Song 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 waltzed the aisles of the five and dime

And they'd sing
Dance a little closer to me
Hey, dance a little closer now
Dance a little closer tonight

Dance a little closer to me
Hey, it's closing time
And love's on sale
Tonight at this five and dime

Eddie played the steel guitar
And his mama cried 'cause he played in the bars
And he kept young Rita out late at night

Soon they married up in Abelene
Lost a child in Tennessee
But still that love survived

And they'd sing
Dance a little closer to me
Hey, dance a little closer now
Dance a little closer tonight

One of the boys in Eddie's band
Took a shine to Rita's hand
So , Eddie ran off with the bass man's wife

Oh, but he was back by June
Singin' a different tune
Sporting Miss Rita back by his side

And they'd sing
Dance a little closer to me
Hey, dance a little closer now
Dance a little closer tonight

Eddie played in the barroom band
'Til arthritis took his hands
Now he sells insurance on the side

And Rita's got her house to keep
She sells dime store novels with a love so sweet
And they dance to the radio late at night and still sing

And they'd sing
Dance a little closer to me
Hey, dance a little closer now
Dance a little closer tonight

Nanci Griffith

The duration of Love At the Five and Dime [Live 1988 Anderson Fair] is 7:22 minutes and seconds.