Author: Sydney Bertram Carter (1915-2004) Meter: Irregular with refrain Appears in 52 hymnals Scripture: John 5:1-18 First Line: I danced in the morning when the world was begun Refrain First Line: Dance, then, wherever you may be Lyrics: 1 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.
2 I danced for the scribe
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 with me
and the Dance went on. [Refrain]
3 I danced on the Sabbath
when 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. [Refrain]
4 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]
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. [Refrain] Topics: Christ Incarnate Passion and Death; Christ Incarnate Public Ministry; Dance; Jesus Life and Ministry Used With Tune: LORD OF THE DANCE
Lord of the Dance