Axman - at the risk of boring you with a song you already know, I've always loved this version of "Lord of the Dance", which I first heard as a child at Mass on Good Fridays. Found the lyrics in the Digitrad, and it's sung to the tune of "Simple Gifts".

Lord Of The Dance

as recorded by The Dubliners on their 20 Greatest Hitsalbum

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.

Chorus
Dance, dance, where ever 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 these tribes of the farer seas.
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.

I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame,
The holy people said it was a shame,
They tricked, they stripped, they hung me high,
Left me there on the cross to die.

I danced on the 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.

They cut me down and I lept up high,
I am the life that will never never die,
I live in you if you live in me,
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.


The way I learned it, the second verse started with "I danced for the scribes and the Pharisees" instead of "I danced for these tribes of the farer seas". Other than that, the words are identical to the Catholic version.

Good luck with your service!

daylia