The Presbyterian Hymnal: Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Songs

302

I Danced in the Morning

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 and I cured the lame;
    The holy people said it was a shame.
    They whipped and they stripped and they hung Me high,
    And left Me there on a cross to die.
    (Refrain)

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.
    (Refrain)

5.  They cut Me down and I leap up high;
    I am the life that will 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: Sydney Carter, 1963
MUSIC: American Shaker melody Harm. Sydney Carter, 1963
Theme: Jesus Christ