When I passed you in the doorway
You took me with a glance
Should have took that last bus home
But I asked you for a dance
Now we were steady to the pictures
I always get chocolate stains on my pants
Father says "he's going crazy"
Says I'm livin' in a trance,
Dancing in the moonlight
It's caught me in it's spotlight,
It's alright, it's alright, the moonlight
This long, hot summer night
It's three o'clock in the morning, I'm on the streets again
Disobeyed another warning, Shoulda been home by ten
Now I stay out 'till Sunday, I have to say I stayed with friends
It's a habit worth forming, It's a means to justify the end
Dancing in the moonlight
It's caught me in it's spotlight,
It's alright, it's alright, the moonlight
This long, hot summer night
I'm walking home
Last bus is long gone



Lyrics submitted by Ice, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Track duration: 04:22

"Dancing in the Moonlight" as written by Sherman Kelly

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

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Dancing in the Moonlight song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • -1
    General Comment:for the record, there is no meaning to THIS song. It's been ripped off by a mediocre "college" band. There is meaning to the original version though... because they wrote the song and would have thought about it as they wrote it.
    Flagged MarkCox11on October 14, 2010   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:I hear the Thin Lizzy version, and I hear a man living in a very jeux d'viv sort of way, no troubles to bring him down, everything's groovy.

    I hear this version, and I hear a very different story of the same guy. He's living in the moment, but knows that it can't last forever, so this moment is bittersweet, that tomorrow may mean that everything will be gone.
    Flag AngelSwordAFon August 20, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think its about each day falling into the next.
    how things happen and come into place.
    decisions you could have made, and probably should have made.
    but dancing in the moonlight, seems to symbolize
    giving into the moment
    and not worrying about whatever comes next.
    Flag BAMsayson October 28, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:'thesilvernoble', i did. i think you described them perfectly; both versions are great for different reasons :)
    Flag nbellacruzon March 23, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:I admit I prefer Thin Lizzy's version, but this is a cover done the way I believe they should be. There are two very different people telling the same story from their own perspective. Not that I dislike covers that stick close to the original, but at the same time... why wouldn't I just listen to the original?
    Thin Lizzy's version is exciting and energetic. The fact that he's getting in some trouble over this only serves to excite him more. The singer probably does stuff like this frequently.
    The Pumpkins version has a more subdued, even shy singer. He's probably never ever missed that last bus home before for any reason. Yet he does't regret it either, even if he is a little nervous about the whole thing.
    Both of them are trying to savor every moment, but they do so in different ways. Thin Lizzy wants to squeeze as much excitment out of every moment as they can. The Pumpkins would prefer to slow down, and just take everything in.
    Thin Lizzy is definetly swing dancing, while the Pumpkins are probably doing a slow waltz.
    I hope someone enjoys reading that as much as I did writing it.
    Flag TheSilverNobleon February 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:hmm this song just makes you want to be in love all over again.
    Flag jabon December 23, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is the best song ever live. Thin Lizzys was good, fun. The SP version is great. I usually hate covers but this is far by one of the best covers ever.
    The story in the song is very straight forward. It wasn't ment to be looked into that much. But dancing in the moonlight may reapresent something you did as a teen that was frowned upon but you never will regret. How when you really love something nothings going to stop you from doing it and you won't feel bad for doing it.
    Flag penny-laneon October 28, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:the way billy sung nearly made me cry....this is better than the Thin Lizzy version...one of my fav smashing pumpkins song..
    Flag ashison July 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this was me and my first boyfriend's song. he used to come over to visit me while my dad was out on saturday nights, and he'd miss his last bus going home and have to walk back home. i put this on a mix tape for him once, and he sayd it was exactly how he felt. sweet memories.
    Flag saturnineon November 22, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Pumpkins did a good cover!
    Flag Rocklovinggirlon October 11, 2004   Link

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