Last Dance – English Lyrics

• By: Donna Summer
• Album: On The Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the story behind Donna Summer's iconic hit, "Last Dance," a song that perfectly blends ballad and disco elements. Learn about its creation for the film *Thank God It's Friday*, its awards, and how it became a symbol of the disco era. Dive into the lyrics and explore the dual meaning of a song about a last chance for love, perfect for understanding the cultural impact of disco music.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dance /dæns/ A1	verb - to move rhythmically to music noun - a series of steps and movements that match the speed and rhythm of a piece of music
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection verb - to feel deep affection for
chance /tʃæns/ A2	noun - a possibility of something happening
tonight /təˈnaɪt/ A2	noun - the night that is now passing
need /niːd/ A1	verb - require (something) because it is essential or very important.
guide /ɡaɪd/ B1	verb - show or direct someone along a way
hold /hoʊld/ A2	verb - grasp, carry, or support (something) with one's hands
scold /skoʊld/ B2	verb - reprimand someone angrily.
bad /bæd/ A1	adjective - of poor quality or a low standard
romance /roʊˈmæns/ B2	noun - a feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love.
right /raɪt/ A1	adjective - morally good, justified, or acceptable
appetite /ˈæpɪtaɪt/ B2	noun - a natural desire to satisfy a bodily need, especially for food.
sure /ʃʊr/ A2	adjective - confident or certain of something
baby /ˈbeɪbi/ A1	noun - a very young child

Key Grammar Structures

• Last chance for love

  ➔ Noun phrase functioning as an adjective.

  ➔ The phrase "last chance" modifies the noun "love". It acts as an adjective describing what kind of love it is: a love sought at the "last chance".

• I need you by me, beside me to guide me

  ➔ Prepositional phrases of location/accompaniment + infinitive of purpose.

  ➔ "By me" and "beside me" are prepositional phrases indicating location. "To guide me" is an infinitive of purpose explaining *why* the speaker needs the other person nearby.

• Will you be my Mr. Right?

  ➔ Future simple question (using "will")

  ➔ Asks about a future possibility or intention. "Will" is used to form the future simple tense in a question.

• Can you fill my appetite?

  ➔ Question using modal verb "can" (ability/possibility)

  ➔ "Can" expresses the ability or possibility of the other person satisfying the speaker's desires.

• All that I ask is that you dance with me

  ➔ Cleft sentence with "all" + Subjunctive mood.

  ➔ The sentence is a cleft sentence emphasizing the request to dance. The use of "that you dance" is subtle, using the bare infinitive form of the verb which is considered part of the subjunctive in some analyses. While grammatically, "that you dance" without "should" is common, it retains a subtle sense of urging and is structurally aligned to a subjunctive use which is to express necessity or importance. "All" focuses the listener's attention on the single desire being expressed.