I danced in the morning

I danced in the morning

I danced in the morning when the world was young,
I danced in the morning when the world was weary,
I danced in the morning when the skies turned gold,
I danced in the morning when the skies turned black;

I danced in the morning when the rivers flowed,
I danced in the morning when the rivers froze,
I danced in the morning when you were born,
I danced in the morning when they told me you had died; 

I shall dance in the morning when the sun is high,
I shall dance in the morning when the moon is high,
I shall dance in the morning when the world is young,
I shall dance in the morning when the world is done.

Copyright ©  2007, Kathryn Esplin-Oleski

Sidney Carter  (1915 – 2004) wrote new words in 1963 to an old Shaker melody, Simple Gifts, which has become Lord of the Dance a very popular hymn. You probably know the song and the tune.

Here are the first and last verses of Carter’s Lord of the Dance:

"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

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 "

Listen here for a beautiful harp recording

Click on  I danced in the morning. Mp3

And here are the words to Simple Gifts.


'Tis the gift to be simple,
'Tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
It will be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained,
to bow and to bend, we will not be ashamed
To turn, turn, will be our delight,
'Til by turning, turning, we come round right.