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
Dance a little closer now
Dance a little closer tonight
Dance a little closer to me
Cause 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 kept young Rita out late at night
Soon they married up in Abelene
Lost a child in Tennessee
But still that love survived
Cause they'd sing
Dance a little closer to me
Dance a little closer now
Dance a little closer tonight
Dance a little closer to me
Cause it's closing time
And love's on sale
Tonight at this five and dime
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
He sing
Dance a little closer to me
Dance a little closer now
Dance a little closer tonight
Dance a little closer to me
Cause it's closing time
And love's on sale
Tonight at this five and dime
Eddie trouble in the barroom band
'Til arthritis took his hands
Now he sells insurance on the side
And Rita's got her house to keep
Dime store novels with a love so sweet
They dance to the radio late at night
And they sing
Dance a little closer to me
Dance a little closer now
Dance a little closer tonight
Dance a little closer to me
Cause it's closing time
And love's on sale
Tonight at this five and dime
Rita was sixteen years
Hazel eyes and chestnut hair
She really made the Woolworth counter shine
And Eddie was a sweet romancer
And a darn good dancer
They waltzed the aisles of the five and dime
They waltzed the aisles of the five and dime
They waltzed the aisles of the five and dime
