Lyr Req: SOURCE of Carter's Lord of Dance ly

Subject: SOURCE of Carter's Lord of Dance lyrics
From: GUEST,Allister
Date: 21 May 01 - 08:02 PM

Hello--I read a book about an ancient scroll found near where the Dead Sea scrolls were found, a few years later. In it appears a quote from a "book" (scroll) thought to be written by the brother of Jesus, named James. The quotation is a kind of poem wherein Jesus is standing within a circlew of his followers. He SINGS about a dance and how he cannot be contained but will dance on. I was stunned since that so resembles Sydney Carter's lyrics. Does ANYBODY know what Carter's source might have been, or know whom I might contact to find out? Please help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: SOURCE of Carter's Lord of Dance ly
From: Burke
Date: 21 May 01 - 08:25 PM

The official word on LotD is can be found if you Click here If you enter Lord of the Dance in the filter box, set for 3 years & refesh you'll find several previous threads.

I'm not sure about Jesus the dancer in the apocryphal gospels or what you mean by source. Lord of the Dance is part of an old carol tradition & not a new idea from Carter. See My Dancing Day in the database as a much older carol on this theme.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: SOURCE of Carter's Lord of Dance ly
From: GUEST,dbranno in oz
Date: 22 May 01 - 01:11 AM

i had the great good fortune to meet sydney carter in 1972 in australia, and to talk and sing and dance with him. he was more interested in doing it than talking about it! "shake and shiver in the light my love,share that light with me" althogh carter was the product of a high anglican upbringing,he struck me as akind of passionate pagan!i've also read the apocrypha,where christ dances alone in a circle of the 12 apostles,and describes them as the "rulers of the aeons",enumerates some of the 12s,tribes of israel etc etc and says clearly that the lord alone is free in the centre of all things. all good stuff, obviously not for inclusion in the banal canon of conventional christianity. there's a song by bob and carol pegg on mr. fox 'the gypsy' called the dancing song, to the tune of an english easter carol called 'tomorrow shall be my dancing day'which will also interest you. all the best, keep singing keep dancing keep on truckin'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: SOURCE of Carter's Lord of Dance ly
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 May 01 - 02:47 AM

I kind of cringe to hear the word "banal" used to describe the writings of the New Testament. I've seen banal interpretations of the New Testament, but the writings themselves are quite rich and colorful, and full of meaning for many people. The books of the Canon reflected the prevailing theology, so they were what were selected. Certainly, they're very familiar, and that may make the apocryphal scriptures seem more exciting and colorful. I enjoy reading the stories of the apocryphal scriptures and I've learned much from them, but I think I prefer the accepted theology of the canon. You may consider it "banal," but remember that many consider it sacred.
I do believe there was a story in the apocrypal scriptures that's related to the song. I don't have my copy of the "other scriptures" here, so I can't look it up.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: SOURCE of Carter's Lord of Dance ly
From: IanC
Date: 22 May 01 - 04:08 AM

I've never seen anything in the Apocrypha or pseudo-Apocrypha which refers. However, it might be in Thomas. This was not available in Mediaeval times, though.

There is, however, a tradition of lots of different metaphors for Jesus (dancing, apple trees, wounded knights) which sprung up within the Northern European mediaeval mystical tradition. I don't think you really need to look much further, aspecially considering that carols were originally dances anyway.

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: SOURCE of Carter's Lord of Dance ly
From: GUEST,dbranno
Date: 24 May 01 - 11:43 AM

Whoops! Sorry to upset your wee apple cart boys, with my remarks on so called apocrypha etc.The book in question is in fact the Acts of St.John, which I encountered in an Indian publication from Advaita press,some years ago. And yes, to me it seems obvious why the Nicene crew didn't want such matter (like THomas also) to be part of their new world order. Too dangerous! People might think for themselves, and 'heretics'like the gnostics were already being slaughtered by the 4th century.Too often we see the image of Jesus, but hear only the words of Paul.And Jesus was a man wasn't he? And didn't his most venomous opposition come from the conservative establishment? The great attraction of the song Lord of the Dance is that it demystifies, it gives us a glimpse of the human being,not the crucified god.And one may say without irreverence that Jesus wasn't a christian, any more than say the Buddha wasn't a buddhist.Still, it's an old debate,eh?been going on since Aquinas was a boy.Enjoy this life.Slainte.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: SOURCE of Carter's Lord of Dance ly
From: Shirl
Date: 26 May 01 - 03:31 PM

Thank you AAA for glimpses of how to become more educated.