S 60

Lord of the Dance

Words by Sydney Carter

1. I danced in the morning when the world was begun

Em G A
I danced in the Moon and the Stars and the Sun

I came down from Heaven and I danced on Earth

A D

At Bethlehem I had my birth:

Refrain: Dance, dance wherever you may be

A
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!

D G D
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be

A D G D
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said He!

2. I danced for the scribe and the pharisee
But they would not dance and they wouldn't follow me
I danced for fishermen, for James and John
They came with me and the Dance went on:

3. I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame
The holy people said it was a shame!
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me high
And they left me there on a cross to die!

4. 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 and they thought I'd gone
But I am the Dance and I still go on!

5. 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!

ARTIST: Aidan Kelley and Ann Cass

TITLE: Lord of the Dance

Lyrics and Chords

[Original Lord of the Dance by Sydney Carter; tune (when it's not "Simple Gifts") is credited to Jenny Peckham-Vanzant. Words also sometimes credited to C. Taliesin Edwards, which may be an alias for Ann Cass.]

When she laughed on the water and the wind was her horn

The lady laughed and everything was born

When she lit the sun and the light gave him birth

The Lord of the Dance first appeared on the earth

/ C - / G - / C - / G FC /

{Refrain}

Dance, dance wherever you may be

I am the Lord of the Dance said he

I live in you, you live in me

I lead you all in the dance said he

/ C - / - G / C - / G FC /

I danced in the morning when the world was begun

I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun

I was called from the darkness by the song of the earth

I joined in the singing and she gave me birth

{Refrain}

I sleep in the kernel and I dance in the rain

I dance in the wind and through the waving grain

When you cut me down I care nothing for the pain

In the spring I'm Lord of the Dance once again

I dance at the circle when the flames leap up high

I dance in the fire and I never never die

I dance in the waves of the bright summer sea

I am the lord of the waves' mystery

{Refrain}

I dance at the sabbath when you dance out the spell

I dance and sing that everyone be well

When the dancing's over do not think that I am gone

To live is to dance, so I dance on and on

The moon in her phases and the tides of the sea

The movement of the Earth and the seasons that will be

Are the rhythm of the dancing and a promise through the years

That the dance goes on through our joy and tears

{Refrain}

The horn of the Lady cast its sound 'cross the plain

The birds took the notes and gave them back again

'Til the sound of her music was a song in the sky

To that song there is but one reply

They danced in the darkness and they danced in the night

They danced on earth and everything was light

They danced out the darkness and they danced in the dawn

And the day of the dancing still goes on

{Refrain}

I see the maidens laughing as they dance in the sun

And I count the fruits of the harvest one by one

I know the storm is coming but the grain's all stored

So I dance the dance of the Lady and her Lord

We dance ever slower as the leaves fall and spin

And the sound of the horn is the wailing of the wind

The Earth is wrapped in stillness and we move in a trance

But we hold on fast to our faith in the dance

{Refrain}

The sun is in the southland and the days grow chill

The sound of the horn is fading on the hill

The horn of the Hunter as he rides 'cross the plain

And the Lady sleeps 'til the spring comes again

The sun is in the southland and the days lengthen fast

And soon we will sing for the winter that is past

Now we light the candles and rejoice as they burn

And we dance the dance of the sun's return

{Refrain}

I gaze on the heavens and I gaze on the Earth

I feel the pain of dying and rebirth

I lift my head in gladness and praise for the day

Of the dance of the Lord and the Lady gay

{Refrain}