My musical journey has been anything but a straight line. For years, country music held my heart captive. Line dancing was my weekend ritual, my dance group performed with pride, and country concerts were sacred events, sometimes even worth camping out overnight for tickets. However, as time went on, my perspective shifted. Country music started to lean towards pop, and the lyrics began to lose their appeal, becoming increasingly difficult for me to connect with.
Now, my music taste has undergone a complete transformation. I find myself drawn to lyrics that resonate deeply and beats that move both my body and mind. Contemporary country artists haven’t quite captured my attention yet. Instead, I’ve been listening to artists like Eminem, Matchbox 20, and David Gray, finding profound meaning and poetic expression in their words.
Just the other day, I decided to tune into a country station, a nostalgic whim to see what was playing, hoping to find a hidden gem. To my surprise, an older song filled the airwaves, one I hadn’t paid much attention to before: John Michael Montgomery’s “Life’s a Dance.” My initial reaction was to change the station, convinced that country music no longer held any meaningful message for me. But I paused, and listened, as if hearing it for the very first time. The song struck a chord, reminding me of a valuable life lesson.
Rediscovering Country and a Timeless Message
The essence of the song is beautifully encapsulated in its chorus:
Life’s a dance, you learn as you go
Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow
Don’t worry ’bout what you don’t know
Life’s a dance, you learn as you go
It dawned on me how profoundly true these words are. The “dance” of life, as portrayed in this song, is a universal theme that resonates across musical genres and life experiences. It’s not a novel revelation, but a timeless truth, reiterated in countless ways throughout our lives. This realization sparked a deeper reflection on my own “dance” and the “dance partners” who have shaped me into the person I am today.
Your Dance Partners in Life
From the moment we enter the world, our individual journeys, our unique dances, begin. We step onto the dance floor of life without a map, uncertain of what lies ahead. Those who have danced before us step in as our initial guides, showing us a few basic steps, yet wisely allowing us the freedom to explore new moves and even create our own.
At times, instead of leading, our partners become our support, carrying us when we falter, offering rest and guidance through their compassion. Then there are moments when we must dance alone, our partners observing patiently as we navigate missteps, dance too fast or too slow, all the while offering unwavering love and support. Dancing solo teaches us invaluable lessons in judgment and decision-making. We may feel awkward, but we gain the courage simply by trying. Eventually, the time arrives when we take the lead, guiding new partners, perhaps even our first mentors, demonstrating that the dance of life is a continuous learning experience, regardless of age or experience.
Learning the Steps: Leading and Following
We’ve two-stepped around uncomfortable truths, experienced heartaches and shared joys, tangoed with friends in moments of celebration, and waltzed gracefully through times of sorrow. We’ve even danced with those we may not particularly like and watched those we cherish dance with others.
Ultimately, all we can do is keep dancing, welcoming each new partner and embracing the return of familiar faces. Some dances remain constant over the years, while others are ever-changing, never repeating the same steps. But the crucial element is not the specific dance itself, but rather our willingness to participate, to engage in the dance of life.
Opening my mind to a song I had previously overlooked, I discovered a new rhythm, a new dance. Now, my dancing shoes feel a bit more worn, a testament to this renewed appreciation. So, dust off your own shoes, dance on your toes, or even “MC Hammer” your way through life – because, as John Michael Montgomery reminds us, “you learn as you go.”
