Introduction

The Drifters – “Save the Last Dance for Me” is a musical masterpiece that transcends generations. Released in 1960, this enchanting track is a classic by the American doo-wop and R&B group, The Drifters. With its soothing melody and heartfelt lyrics, it has etched its name in the annals of music history.The Drifters – The Vocal Group Hall of Fame

Did You Know?

Did you know that “Save the Last Dance for Me” was written by the legendary songwriting duo, Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman? It’s a song that captures the essence of romance and anticipation. The song’s title was inspired by a real-life event; Doc Pomus, who was wheelchair-bound due to polio, attended his brother’s wedding and asked his wife to save the last dance for him. This touching story adds an extra layer of depth to the song.

The Drifters, known for their impeccable harmonies and soulful sound, breathed life into this track with their velvety voices. Lead vocalist Ben E. King’s rich baritone voice is particularly enchanting in this rendition. The song’s magnetic appeal has led to numerous covers and has been featured in various films and TV shows, solidifying its status as a timeless classic.The Drifters | Artists | Black Music Project

Video 

Lyrics: Save the Last Dance for Me

You can dance every dance with the guy
Who gives you the eye,
Let him hold you tight
You can smile every smile for the man
Who held your hand
Beneath the pale moon lightBut don’t forget who’s takin’ you home
And in whose arms you’re gonna be
So, darlin’, save the last dance for meOh, I know that the music’s fine
Like sparklin’ wine,
Go and have your fun
Laugh and sing, but while we’re apart
Don’t give your heart
To anyoneAnd don’t forget who’s takin’ you home
And in whose arms you’re gonna be
So, darlin’, save the last dance for meBaby, don’t you know I love you so?
Can’t you feel it when we touch?
I will never, never let you go
I love you, oh, so much

You can dance, go and carry on
‘Til the night is gone
And it’s time to go
If he asks if you’re all alone
Can he walk you home,
You must tell him “No”

‘Cause don’t forget who’s taking you home
And in whose arms you’re gonna be
Save the last dance for me

Oh, I know that the music’s fine
Like sparklin’ wine,
Go and have your fun
Laugh and sing, but while we’re apart
Don’t give your heart
To anyone

And don’t forget who’s takin’ you home
And in whose arms you’re gonna be
So, darling, save the last dance for me

So, don’t forget who’s taking you home
Or in whose arms you’re gonna be
So, darling, save the last dance for me

Oh, baby, won’t you save the last dance for me?
Ooh, you make a promise that you’ll save the last dance for me
Save the last dance, the very last dance for me.

You Missed

MINNIE PEARL WALKED ONSTAGE AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY FOR 50 YEARS WITH A $1.98 PRICE TAG ON HER HAT — AND THEN ONE NIGHT, SHE JUST COULDN’T ANYMORE. Here’s something most people don’t think about with Minnie Pearl. That price tag hanging off her straw hat? It wasn’t random. Sarah Cannon — that was her real name — created it as a joke about a country girl too proud of her new hat to take the tag off. And audiences loved it so much that it became the most recognizable prop in country music history. For over fifty years, that tag meant Minnie was here, and everything was going to be fun. So imagine what it felt like when she couldn’t put the hat on anymore. In June 1991, Sarah had a massive stroke. She was 79. And just like that, the woman who hadn’t missed an Opry show in decades was gone from the stage. But here’s what gets me. She didn’t die in 1991. She lived another five years after that stroke, mostly out of the public eye, unable to perform, unable to be “Minnie” the way she’d always been. Her husband Henry Cannon took care of her at their Nashville home. Friends visited, but they said it was hard. The woman who made millions of people laugh couldn’t get through a full conversation some days. Roy Acuff, her old friend from the Opry, kept her dressing room exactly the way she left it. Nobody used it. The hat sat there. She passed on March 4, 1996. And what most people remember is the comedy. The “HOW-DEEE” catchphrase. The big goofy grin. What they don’t remember is that Sarah Cannon was also a serious fundraiser for cancer research. Centennial Medical Center in Nashville named their cancer center after her — not after Minnie, after Sarah. She raised millions and rarely talked about it publicly. There’s a story about the very last time Sarah tried to put on the hat at home, months after the stroke, and what her husband said to her in that moment — it’s the kind of detail that makes you see fifty years of comedy completely differently. Roy Acuff kept Minnie Pearl’s dressing room untouched for years after she left — was that loyalty to a friend, or was he holding a door open for someone he knew was never coming back?