“It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back…”
My grandmother loved poetry. The fervor and intensity she demonstrated when reciting her best-loved pieces remains unmatched by anyone that I have ever known.
Per her request, the below was read at her funeral. It was one of her favorites. I would give anything to hear her recite it to me now.
“Lord of the Dance” words by Sydney Carter
I danced in the morning when the world was young
I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun
I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth
At Bethlehem I had my birth
Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the lord of the dance, said he
And I lead you all, wherever you may be
And I lead you all in the dance, said he
I danced for the scribes and the Pharisees
They wouldn’t dance, they wouldn’t follow me
I danced for the fishermen James and John
They came with me so the dance went on
Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the lord of the dance, said he
And I lead you all, wherever you may be
And I lead you all in the dance, said he
I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame
The holy people said it was a shame
They ripped, they stripped, they hung me high
Left me there on the cross to die
Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the lord of the dance, said he
And I lead you all, wherever you may be
And I lead you all in the dance, said he
I danced on a Friday when the world turned black
It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back
They buried my body, they thought I was gone
But I am the dance, and the dance goes on
Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the lord of the dance, said he
And I lead you all, wherever you may be
And I lead you all in the dance, said he
They cut me down and I leapt 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
Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the lord of the dance, said he
And I lead you all, wherever you may be
And I lead you all in the dance, said he
(photos by Dese’Rae Stage)
Tags: lord of the dance, maine, mavis elinore walker, monmouth, sydney carter
August 7th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
This is actually an old Shaker tune. I made a 2 hour film about it for PBS about 3 years ago!!!!!!
August 7th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Also, there is an accompanying poem by Susan Cooper called “The Shortest Day”
August 8th, 2009 at 2:03 am
Dave! I’ve obviously so interested.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Hello from Russia)
June 16th, 2010 at 8:46 am
Dave, are the words, it’s hard to dance with the devil on your back go back before 1923?I want to use it as epigraph in my upcoming novel and would love to avoid the permissions game. (I usually find quote from the BIble that work well.)