Love at the Five and Dime

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

• Artist:Nanci Griffith
• Album:The Last of the True Believers (1986)