Marilyn Horne \'Simple Gifts\' by Aaron Copland

The lyrics and music of this Shaker dance song were written in 1848 by Elder Joseph Brackett at the Shaker community in Alfred, Maine. It became a popular American folk tune and was used by Aaron Copeland in his Appalachian Spring symphony in 1955.



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 out delight

'Till by turning, turning we come round right. 

Elder Joseph Brackett was born in Cumberland, Maine, on May 6, 1797. He first joined the Shakers at Gorham, Maine, when his father's farm helped to form the nucleus of a new Shaker settlement. In 1819, Joseph moved with the other Shakers to Poland Hill, Maine.

He later served as first minister of Maine Shaker societies, as well as Church Elder at New Gloucester, Maine, now known as Sabbathday Lake, the last remaining Shaker community.

Elder Joseph Brackett died on July 4, 1882.