The Lord of the Dance

I danced in the morning when the world was begun
I danced in the stars & the Moon & the Sun
I came down from Heaven & I danced on Earth
At Bethlehem I had my birth:
Dance then, wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said He!
(...lead you all in the Dance, said He!)

I danced for the scribe & the pharisee
They would not dance & they wouldn't follow me
I danced for Peter & for James & John
They followed me & the Dance went on:
Dance then, wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said He!
(...lead you all in the Dance, said He!)

I danced on the Sabbath & I healed the lame
The holy people said it was a shame!
They whipped me & stripped me & hung me high
And left me there on a cross to die!
Dance then, wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said He!
(...lead you all in the Dance, said He!)

I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black
It's hard to dance with the devil on your back
They buried my body & they thought I'd gone
But I am the Dance & I still go on!
Dance then, wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said He!
(...lead you all in the Dance, said He!)

They cut me down but I leap up high
I am the Life that will never never die!
I'll live in you if you'll live in Me
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!

Dance then, wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said He!

Words by Sydney Carter - 1963

LORD OF THE DANCE © 1963 Stainer & Bell Ltd. (administered by Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188).

All rights reserved. Used by permission. to May 12, 2004

Words:  Sydney Carter

Music:   Shaker melody 19th Century adapted by Sydney Carter


 

SIMPLE GIFTS

'Tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free
'Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be
And when we find we're in the place just right
We'll be in the valley of love and delight

Dance, Dance, wherever you may be.
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I'll lead you all, in the dance said he.

When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend, we shan't be ashamed.
To turn, turn, will be our delight
'Til by turning, turning, we come 'round right

Dance, Dance, wherever you may be.
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I'll lead you all, in the dance said he.

Dance, Dance, wherever you may be.
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I'll lead you all, in the dance said he.

 

words and music by Unknown



Buck was a long time resident of Valdez, Alaska

May 12, 2003