Today , we talk about two activities that many people find really fun and one that makes them happy -- singing and dancing ! So , why is the expression “same old song and dance ” not at all related to fun or happiness ? That is the question we will answer today . The “same old song and dance ” may sound like a great performance , something that you want to see over and over again . But it is not . Here , the “song and dance ” is a repeated , tired , even predictable reaction to something . It is something we do or say over and over again for different reasons . One online reference guide claims that Americans first began using this expression in the late 1800s . Around that time , vaudeville was a popular form of show business in the United States . In a vaudeville show , performers sang , danced and acted in short , funny skits . Some shows even had animal acts . But it often was the same song and dance night after night . And that is where we get the expression “same old song and dance .” Americans use this term in different situations and in each one , there is a slight change in meaning . Here are some ways we use this expression . Sometimes “the same old song and dance ” can be an overused , weak excuse . It is something we say to others to explain bad behavior . But people have heard it so often that they do not believe it , nor do they care . Listen for this expression in the following example involving two people in a work-place environment . Now , sometimes the “same old song and dance ” is used to mean someone is trying to trick you . Or , at least , they are only telling you part of the whole story . For example , at every meeting , a business owner gives her employees the same old song and dance about the company's great plans for the future . But then … nothing happens . Sometimes the same old song and dance does not mean an excuse or a trick . Sometimes it is just a very long and complex story . Used this way , the speaker often wants to justify something . They want to convince the listener that their idea is a good one . But in this case , the listener does not really want or need to hear it . Listen now to how the term “song and dance ” is used to mean a very long , complex explanation . At other times , “the same old song and dance ” can mean a complex system which involves many steps , like a ritual or ceremony . For example , let's say your friend works for a terrible boss . Every time your friend wants to start a new project , he is required to explain the same steps over and over again . Have fun using the expression “the same old song and dance ” or simply “song and dance .”