Lord of the Dance
Words by Sydney Carter, added to and adapted by unknown others © 1963, music by Jenny Peckham-Vanzant

          Am                          G
When she danced on the water and the wind was her horn,
    Am                G               E7
The Lady laughed and everything was born.
    Am                           Dm
And when she lit the sun and its light gave him birth
    Am          D               G
The Lord of the Dance first appeared on the earth.

	 Am                G            Am
	Dance, dance, wherever you may be,
	                      D           E
	I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
	  Am       G           Dm      E
	I live in you, if you live in me,
	       Am                   G         Am
	And I lead you all in the dance, said he.

I dance in the circle when the flames leap up high;
I dance in the fire and I never, ever die.
I dance in the waves of the bright summer sea,
For I am the Lord of the waves' mystery.

	Dance, dance, wherever you may be,
	I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
	I live in you, if you live in me,
	And I lead you all in the dance, said he.

I sleep in the kernel and I dance in the rain.
I dance in the wind and through the waving grain,
And when you cut me down I care nothing for the pain,
In the Spring I'm the Lord of the Dance once again.

	Dance, dance, wherever you may be,
	I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
	I live in you, if you live in me,
	And I lead you all in the dance, said he.

I dance at the Sabbat when you dance out the spell,
I dance and sing that everyone be well,
And when the dancing's over do not think that I am gone--
To live is to dance, so I dance on and on.

	Dance, dance, wherever you may be,
	I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
	I live in you, if you live in me,
	And I lead you all in the dance, said he.

The horn of the Lady cast its sound 'cross the plain,
The birds took the notes and gave them back again,
Till the sound of her music was a song in the sky,
And to that song there is one reply.

	Dance, dance, wherever you may be,
	I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
	I live in you, if you live in me,
	And I lead you all in the dance, said he.

The moon in her phases and the tides of the sea,
The movement of the earth and the seasons that will be
Are the rhythm for the dancing and a promise through the years
That the Dance goes on through our joy and tears.

	Dance, dance, wherever you may be,
	I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
	I live in you, if you live in me,
	And I lead you all in the dance, said he.

They danced in the darkness and they danced in the night,
They danced on the earth and everything was light.
They danced out the darkness and they danced in the dawn
And the day of that dancing still goes on.

	Dance, dance, wherever you may be,
	I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
	I live in you, if you live in me,
	And I lead you all in the dance, said he.

I gaze on the heavens and I gaze on the earth,
And I feel the pain of dying and rebirth,
And I lift my head in gladness and in praise for the day
Of the Dance of the Lord and the Lady gay.

	Dance, dance, wherever you may be,
	I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
	I live in you, if you live in me,
	And I lead you all in the dance, said he.



From The Westerfilk Collection, Volume II, pages 122-123
From https://www.mcgath.com/lotd.html
From https://stainer.co.uk/lord-of-the-dance/
Tagged: wicca, pagan, hymn, dancing

May also be sung to "Simple Gifts."

This song has existed as a Christian hymn, sung to "Simple Gifts," for many years.  The current version was apparently created a verse at a time by many people, and has no definite authors.  The current music, an Appalachian shape-note hymn, was introduced by Jenny Peckham-Vanzant and immediately became the preferred tune.