St Margaret's Church Prestwich

This is an ancient carol, probably dating from the late medieval period, and based on a mystery play. It tells the story of Jesus’ life from his own perspective, from the annunciation of Mary to the manger, his baptism by his cousin John, his forty days in the wilderness, betrayal by Judas Iscariot, trial, death and resurrection. Throughout the carol, Jesus refers to his life as a dance – similarly in the hymn Lord of the Dance – and we, the people of his church are his true love.

Many composers have written settings for the text, including Holst, Gardner, Stravinsky, John Rutter and David Willcocks. It is the Gardner version that I first learned with Jeremy Plummer when he was MD of St Margaret’s Church Choir. It’s a complex dance rhythm with percussion written for an SATB choir, although it is the Willcocks version that is included in the choral staple, “100 Carols for Choirs” making it a popular choice for church choirs up and down the country at this time of year. Our current choir comprises only upper voices (soprano and alto), so I was delighted to find such an arrangement recently, and that is what you may hear in our services this Christmas.

The full lyrics are:

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day;
I would my true love did so chance
To see the legend of my play,
To call my true love to my dance;

Chorus (sung after each verse)
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
So very poor, this was my chance
Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass
To call my true love to my dance.

Then afterwards baptized I was;
The Holy Ghost on me did glance,
My Father’s voice heard I 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.

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 I was 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,
Where a spear my heart did glance;
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.

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.

At Christmas we generally only sing the first three verses, interspersed with the chorus, and finish with a recapitulation of the first verse. Here is the choir of St John’s College Cambridge singing the Gardner version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAwytgShxig

Maybe you’ll hear the rest sometime around Easter!

Carol P