I Danced in the Morning (Lord of the Dance)

Sydney Carter (1915-2004)

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.

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

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 on high,
And they left me there on a cross to die.
Chorus

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.
Chorus

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.
Chorus

© Copyright 1989 Stainer & Bell Ltd

This text may be used at a funeral service without charge, provided that the author and copyright holder are acknowledged as above. For all other uses, either local or commercial, prior permission must be requested from the copyright holder.

Please contact Stainer & Bell Ltd, 23 Gruneisen Road, London N3 1LS, www.stainer.co.uk, email [email protected]

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