ARTIST: Aidan Kelley and Ann Cass
TITLE: Lord of the Dance
Lyrics and Chords


[Original Lord of the Dance by Sydney Carter; tune (when it's not "Simple Gifts") is credited to Jenny Peckham-Vanzant. Words also sometimes credited to C. Taliesin Edwards, which may be an alias for Ann Cass.]


When she laughed on the water and the wind was her horn
The lady laughed and everything was born
When she lit the sun and the light gave him birth
The Lord of the Dance first appeared on the earth

/ C - / G - / C - / G FC /

{Refrain}
Dance, dance wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance said he
I live in you, you live in me
I lead you all in the dance said he

/ C - / - G / C - / G FC /

I danced in the morning when the world was begun
I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun
I was called from the darkness by the song of the earth
I joined in the singing and she gave me birth

{Refrain}

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

I dance at the circle when the flames leap up high
I dance in the fire and I never never die
I dance in the waves of the bright summer sea
I am the lord of the waves' mystery

{Refrain}

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

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 of the dancing and a promise through the years 
That the dance goes on through our joy and tears

{Refrain}

The horn of the Lady cast its sound 'cross the plain
The birds took the notes and gave them back again
'Til the sound of her music was a song in the sky
To that song there is but one reply

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

{Refrain}

I see the maidens laughing as they dance in the sun
And I count the fruits of the harvest one by one
I know the storm is coming but the grain's all stored
So I dance the dance of the Lady and her Lord

We dance ever slower as the leaves fall and spin
And the sound of the horn is the wailing of the wind
The Earth is wrapped in stillness and we move in a trance
But we hold on fast to our faith in the dance

{Refrain}

The sun is in the southland and the days grow chill
The sound of the horn is fading on the hill
The horn of the Hunter as he rides 'cross the plain
And the Lady sleeps 'til the spring comes again

The sun is in the southland and the days lengthen fast
And soon we will sing for the winter that is past
Now we light the candles and rejoice as they burn
And we dance the dance of the sun's return

{Refrain}

I gaze on the heavens and I gaze on the Earth
I feel the pain of dying and rebirth
I lift my head in gladness and praise for the day
Of the dance of the Lord and the Lady gay

{Refrain}

Click here to submit corrections.

How to read these chord charts

Go back to the Table of Contents

Go back to the Index

Go back to my main page