Story Behind The Song
The girl, Sarah, in the song is based on my great aunt.
Song Description
A girl meets a young soldier at a dance at the military academy at West Point. They marry and he's sent to Europe during the war. He is killed there and Sarah is left with memories and a music box that her husband had made specially for her.
Song Length |
5:18 |
Genre |
Folk - Contemporary, Folk - Contemporary |
Tempo |
Medium Slow (91 - 110) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
Mood |
Poignant, Endearing |
Subject |
Life, Relationship |
Similar Artists |
Paul Simon |
Language |
English |
Lyrics
Sarah's Dance
She has a music box, she winds it every day
And the music echoes down the halls
Off the ceilings and the walls
She lifts her pretty face and counts the chimes
One at a time
It was New York just before the war
Has there ever been a time of more romance
The soldiers took the time to take the chance
On Sarah's dance
Sarah was a debutante
She grew up knowing that she'd want it all
Till she met the army colonel at the ball, that was all
Snow was falling, she didn't mind
Soldiers stood in a very straight line
Danced with Sarah one at a time, one at a time
As different as the moon and sun
Her world did not include the gun and knife
She knew he'd be a soldier all his life
She'd be his wife
Sun shone down on the beautiful bride
Soldiers stood in a very straight line
Chapel bells rang one at a time, one at a time
So when they sent him overseas
To oversee hostilities in France
They joked about him finding a new romance
He said Fat chance
The clouds were thick and the pilots were blind
His soldiers stayed in a very straight line
The bombs were screaming one at a time, one at a time
Think about me while I am gone
I had this made for you, it plays our song
A major and a telegram said deep regrets from Uncle Sam to you
He fought for us, the red, the white, the blue
His battle's through
Rain was pouring and Sarah was crying
Soldiers stood in a very straight line
Twenty one guns one at a time, one at a time
The years went past as years will do
They passed the same for her as you and I
The kids gave her grandchildren with his eyes
Blue like the skies
Sun shines down, mostly everything's fine
Sea birds fly in a very straight line
She reads his letters one at a time, one at a time
She has a music box, she winds it every day
And the music echoes down the halls, off the ceilings and the walls
She lifts her pretty face and counts the chimes
Snow was falling, she didn't mind
Soldier boys in a very straight line
Danced with Sarah one at a time