"Dancing in the Street" is a song written by Marvin Gaye, William "Mickey" Stevenson, and Ivy Jo Hunter. It first became popular in 1964 when recorded by Martha and the Vandellas whose version reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at No. 4 in the UK Singles Chart. It is one of Motown's signature songs and is the group's premier signature song. A 1966 cover by the Mamas & the Papas was a minor hit on the Hot 100 reaching No. 73. In 1982, the rock group Van Halen took their cover of "Dancing in the Street" to No. 38 on the Hot 100 chart and No. 15 in Canada on the RPM chart. A 1985 duet cover by David Bowie and Mick Jagger charted at No. 1 in the UK and reached No. 7 in the US. The song has been covered by many other artists, including The Kinks, Tages, Grateful Dead, Little Richard, Myra, and The Struts.
The song appeared on the soundtrack of Recess: School's Out, the soundtrack of which featured both the original version and a cover by Myra. The original version was also featured as a DTV music video, which utilized clips from Fun and Fancy Free, Woodland Café, Bumble Boogie, All the Cats Join In, Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom, The Skeleton Dance, Chicken Little, A Symposium on Popular Songs, Flowers and Trees, Donald in Mathmagic Land, Freewayphobia, Old King Cole, The Martins and the Coys, and Cock o' the Walk. The music video was included on the DTV: Pop & Rock compilation videotape.
Lyrics[]
Calling out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancing in the street
They're dancing in Chicago (dancing in the street)
Down in New Orleans (dancing in the street)
In New York City (dancing in the street)
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swinging, swaying, and records playing
Dancing in the street
Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy, grab a girl
Everywhere around the world
They'll be dancing (dancing in the street)
They're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
It's an invitation across the nation
A chance for folks to meet
There'll be laughing, singing, and music swinging
Dancing in the street
Philadelphia, PA (dancing in the street)
Baltimore and D.C. now (dancing in the street)
Can't forget the Motor City (dancing in the street)
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swinging, swaying, and records playing
Dancing in the street
Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy, grab a girl
Everywhere around the world
They're dancing
They're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Way down in L.A. (dancing in the street)
Every day, they're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Let's form a big, strong line (dancing in the street)
Get in time, we're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Across the ocean blue (dancing in the street)
Me and you, we're dancing in the street
Come on, WHOO!
Oh
Callin' out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Summer's near and the time is right
For dancing in the street
Dancin' in Chicago (dancing in the street)
Down in New Orleans (dancing in the street)
In New York City (dancing in the street)
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swingers swayin' and records playin'
Dancing in the street
Oh, it doesn't matter what you want
Just as long as you are there
Come on, every boy, grab a girl
Everywhere around the world
They'll be dancin'
WHOO!
(They're dancing in the street)
We're dancing in the street
This is an invitation across the nation
A chance for kids to meet (that's right)
There'll be laughin' and singin', and music swingin'
We're dancing in the street
Philadelphia, P.A. (dancing in the street)
Baltimore and D.C. now (dancing in the street)
Can't forget the Motor City
All we need is music, old music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swingers swayin' and records playin'
Dancing in the street
Oh, it doesn't matter what you want
Just as long as you are there
Come on, every boy, grab a girl
Everywhere around the world
They'll be dancin'
WHOO!
(They're dancing in the street)
They're dancing, dancing in the street now
(They'll be dancing) Hey yeah
(They're dancing in the street)
Come on, come on and dance to the beat now
Way down in L.A.
Everyday
We're dancing in the street
San Francisco Bay
Miami and L.A.
From your neighborhood
Down to Hollywood
They're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
All around the world (dancing in the street)
Every boy and girl now (dancing in the street)
Dancing in the street now
(fading)
