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
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.
Chorus
In a manger laid, and wrapped I was
So very poor, this was my chance
Between an ox and a silly poor ass
To call my true love to my dance.
Chorus
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.
Chorus
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.
Chorus
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.
Chorus
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.
Chorus
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.
Chorus
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.
Chorus
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.
Chorus
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.
Chorus
Today’s carol is the longest one I have posted. And I think, based on the title, that today is the right place to put it. For Christmas Day is the one that begins the dance. But the dance doesn’t end on Christmas Day, nor does this song. We need to remember the whole journey. We are called by Love into the dance, which will bring us into the general dance, if we respond to His love.
I have never seen the tune I sung this to written down. It doesn’t match the score for the one in my caroling book, or the couple of other tunes I have seen for this carol elsewhere. But years ago I heard this in a Christmas concert, and was taken by the tune and lyric ever since. I never forgot it, and it is the first tune that goes with the lyric in my head.
At The Rainbow 