The lights are burning brightly in the basement of St. Pat’s

The lilting of a hornpipe filters through the window slats

The dance has swelled and dwindled in the hours since it began

They’ve drawn the fifty-fifty, Ian Strachan’s the lucky man.

The tray of squares was polished off, the coffee’s gone to tar

My weary feet are grateful that my bedtime’s not too far

They’re stacking up the folding chairs, they hope we’ll take the clue

But this night isn’t over, Gail, till I dance the home waltz with you.

    As the dance is fading and they’re calling it a day

    The band will give us one more waltz to send us on our way

    The sun is well and firmly set, the dark is soaked with dew

    But this night isn’t over, Gail, till I dance the home waltz with you.

The fiddler’s snapped a dozen hairs, the caller’s voice is sore

We’ve heard St. Anne’s three times tonight, perhaps they’ll go for four

The pickers rub their fingertips, the banjos reach a truce

My shirt is rather sticky and your braid is coming loose.

I’ve danced away the night with you a hundred times before

As long as these poor knees hold out, we’ll dance it many more

For these are all the good old tunes that our grandfathers knew

And this night isn’t over, Gail, till I dance the home waltz with you.

Chords: (3/4)

     G                   C      G       C       G       D

The lights are burning brightly in the basement of St. Pat’s

    Am      Am7   D                  D7                G

The lilting of a hornpipe filters through the window slats

     G                      C      G       C          G     D

The dance has swelled and dwindled in the hours since it began

          D              Bm    Em     Am7          D7    G

They’ve drawn the fifty-fifty, Ian Strachan’s the lucky man.

      G                  C       G         C        G       D

The tray of squares was polished off, the coffee’s gone to tar

    Am    Am7       D               D7                G

My weary feet are grateful that my bedtime’s not too far

          G              C        G           C          G        D

They’re stacking up the folding chairs, they hope we’ll take the clue

      D              Bm    Em        Am7           D7              G

But this night isn’t over, Gail, till I dance the home waltz with you.

G                                  Am      Am7   C

As the dance is fading and they’re calling it a day

     G                Bm       Em       Am      Am7    D7

The band will give us one more waltz to send us on our way

     G               C      G        C       G           D

The sun is well and firmly set, the dark is soaked with dew

     D                Bm    Em        Am7          D7              G

But this night isn’t over, Gail, till I dance the home waltz with you.