Advent Calendar – 17th December, 2020
Merry Christmas!
Danielle and Dave’s Advent Calendar
17th December, 2020
Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day
arr. Danielle Perrett & David Gough
The traditional English carol first appeared in 1833 in William B. Sandys‘ Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern of 1833. Since then it has been set by many illustrious composers such as Holst, Stravinsky, Rutter, Willcocks and Rutter who set a version for choir and harp which I have performed many times. I think in style our version owes something to the Rutter setting probably because I have been musically steeped in that one.
I have reproduced here only the first three verses of the lyrics of this exuberant Christmas carol as set in most of the versions, and these lead up to the nativity. In the longest complete version of the carol the story goes on in the lyrics to cover Christ’s crucifixion, rising again and ascent into heaven. The dance in question is Christ’s life and the story is told in the first person which is quite unusual in a carol setting.
The ‘legend of my play’ is suggestive of Medieval mystery plays which could take the song back that far in origin and it is said that the carol drives from Cornwall although the melody feels rather more recent than something that old.
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.
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.
Recorded on Erat Grecian Harp (1830s),
Ortega classical guitar, Gretsch Jet
https://mainlynorfolk.info/peter.bellamy/songs/tomorrowshallbemydancingday.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomorrow_Shall_Be_My_Dancing_Day