Lord of the Dance
GodTube Staff
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:
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 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:
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 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, 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.
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.
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.
“Lord of the Dance” was written in 1963 by English songwriter Sydney Carter. He set the lyrics to the Shaker tune “Simple Gifts,” a melody he admired for its plain beauty and spiritual strength. Carter was also influenced by the image of dancing as a symbol of divine life and movement, even reflecting at times on artistic depictions such as Shiva in a dancing pose. Yet his stated aim was to portray Christ as the One who stands at the center of history, calling humanity to follow Him. Though he suspected churches might resist the song’s imagery, it quickly found a place in congregational singing.
Carter described Jesus as the “piper” who calls us into the true pattern of life. The hymn traces the story of Christ from birth to crucifixion and resurrection, presenting Him as the Lord who leads the dance of creation, redemption, and new life. While Scripture does not record Jesus dancing, it does speak of David dancing before the Lord, and Carter used that biblical freedom to frame Christ’s ministry as active, joyful, and life-giving. The refrain, “Dance, then, wherever you may be,” invites listeners to respond to Christ’s call, even through suffering and rejection.
The melody itself comes from the 19th-century Shaker community, a group known for simple living and worship that sometimes included dance as an expression of devotion. By pairing his text with their tune, Carter paid tribute to that heritage while giving it new Christ-centered meaning. Over time, “Lord of the Dance” has been sung across denominations, often appreciated for its memorable music and sweeping view of Jesus’ life. Its enduring appeal rests in its central claim: that Christ is alive, victorious over death, and still calling people to follow Him into the rhythm of redeemed life.
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