He came riding fast like a phoenix outta fire flames
He came dressed in black with a cross bearing my name
He came bathed in light and splendor and glory
I can't believe what the Lord has finally sent me

He said dance for me, fanciulla gentil
He said laugh a while I can make your heart feel
He said fly with me touch the face of the true God
And then cry with joy at the depth of my love

'Cause I've prayed days, I've prayed nights
For the Lord just to send me home some sign
I've looked long, I've looked far
To bring peace to my black and empty heart
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah-ah-ah-ah

My love will stay 'til the riverbed runs dry
My love lasts long as the sunshine blue sky
I love him longer as each damn day goes
The man is gone and heaven only knows

'Cause I've cried days, I've cried nights
For the Lord just to send me home some sign
Is he near? Is he far?
Bring peace to my black and empty heart

So long days, so long nights
Oh, Lord, be near me tonight
Is he near? Is he far?
Bring peace to my black and empty heart


Lyrics submitted by shut

The Dancer Lyrics as written by Polly Jean Harvey

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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The Dancer song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    Haha years ago I thought it was "To bring peace to my blacker-than-tea heart"

    Like...see how black this tea is? Well my heart is blacker than it!

    artist in disguiseon January 22, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    wow...first comment! yayness! I love the guitars in this song! I think it's basically about a girl waiting for her knight in shinning armour to appear. and just by the way, it's "Dance for me faciulla gentile" and I think that verse is the translation of an italian opera song...i have a book of it and one of the songs is called "Danza, Danza Faciulla Gentile" and I think the translation is about the same. and isn't it "at the depth of my love"? instead of death?

    madcranberrygirlon June 13, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Fucking awesome song!!

    Clark Gableon August 11, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ^^ It's indeed at the depth of my love.

    This song might just be my favorite of PJ Harvey. I love the sound of it, an entire scene starts playing in my head each time I listen to it. Beautiful.

    tigerareyouthereon January 31, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "Phoenix out of fire flames" not "Phoenix had fire flames" "black and empty heart" not naked empty heart

    I remember hearing this song when I was like 12 and thinking "this is the coolest song I have ever heard!"

    scrimshawon June 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Reckon she kills herself at the end guys? What are our thoughts?

    Thunder.Rd.on December 17, 2014   Link

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