ween has stated that it is a cover of a now-lost song from a "ballet-practice record" that his sister had.[1] The exact identity of the record Dean refers to is unknown, but it seems it was probably a dancing-themed rewrite of "Are My Ears On Straight?", the B-side to the 1953 novelty single "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" by Gayla Peevey. The melody to "I'm Dancing in the Show Tonight" is identical to "Are My Ears On Straight?", with lyrics that are partially similar but also have key differences.[2] Dean has called the decision to record this song "a stupid fucking idea, but it was the perfect opening track."[1]
"I'm Dancing in the Show Tonight" was one of two songs recorded during keyboardist Glenn McClelland's very first recording session with Ween, sometime in 1996 or 1997 (the other song was the outtake "Boys Club"). Glenn's two-year-old son Charlie sang on the track; as Dean explained, "Everybody sang on it, and we had 12 vocal tracks at different speeds. That’s why it’s all over the place. It sounds really fucked up, but a lot of it is Charlie McClelland at age 2."[1]
"I'm Dancing in the Show Tonight" is in the key of A# major.
Alternate versions[edit | edit source]
An instrumental reprise of the song is present as a hidden track on The Mollusk, following "She Wanted to Leave" and subsequently closing the album. The instrumental is slower and far more sparse, consisting of only two keyboard tracks and the ocean sounds that "She Wanted to Leave" ends with.
Live Performances[edit | edit source]
Ween debuted "I'm Dancing in the Show Tonight" live in 1997 and played it heavily on the Mollusk tour. In later years they have continued to play the song occasionally.[3]
"I'm Dancing in the Show Tonight" has also been played individually by Gene Ween (solo acoustic) and Dean Ween (with the Dean Ween Group).[3]
In other media[edit | edit source]
A cover version of "I'm Dancing in the Show Tonight" was used in the 2021 animated children's film The Addams Family 2.[4]
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
Are my ribbons tied? Is my hair in place?
Have I got a cute expression on my face?
Are my shoes all shined? I'll try to keep in line
When I'm dancing in the show tonight
Does my shuffle step really look so good?
Am I doing it the way you think I should?
Would it be amiss if I blew a kiss?
When I'm dancing in the show tonight
Showtime now is getting nearer
And I'm getting scared
Wish I could see in the mirror
If I'm all prepared
First you take a step then you point your toe
Hope I know it like I did a week ago
Am I standing straight? I can hardly wait
To be dancing in the show tonight
Showtime now is getting nearer
And I'm getting scared
Wish I could see in the mirror
If I'm all prepared
First you take a step then you point your toe
Hope I know it like I did a week ago
Am I standing straight? I can hardly wait
To be dancing in the show tonight
Song Themes[edit | edit source]
Covers, Instrumental, Sung by Gene Ween, Tape Speed Manipulation
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://www.stereogum.com/1951136/weens-the-mollusk-turns-20-an-oral-history-by-mickey-melchiondo/reviews/the-anniversary/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75BAVEWfMiA
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://brownbase.org/every_time_played.php?band=all%20bands&song_id=89
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGncAn1Y8C0