“Dance me through the panic ‘till I’m gathered safely in”
Leonard Cohen’s words provide a soft place to land in the midst of bleakness and uncertainty. They highlight the transformative power of a commitment to the many facets of love, and convince us that all ugliness can be transformed into a vibrant palette of expressions.
Guitarist Debi Botos decorates the tune with her intensely technical and emotionally mature playing that draws from her Romani-Hungarian musical roots. We recorded this song together, in time, at found.sound.toronto, separated by walls with Debi and Tak Arikushi on guitars, Rachel Melas on bass and Tony Spina on drums, David Travers-Smith behind the board. We went for the whole long form, with everybody getting a moment to speak, and a slow Swing carrying the feel.
Lyrics
Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic till I'm gathered safely in
Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Oh, let me see your beauty when the witnesses are gone
Let me feel you moving like they do in Babylon
Show me slowly what I only know the limits of
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the wedding now, dance me on and on
Dance me very tenderly and dance me very long
We're both of us beneath our love, we're both of us above
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the children who are asking to be born
Dance me through the curtains that our kisses have outworn
Raise a tent of shelter now, though every thread is torn
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic till I'm gathered safely in
Touch me with your naked hand or touch me with your glove
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love