"Won't Somebody Dance With Me" is a song written by Lynsey de Paul in 1973, which was awarded an Ivor Novello Award in 1974. Her original version of the ballad made the UK, Irish and Dutch Top 20s, and was featured in the film, The Big Sleep, and the television programmes The Muppet Show, and the 1970s version of the New Mickey Mouse Club (performed on that show by Lisa Whelchel).
This autobiographical song, inspired by an event from de Paul's teenage years, included some spoken dialogue by a male voice; on the original single the voice was that of Radio 1 DJ Ed Stewart.
The track has been covered by Bruce Johnston, Petula Clark, Alan Tew Orchestra, Sounds Orchestral, Peter North, Jeannie, Denis King and Lena Zavaroni amongst others, as well as most recently by S. Sebber Larsen on his album String Man.
A French-language version (Je voudrais tant danser) was recorded by Martine Tourreil. A Danish language version "Hvem danser en dans med mig" was released by Maria Stenz med Jesper Klein in 1974 and reached #8 in the Danish charts. Lynsey herself re-recorded an updated version of the song on her 1994 album Just a Little Time.
The single reached #14 in the UK Singles Chart in November 1973.