Peabo Bryson (born April 13, 1951 in Greenville, South Carolina) and Robert… Read Full Bio ↴Peabo Bryson (born April 13, 1951 in Greenville, South Carolina) and Roberta Flack (born February 10, 1937 in Black Mountain, North Carolina) both had sucessful solo careers in the 70's and 80's. They began touring together after the death of Donny Hathaway and, thereafter, had a number of hits together as a duo.

The Gift
Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Winter snow is falling down
Children laughing all around
Lights are turning on like a fairy tale come true
Sittin' by the fire we made
You're the answer when I prayed
I would find someone and baby I found you

[Chorus:]

And all I want is to hold you forever
All I need is you more everyday
You saved my heart from being broken apart
You gave your love away
And I'm thankful everyday
For the gift

Watching as you softly sleep
What I'd give if I could keep
Just this moment if all of time stood still
But the colors fade away
And the years will make us gray
But baby in my eyes you'll still be beautiful

[Chorus: x2]

Can't find the words to say
Thank you for the gift

Overall Meaning

The Gift by Peabo Bryson is a romantic ballad that speaks to the depth of love and gratitude that can exist in a relationship. The opening lines of the song, "Winter snow is falling down, Children laughing all around," paint a picture of a beautiful winter scene, but this imagery is just a backdrop for what the real heart of the song is about. The second line, "Children laughing all around," sets the tone of childlike wonder and joy. The lights turning on add to the enchanting ambiance. These lines mirror the singer's mindset: he's happy, content and feeling loved.

"Sittin' by the fire we made, You're the answer when I prayed, I would find someone and baby, I found you" celebrates love as the ultimate success, where the singer reflects on how this person he's found was an answer to his prayer. The chorus goes, "And all I want is to hold you forever, All I need is you more every day, You saved my heart from being broken apart, You gave your love away, and I'm thankful every day for the gift." In these lines, he sings words of deep gratitude, to be able to love and be loved in return.

In the second verse, the singer watches his lover as they sleep and reflects on how beautiful he finds them, even though they are aging, "But the colors fade away, and the years will make us gray, But baby in my eyes, you'll still be beautiful." The singer's love for his partner transcends physical attractiveness — he finds them beautiful simply because of who they are. In the end, he struggles to find the words to express his gratitude, singing, "Can't find the words to say thank you for the gift."

Line by Line Meaning

Winter snow is falling down
The environment is cold and the snow represents a new beginning of a fresh start

Children laughing all around
The innocence of kids and the joy they bring into the world

Lights are turning on like a fairy tale come true
The magic of Christmas and the enchantment that comes with it

Sittin' by the fire we made
Snuggling up with a loved one, feeling warm and safe in each other's embrace

You're the answer when I prayed
Finding that special someone who fills a void in your life and makes you feel complete

I would find someone and baby I found you
Expressing gratitude for finding the love of your life

[Chorus:] And all I want is to hold you forever All I need is you more everyday You saved my heart from being broken apart You gave your love away And I'm thankful everyday For the gift
Declaring that love is all that matters and expressing gratitude for having found it

Watching as you softly sleep
Taking a moment to cherish the little things in life, such as watching someone sleep peacefully

What I'd give if I could keep
Wishing to have the ability to hold onto those special moments in time forever

Just this moment if all of time stood still
Reflecting on the beauty of fleeting moments and wishing they could last forever

But the colors fade away
Just like time, everything fades away, including the vibrancy of life

And the years will make us gray
Acknowledging that time takes a toll on everyone, and there's no escaping the aging process

But baby in my eyes you'll still be beautiful
Expressing undying love and appreciation for a partner, even as they age

[Chorus: x2]
Reiterating the importance of love in life and gratitude for finding it

Can't find the words to say Thank you for the gift
Expressing that words cannot do justice to the feelings of profound gratitude one has for finding someone special

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TOM DOUGLAS, JIM BRICKMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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