One fringe benefit of watching American Idol is getting to know songs that would otherwise remain undiscovered. One such case was when Carrie Underwood sang “God Bless The Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts. I really love what the song is saying, and I would never have come across it had she not performed it. I’m not a big fan of country music, although I do have a healthy sampling of country songs in my iPod.
Well, it happened again. During Hollywood week, one of my favorites, Danny Gokey, sang a song that caught my attention, even though I only heard a couple of lines. Then it turned out that it was one of the most sung audition pieces this year. So it really got me curious, how a song is so popular with the contestants, yet it was completely unfamiliar to me. So I had to catch a replay, wrote down a parcel of the lyrics and googled it.
Turns out, the title of the song is, “I Hope You Dance”, originally done by Lee Ann Womack feat. Sons of the Desert, a number 1 country single in 2000, and also cracking the Hot 100 where it peaked at number 14. It was also nominated for Song of the Year in the 2000 Grammys, but lost to U2′s “Beautiful Day”. When I read the lyrics, I ended up loving it even more.
I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack
(Written by: Mark D. Sanders/Tia Sillers)
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they’re worth taking
Lovin’ might be a mistake
But it’s worth making
Don’t let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone)
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)
I really hate going sappy and wearing my heart on my sleeve, but I’m really in a trying zone, so I’m the perfect market for songs like these that lift your spirit because it speaks a truth that speaks to you. It’s as if the writers read my biography and wrote a song based on what they saw. I love part that goes, “Never settle for the path of least resistance”. Is it midlife crisis? Andropause? Who knows. If I see an oasis, I’ll get down on my knees and drink.
And as if to add icing and a cherry on top, I found out that my favorite, Carrie Underwood, has a cover version of this country classic from an early unreleased pre-Idol album. Unfortunately, most copies of the song are cut in the middle. So instead, I’m posting a version of Ronan Keating. Just sharing.
And Danny Gokey’s version as well.
