Re: Simple Gifts

I'm pretty sure it's the original "Simple Gifts" Shaker tune I play. Here are the lyrics by Joseph Brackett Jr. as written in 1848:

'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.

I much prefer these to the far more familiar words of "The Lord of the Dance" which were written much later.

Simple Gifts

A familiar one this, but nonetheless worthy, and a great start to my tune list (i.e. tunes I know or are currently learning). Taken up by the Quakers over in the States, but probably originates from our side of the pond (Don't they all!). If I can get to play it half as good as this guy does, I'll be a happy man:



Find notation for many of it's variants free on The Session