Dance with me now

Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre (Dance of Death) is based on this poem written by Henri Cazalis.

Zig, zig, zig, Death in cadence,

Striking with his heel a tomb,

Death at midnight plays a dance-tune,

Zig, zig, zig, on his violin.

The winter wind blows and the night is dark;

Moans are heard in the linden-trees.

Through the gloom, white skeletons pass,

Running and leaping in their shrouds.

Zig, zig, zig, each one is frisking.

The bones of the dancers are heard to crack-

But hist! of a sudden they quit the round,

They push forward, they fly; the cock has crowed.