Listening to this breaks my heart a little. A sentimental song making me sentimental about life 30 years ago and this very special songwriter. The world has gotten so much colder.
It’s so hard to hear that song without “and I wanted them to stop the car & let me out so that I could go fill up my suitcase with unnecessary plastic objects” and “that’s what it is….it’s the elevator doors….ding” and at the very end………”going up!” It’s even harder to hear knowing her voice has sung every song it ever will. RIP Nanci Caroline Griffith. You gave us more than we deserved.
Loved the reference you made for this song on her great live album "One Fair Summer Evening", which I have on CD. Just heard it again. That version always brings a tear to my eyes. Her whole catalog is filled with deeply emotional tomes to the mundane, melancholy things in life. She passed way too young. She died at 68, and I'm 62yrs-old. I feel like I grew up with her and didn't want to see her go.
Nanci Griffith is a first-rate storytelling and refined musician, because with simplicity she puts into play real life stories with poetry, and she does it with great humanity and piety and with a disarming purity. Nanci's songs are so deep and magical. This song, is a pearl from every point of view.
I'm 77 and this beautiful song takes me back to my teenage years. A classic with pure innocence and magical storytelling. I'm a tough old disabled vet and this song brings tears to my eyes. Your in God's house now Nanci and singing to the angels! God bless your kind soul
Eddie travelled with the ballroom band, 'til arthritis took his hands, now he sells insurance on the side. Rita's got her house to keep she writes dimestore novels with a love so sweet, they dance to the radio late at night.
I used to love the old Woolworth's store at El Cerrito Plaza. My Mom and I would go in there after we did a shop at Emporium Capwell's, just sit ourselves down at the lunch counter and have a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches and Cokes. I can't ever hear this song and not cry. I miss my Mom, and I miss being a kid at the old Woolworth's store, and now I miss Nanci too.
I wish there was more than just a "like button" for this artist! I have loved Nanci Griffith's music from the first time I heard it! Rest in peace Nanci.
I just love this love this song. In 1978 I worked for Woolworth. My wife and I had just married. We were so young an innocent. She was 18 and was 20. We had just moved to the big city from our small rural town. Now we have been married 42 years and living back in our small hometown. Many seniors want to move back home where they grow up. I guess that's the meaning of reverting back to childhood.
Lyrics: Rita was sixteen years, hazel eyes and chestnut hair She made the Woolworth counter shine And Eddie was a sweet romancer, and a darn good dancer And they'd waltz the aisles of the five and dime. Eddie played the steel guitar And his mama cried 'cause he played in the bars And kept young Rita out late at night So they married up in Abilene, lost a child in Tennessee Still that love survived 'Cause they'd sing Dance a little closer to me, dance a little closer now Dance a little closer tonight Dance a little closer to me, 'cause it's closing time And love's on sale tonight at this five and dime One of the boys in Eddie's band took a shine to Rita's hands So Eddie ran off with the bass man's wife Oh, but he was back by June, singin' a different tune And sportin' miss Rita back by his side And he sang Dance a little closer to me, dance a little closer now Dance a little closer tonight Dance a little closer to me, 'cause it's closing time And love's on sale tonight at this five and dime Eddie traveled with the barroom bands 'Til arthritis took his hands Now he sells insurance on the side Rita's got a house to keep Dimestore novels and a love so sweet They dance to the radio late at night And they sing Dance a little closer to me, dance a little closer now Dance a little closer tonight Dance a little closer to me, 'cause it's closing time And love's on sale tonight at this five and dime 'Cause Rita was sixteen years, with hazel eyes and chestnut hair She really made the Woolworth counter shine Eddie was a sweet romancer, and a darn good dancer And they'd waltz the aisles of the five and dime And they'd waltz the aisles of the five and dime And they'd waltz the aisles of the five and dime 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
The first song of Naci Griffith's I ever heard, on Dick Pleasants' Folk Heritage show on WGBH Boston in the 80s. It was love at first listen, and I have been a fan ever since. I will miss her so.
Woolworth store in my town was center of attention . They had everything ....It was my favorite place since i can remember . I was 16 in '77 the last time I was there ..I had a donut at the food counter before a job interview for a roofing job after being up all night raising hell . Come on ! I was 16 with a 1970 chevelle ss ? But that Woolworth's store and food counter was an historical fixture in my town..Broke my heart when it went away ..Nancy summed it up and made it as beautiful as she is . Love Nancy.
RIP Nanci , can't help but shed a quiet tear or two to hear this and hear she's now gone - what lovely music and what a beautiful little soul she was .
Love this song There is a store sort of like Woolsworths in Branson, Missouri called Dicks 5 and 10 It carries toys, Christmas ornaments, and all sorts of fun things you will remember from your childhood including the laminate checkerboard flooring. Worth the trip. You can also shop on line.
I grew up in St Louis MO. Maplewood to be precise. It's amazing to me how she got the line before the song absolutely so spot on. I c a n visualize it and smell it. Like popcorn and chewing gum rubbed around on the bottom of a leather soled shoe. Absolutely amazing.
Can’t believe this beautiful creature/ folk singer/ writer is no longer with us. Bless you Nancy for all you gave us in your too short time with us. Will always listen, Jim, Colorado.
@@kevinr5187 I thought she was an amazing songwriter, a unique vocalist, and a great performer. I think due to poor health the last 10 years or so of her life she wasn't up to par. (She shouldn't have been smoking, but artists and musicians love their cigarettes!)
I remember watching this when it was broadcast. I had learned how to play it in standard tuning but realised Nanci played it in Open G with a capo. Made it so much simpler. RIP Nanci and RIP Woolworths. Will we ever see their like again?
@@mikeglasgow9618 Open G tuning - low to high - DGDGBD. The capo is on the third fret as the song sounds in Bb. If you're not used to open tunings it can be disorientating as familiar chord shapes don't work. On the other hand they do offer some interesting sounds that can really inspire. Incidentally if the strings feel a little slack tuning that way try EAEAC#E and putting the capo on the first fret. That is, of course, the same as if you were playing a regular A chord but now you've got no fingers down.
We had a Woolworths Store in Maplewood Missouri. I can't tell you her description of it is amazingly and hauntingly familiar. Popcorn and chewing gum on the bottom of a leather soles shoe. Absolutely spot on. I'll give this TUNING a try. Thanks for information . I am familiar with other tunings and capo position just not open G.
@@mikeglasgow9618 We had a Woolworths in Braintree, Essex. As Nanci says on the live album, the stores are/were the same the world over. I was teaching a young female singer/guitarist back in 1989 and she wanted to sing this song. We ended up in a relationship and this was one of 'our' tunes. I haven't played it in years but we're hoping to perform it again at an open mic session next month as she intends to visit my part of the UK. I'll need to rebuild my fingerpicking chops!! Glad you're familiar with alternate tunings. I thought it better to give too much information than not enough. Enjoy playing around with Open G
It's good to talk to another guitar player. Although I doubt I make it across the pond anytime soon. All I play is acoustic Kevin. I play a 6 string Ovation and a 12 string Sigma/Martin. My latest purchase was last week. I treated myself to an " D'ADDARIO ,IN THE HOLE TUNER. Great little gadget. Stays in the sound hole of my 12 string. I bought it for my Ovation but the beauty ring on the Ovation is too thick. Causing it not to fit. Being from the U.K. , have you been able to see the group " THE ANALOUGES " ?? I would love to see them live. Take care.
She was right on the money with the Woolworths prediction. I like to think I contributed ti their downfall by destroying the pick and mix every time I was there... "Deeelicious"
I worked at a textile factory years ago. Every payday, I would walk to our local Woolworth's store and sat at the food counter. A cheeseburger and a basket of fries. I miss those days.
I remember watching this brilliant series, Words and Music, back in the day. I remember Suzanne Vega and Richard Thompson on it, as well as a wonderful performance by Loudon Wainwright III which is at ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PiGt-QveGfQ.html
My favorite song by a female country singer has always been , I'm not Lisa, by Jessie colter but I recently heard this song again and haven't been able to stop singing it for days, I believe this is now my favorite country song by a female artist, I love the five and dime song
A simple song about simpler days ,, I'm glad I remember the woolworth store ,,I hated it when it closed ,, story behind Woolworths is sadder than most songs ,, anyone besides me ever watch Poor Little Rich Girl ,, they where cursed,money dont fix everything,,no ,it just complicates life,,But I'd sure like to have some lol ,,money not curses have enough curses
