Lord of the Dance transposes a title usually associated with Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and rebirth. The lyrics of Sidney Carter’s poem gives focus to the Christian narrative of resurrection while weaving Christian and Hindu themes into a cosmic dance of life, death, and rebirth.

At the conclusion of the first part of The Christmas Revels, a trumpet fanfare signals the entrance of a singer and two Morris dancers. As the soloist sings the verses to the tune of the familiar Shaker song “Simple Gifts,” the dancers dance a series of traditional figures from five different English villages as the chorus, brass ensemble, and audience join in on refrains. After the final verse, the chorus leaves the stage and joins hands with the audience, streaming into the lobby in a serpentine dance and singing the song’s refrain repeatedly.