LORD OF THE DANCE

William Blake
Oberon, Titania and Puck with Fairies Dancing
From Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream

Worship in Song : A Friends Hymnal which has provided the songs which we had been singing before Meeting for Worship contains a variety of songs including several contemporary hymns, of which Lord of the Dance is one. It was written by Sydney Carter in 1963 to music he adapted from a 19th century Shaker tune. 

From the section of the hymnal called A Short History of Hymns we read that "Carter is a member of the Church of England who served in the Friends Ambulance Corps during World War II and has maintained an interest in Quakers, sometimes attending Friends meetings."

Listen to a version by the Dubliners and look for references to the life of Jesus in the words below.

"I danced in the morning when the world was begun
I danced in the Moon & the Stars & 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
But they would not dance & they wouldn't follow me
I danced for fishermen, for James & John
They came with 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 cured the lame
The holy people said it was a shame!
They whipped & they stripped & they hung me high
And they 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 and I leapt up high
I am the Life that'll 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 highlighted in yellow are links to more info.