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The Dancer Lyrics

He came riding fast like a phoenix out of 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

My love will stay till the river bed run dry
And my love lasts long as a 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 up some sign
Is he near? is he far?
Bring peace to my black and empty heart

So long day. so long night
Good lord, be near me tonight
Is he near? is he far?
Bring peace to my black and empty heart
Song Info
Submitted by
shut On Dec 05, 2001
6 Meanings

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Cover art for The Dancer lyrics by PJ Harvey

"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!"

Cover art for The Dancer lyrics by PJ Harvey

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!

Cover art for The Dancer lyrics by PJ Harvey

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?

I had to look up "Danza, Danza Faciulla Gentile" after reading your post. According to the translation "fanciulla gentile" means "gentle young girl" which I didn't know, so thank you for mentioning the aria.

http://www.lieder.net/lieder/get_text.html?TextId=603

https://youtu.be/MXkB37Ad5yw

Cover art for The Dancer lyrics by PJ Harvey

Fucking awesome song!!

Cover art for The Dancer lyrics by PJ Harvey

^^ 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.

Cover art for The Dancer lyrics by PJ Harvey

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

 
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