🎶 What if I had been born fifty years before you / In a house on the street where you lived / Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike. Would I know? / And in a wide sea of eyes / I see one pair that I recognize / And I know / That I am… I am… I am… the luckiest. 🎵
OMG. Cue the waterworks!
I have loved the first dance song, “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds for a really long time and used to dream of my future boyfriend putting it on a mixed cd for me.
(Am I showing my age?)
I've only had two couples dance to this song — so it’s definitely not over-done! — and Emilee and Greg, pictured below looking absolutely fabulous, were one of those couples.
First Dance Charlotte students, Emilee & Greg. Photo credit: Critsey Rowe Photography
The Pros
The major pro of choosing The Luckiest by Ben Folds as your first dance song are the LYRICS. It’s a really sweet, sentimental song that will not only make you feel loving toward your spouse, but may also result in waterworks from your parents (definitely) and all of your friends (at least the bridesmaids). Dancing-wise, the original version from Ben Folds’ Rockin’ The Suburbs album is not as easy to dance to as the version from the About Time movie soundtrack, which has a nice percussion beat that comes in during the second verse.
The Cons
The major con of this song is once again, the lyrics. Some people may find the last verse of the song a little too morose for their wedding because it talks about an old couple who dies within days of each other. The sentiment is really sweet though and I think the sadness can be covered with an intimate dancing moment. I think the version from About Time with the jaunty backing track tempers the sadness of this song. You could also just dance until right after the bridge finishes (“I love you more than I have ever found the way to say to you…”) and before the last verse starts, especially if you don’t want to dance for 4+ minutes.
The Recommendation
I would definitely recommend dancing to The Luckiest by Ben Folds for your first dance song (check out my beginner-friendly wedding dance tutorial to The Luckiest), with a few caveats. I would choose the version from the About Time movie soundtrack, especially for beginners who have a hard time hearing the beat of the music and who would likely struggle with the original version. Or simply sign up for my online tutorial to The Luckiest and I’ll walk you through it step by step!
I also might suggest that you only dance through the bridge, unless you are taking lessons and/or doing choreography. Four minutes of swaying back and forth in place is not very interesting to watch.
First Dance Charlotte students, Emilee & Greg. Photo credit: Critsey Rowe Photography
If you’d like to learn how to dance to this song, fill out my Get Started form. Sign up for private lessons or for my custom choreography course and online wedding dance lessons for beginners program.
Also, head over to my YouTube Channel to watch a video of Emilee and Greg’s first dance to this song and be sure to subscribe to receive notification of new videos.
The Lyrics
I don't get many things right the first time,
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns the stumbles,
And falls brought me here
And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face,
Now I see it every day
And I know
That I am, I am, I am, the luckiest
What if I had been born fifty years before you
In a house on the street
Where you lived
Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike. Would I know?
And in a wide sea of eyes
I see one pair that I recognize
And I know
That I am, I am, I am, the luckiest
I love you more then have
Ever found the way to say
To you
Next door there's an old man who lived to his nineties and one day
Passed away in his sleep,
And his wife, she stayed for a couple of days, and passed away
I'm sorry I know that's a strange way to tell you that I know we belong,
And I know
That I am, I am, I am, the luckiest
