IRISH SONGS – IN HONOUR OF ST. PATRICK’S DAY
4. LORD OF THE DANCE – 1963 – Gospel
A Traditional Shaker hymn “Simple Gifts”, words added by Sydney Carter, 1963. Carter was an English poet, song writer and folk musician who wrote many folk songs, carols and gospel songs. During WWII he served as a volunteer in the Friend’s Ambulance Service in Egypt, Palestine and Greece, and was a self-described pacifist.
Regarding Lord of the Dance, Carter wrote that he was using the metaphors of dancing and playing music, ie. playing a flute or pipe, to represent the life and times of Jesus.
Due to it’s musical allusion to flute playing, it has long been associated with traditional Irish music.
Lord of the Dance An excellent adaptation made available by the Bytown Uke Group – BUG, based in Ottawa.