Dance Little Jean


I played a wedding for the money,
And I wished that I could tell the bride and groom
Just what I thought of marriage
And what's in store after their honeymoon.

And I was grumblin' to the dancers
'Bout how men and women ought to live apart
And how a promise never made can not be broken
And can never break your heart

When suddenly from out of nowhere,
A little girl came dancing 'cross the floor,
And all her crinolines were billowing
Beneath the skirt of calico that she wore.
Oh what a joy fell on the honored guests
As each of them was drawn inside her dream,
And they laughed and clapped and stomped their feet
And hollered at her "dance little jean"

Dance, little jean, this day is for you,
Two people you love, stood up and said "I do"
Dance little jean, the prayer that you had
Was answered today
Your mama's marrying your dad

Well, my cynical heart just melted
'Cause I knew what this get together meant
How it ended year of tears and sad confusion
That the little girl had spent.
Well they told the band to pack it up
About the time the couple cut the cake,
But we played as long as they stayed
For love and laughs and little jeanie's sake.

Dance, little jean, this day is for you,
Two people you love, stood up and said "I do"
Dance little jean, the prayer that you had
Was answered today
Your mama's marrying your dad


Writer/s: Jimmy Ibbotson

Dance Little Jean de Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

This song appears in 12 albums


Live at the Crazy Horse Saloon, Santa Ana, California 1988 (Live: Santa Ana, California 1988)
2018

Anthology
2017

Fishin' In the Dark: The Best of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
2017

Jambalaya: The Definitive Collection
2013

Let's Go
2013

Best Of
2013

Back To Back: The Bellamy Brothers & The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
2011

Unbroken! Live
2010

A Night With (Live)
2008

Unbroken! (Live)
2008

Certified Hits: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
2001

Live Two Five
1991
See all discs

The most viewed