Simple Gifts
from MMF! Songbook

History
Simple Gifts is a Shaker song written by Elder Joseph Bracket in 1848. Though often classified as a hymn, several Shaker manuscripts refer to it as a "dance song" or "quick dance".

Aaron Copland brought widespread popularity to the song when he included it first in his score for Martha Graham's ballet, Appalachian Spring, first performed in October 1944, and later in the orchestral suite.

Lyrics
'Tis the gift to be simple,
'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where we 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 gain'd,
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right.

Free Printable Sheet Music

Simple Gifts Sheet Music with Chords

Piano Solo

Simple Gifts for Intermediate/Level 3 Piano Solo

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