I would my true love did so chance
To see the legend of my play,
To call my true love to my dance;
To see the legend of my play,
To call my true love to my dance;
Sing, oh! my love, oh! my love, my love, my love,
This have I done for my true love
Then was I born of a virgin pure,
Of her I took fleshly substance
Thus was I knit to man's nature
To call my true love to my dance.
In a manger laid, and wrapped I was
Of her I took fleshly substance
Thus was I knit to man's nature
To call my true love to my dance.
In a manger laid, and wrapped I was
So very
poor, this was my chance
Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass
To call my true love to my dance.
Other verses go as follows
Then afterwards baptized I was;
Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass
To call my true love to my dance.
Other verses go as follows
Then afterwards baptized I was;
The Holy
Ghost on me did glance,
My Father’s voice heard from above,
To call my true love to my dance.
Into the desert I was led,
My Father’s voice heard from above,
To call my true love to my dance.
Into the desert I was led,
Where I fasted
without substance;
The Devil bade me make stones my bread,
To have me break my true love's dance.
The Jews on me they made great suit,
The Devil bade me make stones my bread,
To have me break my true love's dance.
The Jews on me they made great suit,
And
with me made great variance,
Because they loved darkness rather than light,
To call my true love to my dance.
For thirty pence Judas me sold,
Because they loved darkness rather than light,
To call my true love to my dance.
For thirty pence Judas me sold,
His
covetousness for to advance:
Mark whom I kiss, the same do hold!
The same is he shall lead the dance.
Before Pilate the Jews me brought,
Mark whom I kiss, the same do hold!
The same is he shall lead the dance.
Before Pilate the Jews me brought,
Where
Barabbas had deliverance;
They scourged me and set me at nought,
Judged me to die to lead the dance.
Then on the cross hanged I was,
They scourged me and set me at nought,
Judged me to die to lead the dance.
Then on the cross hanged I was,
Where a spear my heart did glance;
There issued forth both water and blood,
To call my true love to my dance.
There issued forth both water and blood,
To call my true love to my dance.
Then down to hell I took my way
For my true love's deliverance,
And rose again on the third day,
Up to my true love and the dance.
For my true love's deliverance,
And rose again on the third day,
Up to my true love and the dance.
Then up to heaven I did ascend,
Where now I dwell in sure substance
On the right hand of God, that man
May come unto the general dance.
Where now I dwell in sure substance
On the right hand of God, that man
May come unto the general dance.
I know the first part from the Maddy Prior and the Carnival band album Carols and capers. The traditional song goes back to Mediaeval times and is said to be the root of the modern song Lord of the dance.
