Lord of the Dance (hymn): Difference between revisions

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"Lord of the Dance" is a hymn with words written by English songwriter Sydney Carter in 1967.^[1] He adapted the tune from the American Shaker song "Simple Gifts". The hymn is widely performed in English-speaking congregations and assemblies.^[2]

It follows the idea of a traditional English carol, "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day" which tells the gospel story in the first person voice of Jesus of Nazareth and originates the device of portraying Jesus' life and mission as a dance.^{[citation needed]} Carter's lyrics show a liveliness and wry humour in his adaptation of the theme which is not present in "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day".^{[citation needed]}

Author's Perspective

In writing the lyrics to "Lord Of The Dance" in 1963, Sydney Carter was inspired partly by Jesus, but also partly by a statue of Shiva as Nataraja, and was partly intending simply to give tribute to Shaker music. He later stated, "I did not think the churches would like it at all. I thought many people would find it pretty far flown, probably heretical and anyway dubiously Christian. But in fact people did sing it and, unknown to me, it touched a chord ... Anyway, it's the sort of Christianity I believe in." "I see Christ as the incarnation of the piper who is calling us. He dances that shape and pattern which is at the heart of our reality. By Christ I mean not only Jesus; in other times and places, other planets, there may be other Lords of the Dance. But Jesus is the one I know of first and best. I sing of the dancing pattern in the life and words of Jesus. Whether Jesus ever leaped in Galilee to the rhythm of a pipe or drum I do not know. We are told that David danced (and as an act of worship too), so it is not impossible. The fact that many Christians have regarded dancing as a bit ungodly (in a church, at any rate) does not mean that Jesus did. The Shakers didn't... --Sydney Carter's Green Print for the song (1974)

References

^ Elizabeth M. Knowles, The Oxford dictionary of quotations
^ Trevor Beeson (2008), "A song and a dance", Round the Church in fifty years, p. 83, ISBN 978-0-334-04148-1

External links

Stainer & Bell, copyright holders for "Lord of the Dance" hymn.
"Lord of the Dance" and "Simple Gifts"
Words to "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day"

[1] Elizabeth M. Knowles, The Oxford dictionary of quotations

[2] Trevor Beeson (2008), "A song and a dance", Round the Church in fifty years, p. 83, ISBN 978-0-334-04148-1

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 It follows the idea of a traditional English [[Carol (music)|carol]], "[[Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day]]" which tells the gospel story in the [[First-person narrative|first person]] voice of Jesus of Nazareth and originates the device of portraying Jesus' life and mission as a dance.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}   Carter's lyrics show a liveliness and wry humour in his adaptation of the theme which is not present in "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day".{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}
+==Author's Perspective==
+In writing the lyrics to "Lord Of The Dance" in 1963, Sydney Carter was inspired partly by Jesus, but also partly by a statue of Shiva as Nataraja, and was partly intending simply to give tribute to Shaker music. He later stated, "I did not think the churches would like it at all. I thought many people would find it pretty far flown, probably heretical and anyway dubiously Christian. But in fact people did sing it and, unknown to me, it touched a chord ... Anyway, it's the sort of Christianity I believe in."
+"I see Christ as the incarnation of the piper who is calling us. He dances that shape and pattern which is at the heart of our reality. By Christ I mean not only Jesus; in other times and places, other planets, there may be other Lords of the Dance. But Jesus is the one I know of first and best. I sing of the dancing pattern in the life and words of Jesus. Whether Jesus ever leaped in Galilee to the rhythm of a pipe or drum I do not know. We are told that David danced (and as an act of worship too), so it is not impossible. The fact that many Christians have regarded dancing as a bit ungodly (in a church, at any rate) does not mean that Jesus did. The Shakers didn't... --Sydney Carter's Green Print for the song (1974)
 ==See also==