Written by Leonard Cohen
Performed by Danny Segal and Shelley Segal
Mixed and engineered by Lewey Melchor

Last night I was sitting in my car in Long Beach getting ready for a gig when I heard that Leonard Cohen had died. Even at 82 it came as a shock and I sat in the car and cried while they played Hallelujah on the radio.

I opened my set with the sad news and performed a rendition of my favourite of his songs, 'Dance Me To The End Of Love.' I have been performing this song for over 15 years, since I was 14 years old, with my father, Danny Segal on the violin.

This song is a part of me, more that any other song in the world. As I’ve changed and grown into a different person and a different musician, this song has been there for me to dance against each time I play, giving me a new perspective, a renewed appreciation for life, love, music and for my father and the joy and honour it is to play by his side

We’ve performed it at countless weddings. Couples came up to share that it had been their wedding waltz. We’ve played it at countless aged care facilities while the residents quietly hum along. We’ve played it in bars, restaurants and homes all around the world. We’ve played for audiences, for our families and loved ones and sometimes even just for ourselves.

Last week my father was in town for a brief visit. It was the first time we had seen each other for 6 months as I have recently moved countries. We decided to make the most of our time together and we recorded ‘Dance Me’ up in Calabasas with our friend and engineer Lewey Melchor. It is poignant timing and I’m grateful to have this song to share with you today as a tribute to this beautiful song and this powerful man. Now it shares something new with me again. That we can live forever through the ideas and the beauty that create and give to each other.

Lyrics

Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic 'til 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

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