Lord of the Dance
Lyrics: usually attributed as traditional, tune traditional. Tune source: the Westerfilk Collection
Albums that include this song:
- Dance in the Light released 1996 by Anne Prather, CD released 2010 Star Rose Arts
- This song is usually sung to the tune of "Simple Gifts". However, when I saw the Westerfilk tune, I immediately fell in love with it, because it has a much greater "dance" feeling to it.
I danced in the morning when the world was begun
I danced with the moon and the stars and the sun.
I came down from Heaven and I danced on the Earth
At Bethlehem I had my birth.
"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,
I'll lead you all in the dance," said He.
I danced for the scribes and the Pharisees
But they would not dance and they would not follow Me
I danced for the fishermen for James and John
And they followed me and the dance went on.
"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,
I'll lead you all in the dance," said He.
I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame
The holy people said it was a shame
They whipped and they stripped and the hung Me high
And left Me there on a cross to die.
"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,
I'll 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 and they thought I'd gone
But I am the dance and I still go on.
"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,
I'll lead you all in the dance," said He.
They cut me down and I leapt up high
I am the life that will never, never die.
I'll live in you if you'll live in me
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,
I'll lead you all in the dance," said He.