Today’s song of the day is the award-winning Dirty Dancing theme “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”, a song by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes.

Fun Facts

• The song was written specifically for Dirty Dancing after producer Jimmy Ienner asked songwriter Franke Previte for lyrics.
• Previte also wrote “Hungry Eyes,” which was featured in the movie.
• The song won a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Pop Duo and an Academy Award, and Golden Globe for Best Original Song.
• Medley and Warnes’ version wasn’t recorded until filming was over, so Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey danced to a barebones demo version performed by Previte and singer Rachele Cappelli.
• It was written for Donna Summer, but she turned it down.
• Bill Medley initially turned it down because his daughter was about to be born. After her birth, Medley agreed because Warnes insisted on performing with him.
• Medley came to fame as one half of the 1960s blue-eyed-soul vocal duo The Righteous Brothers.
• Warnes has also won Grammys for “It Goes Like It Goes” and “Up Where We Belong.”
• To capture the emotion of Dirty Dancing‘s finale, Warnes recorded her part while watching the scene.

Lyrics

(Musixmatch)

Now I’ve had the time of my life

No, I never felt like this before

Yes I swear, it’s the truth

And I owe it all to you

‘Cause I’ve had the time of my life

And I owe it all to you

I’ve been waiting for so long

Now I’ve finally found someone

To stand by me

We saw the writing on the wall

As we felt this magical fantasy

Now with passion in our eyes

There’s no way we could disguise it secretly

So we take each other’s hand

‘Cause we seem to understand

The urgency

Just remember

You’re the one thing

I can’t get enough of

So I’ll tell you something

This could be love because

I’ve had the time of my life

No, I never felt this way before

Yes, I swear, it’s the truth

And I owe it all to you

Hey, baby

With my body and soul

I want you more than you’ll ever know

So we’ll just let it go

Don’t be afraid to lose control, no

Yes, I know what’s on your mind

When you say, “Stay with me tonight” (stay with me)

Just remember

You’re the one thing

I can’t get enough of

So I’ll tell you something

This could be love because

I’ve had the time of my life

No, I never felt this way before

Yes, I swear, it’s the truth

And I owe it all to you

‘Cause I’ve had the time of my life

And I’ve searched through every open door

‘Til I found the truth

And I owe it all to you

Now I’ve had the time of my life

No, I never felt this way before

Yes, I swear, it’s the truth

And I owe it all to you

I’ve had the time of my life

No, I never felt this way before

Yes, I swear, it’s the truth

And I owe it all to you

‘Cause I’ve had the time of my life (the time of my life)

And I’ve searched through every open door

‘Til I found the truth

And I owe it all to you