I danced in the morning
when the world was begun,
And I danced in the moon
and the stars and the sun,
And I came down from heaven
and I danced on the earth,
At Bethlehem I had my birth.

Refrain:

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.

I danced for the scribes and the Pharisee,
But they would not dance
and they would not follow me;
I danced for the fishermen,
for James and John;
They came to me and the dance went on.

Refrain

I danced on the Sabbath
and I danced on the feasts,
I danced for the people and the Levites
and the priests.
I cured the lame and the blind man’s eye,
And I danced alone to the cross to die.

Refrain

I danced on a Friday
and the sky turned black;
It’s hard to dance with the devil
on your back; They buried my body
and they thought I’d gone,
But I am the dance and I still go on.

Refrain

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.

Refrain

Words written by English songwriter Sydney Carter
in 1967, who adapted the tune from the famous American Shaker dance song "Simple Gifts."

Information on the Shakers

Image Ownership Details
Next Prayer
Prayer Index
Website Home

Contact - Comment - Question? - dbm@nowstar.net