DANCING IN THE STREET

Original Martha And The Vandellas version

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), sweet music (sweet music)
There'll be music everywhere (everywhere)
There'll be swinging and swaying and records playing
And 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
There'll be dancing (in the street)
They're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)

This is an invitation across the nations, 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 DC now (dancing in the street)
Can't forget the Motor City (dancing in the street)

All we need is music (sweet music), sweet music (sweet music)
There'll be music everywhere (everywhere)
And there'll be swinging and swaying and records playing
And 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 LA, every day they're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Let's start a big time now, get in time with dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Across the ocean blue, me and you we're dancing in the street, yeah (dancing in the street)
[Fades out]

Info

DANCING IN THE STREET is a song written by Motown songwriters Marvin Gaye, William "Mickey" Stevenson, and Ivy Jo Hunter, and originally recorded by Martha And The Vandellas who released it as a single in 1964. The above lyrics are for the original Martha And The Vandellas version of DANCING IN THE STREET as released in 1964.

Martha And The Vandellas -- "Dancing In The Street / There He Is (At My Door)"

7" single - Gordy (7033) - USA, 1964

Bruce Springsteen's Version

Bruce Springsteen performed DANCING IN THE STREET in 1970 and 1971 with his 1969-1971 band Steel Mill. See the live 17 Jul 1970 version for more details.

Available Versions

List of available versions of DANCING IN THE STREET on this website:

Page last updated: 04 Jan 2019