France

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Bob Weir, Mickey Hart

Recorded by the Grateful Dead on "Shakedown Street" but never performed live.

Way down in the south of France
All the ladies love to dance
Kick their heels up in the air
Snap their fingers for romance
While the gentlemen compare
Blonde or black or auburn hair
Check the motion and the style
Oh you know they take their while

Hey to make the motion more complete
Yeah to make it more a treat
Club d'Jour is where to go (note 1)
Come on down and see the show
When the rhythm's really right
You can burn it down tonight
When the singing's really fine
Sweet as Spanish sherry wine

When the club can't contain the beat
It just rolls out in the street
Spills on down the avenue
Bringing dancers to their feet
When it's good as it can be
It gets better, wait and see
Oh these folks don't ever sleep
Till they're passed out in the street

Way down in the south of France
All the ladies love to dance
Clap their hands and walk on air
Yeah the feeling's really there
Won't you take a little taste
Raise it to your charming face?
When the rhythm's really right
You can burn it down tonight

When the singing's really fine
Sweet as Spanish sherry wine
Go on take a chance
The ladies do love to dance

Sail away from yesterday
Anywhere except tomorrow
Where the people got no heart
Only live to lend and borrow
I don't really need to know
What they've got upon their mind
When they're coming on so low
Never treat each other kind

Hit me easy where I live
I'm no victim to the blues
I just want to stick around
Learn to pick and learn to choose
If you help me through the night
I will try to treat you right
Love me, I will love you too
Nothing else I'd rather do

Down in the South of France
Ladies do the shallow dance
Kick their feet up in the air
Snap their fingers for romance
While the gentlemen compare
Locks of straight or curly hair
Check the motion and the smile
Sense of rhythm and the style

To make the motion more complete
To sweep the men right off their feet
They leave kisses in the wine
I found one inside of mine
Pass around the loving cup
Drink it down and fill it up
There's enough to go around
Fill it up and drink it down

When the rhythm's really right
You can dance away the night
When the rhythm's really fine
Rare and sweet as vintage wine
Play it on the carousel
Where the ponies run pell-mell
They don't run to get away
They just like to run that way

In the quiet of the night
Does your lover treat you right
Well, just turn to her and say
Love, I love it just this way
Give her roses, maybe jewels
Learn to play it by the rules
Once you know it's a true romance
Go ahead and take a chance

All I really want is you
No one else will really do
Taste of lilac in the air
Scent of perfume on the air
Sail, oh sail away with me
Out across the seventh sea
With that silver-dollar moon
And a hurdy-gurdy tune

Way down in the south of France
All the ladies love to dance
Clap their hands and walk on air
When the feeling's really there
Make that magic in my heart
From the finish to the start
Never take your love away
It grows sweeter day by day

When the rhythm's really right
You can dance away the night
When the rhythm's really fine
Rare and sweet as vintage wine
Nothing else I'd rather do
Than to spend the night with you
Nothing else I'd rather do
Nothing else I'd rather do