I Danced In the Morning

words by Sydney Carter
American Shaker Melody

Verse 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 heal you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said He.

Verse 2:
I danced on 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

Verse 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

Verse 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

Verse 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