I wrote this song on my ukulele. It started with the opening chord progression, which begins with a Bm and has a descending bass line leading to an E7 chord. I like the way the E7 goes to D before resolving to A and then Bm.

The chord progression and melody seemed to call for some sweet and slightly wistful lyrics, so that’s where I went with it.

When I recorded this with Dale Price at Electric Canyon Studios, I was trying to sing a certain phrase in the outro, but I wasn’t hitting the high note very well, so we substituted a different phrase. If you listen to the end, you can hear how it slows down a bit too much… but it’s fine for a demo.

Here’s the song on Bandcamp:

http://scottlape.bandcamp.com/track/the-one-who-danced-away

And here are the lyrics and chords:

The One Who Danced Away

I was just a young man when I first saw your face         Bm     Bm^M7    Bm7    E7
And the memory you know it still leaves a trace            Bm     Bm^M7    Bm7    E7
I was so grateful to receive that gift of grace                 Bm     Bm^M7    Bm7    E7
But you were the one who danced away                        D        A      Bm

I looked into your eyes and I knew right away
That I would give you all of my heart without delay
It didn’t matter that I had nothing to say
But you were the one who danced away

You danced away, you danced away                       E        Bm

You saw me, you gave me that magic smile                           Bm    G    D   F#
You touched me, you gave me your sweetness for a while     Bm   G     F#   F#7
It was just a short time but I still feel it today                           Bm    G    D   F#
‘Cause the love you gave to me will never go away                Bm   G     F#   F#7

You took me to the dance and we moved ‘cross the floor
I held you close to me and I felt my feelings soar
And suddenly I knew just what my heart was for
But you were the one who danced away

Many years have passed and I have grown to be a man
And looking back now I begin to understand
What a lucky boy I was when you held my hand
And you were the one who danced away

You danced away, you danced away

You saw me, you gave me that magic smile
You touched me, you gave me your sweetness for a while
It was just a short time but I still feel it today
‘Cause the love you gave to me will never fade away