Simple Gifts
[unknown] Lyrics


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Simple gifts

'Tis a gift to be simple,
'Tis a gift to be free,
'Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
It will be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained,
to bow and to bend, we will not be ashamed
To turn, turn, will be our delight,
'Til by turning, turning, we come round right.

(Kathy Sobansky of Clam Chowder wrote second verse of:)

"tis a gift to be simple,
'Tis a gift to be free,
For the proud are cast down deeper than the sea,
The first shall be last and the last shall be first,
And the meek at last shall receive the earth.

1984
This sings well with Lord of the Dance lordance
@religion
Recorded by Golden Ring
Filename[ simplegf
Play. Exe lordance




Dc
===Document boundary

Overall Meaning

The song Simple Gifts is a celebration of the value of simplicity and freedom. The lyrics convey the idea that it is a gift to be content with what one has and to live a simple life. When we find ourselves in the right place, which may be in the valley of love and delight, we will experience true joy. The message of the song is that when we embrace simplicity and humility, we will be free from the burden of pride and worldly desires. The chorus refrains with the idea that to bow and bend is to not be ashamed, and to keep turning until we come around right.


The second verse was added by Kathy Sobansky of Clam Chowder, and it further emphasizes the importance of humility and meekness. The proud will be cast down and the meek will receive the earth. The song makes a reference to Christian teachings, and it has become associated with the Shaker movement, which valued simplicity and communal living.


Line by Line Meaning

'Tis a gift to be simple,
It is a blessing to live a simple life, free from complexity and material desires.


'Tis a gift to be free,
Freedom is also a gift, allowing us to live as we desire without restrictions and limitations.


'Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be,
It is a blessing to be where we belong, in the place we are meant to be in this world.


And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
When we discover the right place for us, the perfect fit in life, we will feel truly content and fulfilled.


It will be in the valley of love and delight.
This perfect place will be a valley of love and happiness, full of beauty and joy.


When true simplicity is gained,
When we achieve true simplicity in our lives, without the distractions of material goods, we will be content and at peace.


to bow and to bend, we will not be ashamed
We will not be ashamed to humble ourselves and bend to others, recognizing their worth and importance.


To turn, turn, will be our delight,
We will find joy in the act of turning and changing, adapting to new situations and growing as people.


'Til by turning, turning, we come round right.
By continually growing and changing, we will eventually find ourselves in the right place and at the right time, fulfilling our purpose.


'Tis a gift to be simple,
Reiteration of the first line, highlighting the importance of simplicity in our lives.


For the proud are cast down deeper than the sea,
Pride and arrogance can be detrimental to a person, leading them to a deeper and darker place than they realize.


The first shall be last and the last shall be first,
Those who are least expected to succeed may one day become the most successful, while those who are highly esteemed may suffer a fall from grace.


And the meek at last shall receive the earth.
Those who are humble and gentle will inherit the earth, receiving the ultimate reward for their behavior.




Contributed by Aiden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@baskervillebee6097

Alison and Yo Yo Ma have also recorded the loveliest Wexford Carol you've ever heard.

@FavoriteTunes2009

i love wexford carol. i will check it out

@ahimsapianostudio9266

'Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free
'Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we will not be ashamed,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come ’round right.

@JoelSuggsPGA

Thank you for these Christ-like sentiments written out.

@alanolson6913

Lovely rendition of the old Shaker hymn. I attended a Mennonite church in the Midwest and this song would be sung at gatherings from time to time.

@tobikadaci7735

I was actually listening to a book and this was played at the funeral, and I can see why, it was a gentle song, uplifting for a man that loved to lift up other's lives, and this rendition does the song so much justice

@princessxera

I think I found this song the same way. Patricia Briggs? I just had to hear the song she described. Honestly, I dont know if anyone else except Alison Kraus and Yo-Yo Ma could have so perfectly captured the spirit.

@itzel1735

Are we all Charles and Anna fans?

@mallorydrover500

When so much of the Charles and Anna books involve music, it's so much more immersive to look up those references and hear them ourselves. 😊

@itzel1735

@@mallorydrover500 It’s nice that these novels are set in the real world and the music exists.

When I was a kid and read Anne McCaffrey dragon novels, all the songs were imaginary, so I could never listen to them.

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