Interestingly, every year when I am on the air on Easter (and I am not Christian) I always start with the Addis/Crofut melding of Simple Gifts into Lord of The Dance.

I have always loved those pieces and as far as L/D is concerned I always felt it a wonderful melody with the usual poetic license to announce that the protagonist (i.e. Jesus/Christ) is a leader who will always return to show us the right path into a happy world.   I I don't believe that the words should be taken that literally.

A member of the station staff has mentioned to me a number of times how much he loves Smple Gifts and finds L/D offensive.

Joe Offer: As to From A Distance I don't know what would be offensive about that---or make one uncomfortable--unless the belief in a god makes one so.   Julie Gold, the writer, is alive and well and in this case one can go to her website and contact her for any enlightment.   

I recall a number of years back she supplied me with the song as done by artists from all over the world and I was able to put together a 15 minute sequence in so many languages on the radio show---TRADITIONS/WFDU

Another interesting tale is how the song became such a hit for Julie Gold's songwriting.

Bill Hahn