The song you’re looking for is “Could I Have This Dance” by Anne Murray , often misremembered as “Can I Have This Dance.”

Song basics

  • Title: Could I Have This Dance
  • Artist: Anne Murray (Canadian country/pop singer)
  • Release: 1980, originally tied to the film Urban Cowboy and included on the Urban Cowboy soundtrack and Anne Murray’s Greatest Hits.
  • Writers: Wayland Holyfield and Bob House.

Popularity and impact

  • The song became Anne Murray’s fifth number one country hit in the U.S., spending ten weeks on the country chart and reaching number one for one week.
  • It also crossed over to pop, becoming her tenth Top 40 pop single and peaking at number 33 on the U.S. pop chart.
  • It is widely used as a wedding and anniversary dance song because of its slow waltz feel and romantic, lifelong‑commitment theme.

Awards and recognition

  • Anne Murray won the Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female for “Could I Have This Dance” at the 23rd Annual Grammy Awards.
  • The song is often cited as one of the most enduring hits associated with the Urban Cowboy era and remains a staple classic country ballad.

Style and feel

  • Musically, it is a gentle country waltz with prominent steel guitar and a warm, smooth vocal delivery that gives it a timeless, romantic feel.
  • Lyrically, it centers on asking a partner to share a “dance for the rest of my life,” which is why it resonates so strongly as a first‑dance wedding song.

If you’d like, a follow‑up can cover things like guitar chords, cover versions, or how the song is discussed on forums and reaction channels.