It’s basically just one verse. That is the thing most people don't realize when they start hunting for the lyrics for simple gifts. You expect a sprawling epic, maybe something with five or six stanzas like a traditional Methodist hymn or a long-winded folk ballad. But no. Joseph Brackett, a Shaker elder living in Alfred, Maine, back in 1848, penned something so brief it almost feels like a haiku on steroids.
He didn't even call it a hymn. To the Shakers, this was a "quick dance." It was meant to be moved to, physically. When you read the words, you’re looking at a set of instructions for the soul and the body at the same time.
What the Lyrics for Simple Gifts Actually Say
Let’s just get the text out of the way so we can talk about why it actually matters. Honestly, the simplicity is the point.
'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 gained,
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.
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That’s it. That is the whole thing. If you see versions with extra verses about the seasons or the pioneers, those were added much later by folk singers or choir directors who felt the original was too short for a Sunday service. Brackett’s original vision was a loop. It was a spiritual circle.
The Shaker Context Most People Miss
You can’t really understand these lyrics without knowing who the Shakers were. They weren't just "Old Timey" people. They were radicals. Officially known as the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, they believed in communal living, pacifism, and a very intense kind of equality.
They also really liked to dance.
When the lyrics for simple gifts mention "turning," they aren't just talking about a change of heart. They are talking about a literal physical maneuver. Shaker worship involved rhythmic jumping, swaying, and—you guessed it—turning in circles. It was a way to shake the sin out of the body. Imagine a room full of people in handmade wool clothes, spinning until they’re dizzy, singing about how "turning" is a delight. It’s a bit more intense than your average choir rehearsal.
Aaron Copland and the Great Misconception
If you know this song, there’s a 90% chance you know it because of Aaron Copland. In 1944, he used the melody in his ballet Appalachian Spring.
Here is the weird part: Copland didn't even know it was a Shaker tune at first. He just thought it was a cool bit of American folklore. He turned that tiny, one-verse dance into a sweeping orchestral masterpiece that now defines "the American sound." Because of him, we associate these lyrics with vast prairies and pioneers.
But the Shakers weren't pioneers in the "Westward Ho" sense. They were more about creating a perfect, static utopia right where they were. Copland’s "Appalachian Spring" made the song famous, but it also kind of stripped away the Shaker-ness of it. It turned a radical communal dance into a nostalgic soundtrack for a country that was rapidly industrializing.
Why "Simple" is Actually Really Hard
We live in a world of clutter. Digital clutter, mental clutter, literal piles of Amazon boxes in the hallway. When Brackett wrote about the "gift to be simple," he wasn't talking about a minimalist aesthetic or buying more expensive "simple" furniture.
He was talking about "coming down."
Look at the line: "'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be." That implies we are usually "up" too high. We are stuck in our egos, our ambitions, our pride. To the Shakers, being "high up" was a spiritual liability. You had to descend. You had to find the "valley."
The "bow and bend" part? That’s about humility. It’s about being flexible enough to admit you’re wrong. In a 2026 culture where everyone is obsessed with "standing their ground" and "personal branding," the idea that we shouldn't be ashamed to "bow and bend" is actually kind of revolutionary. It’s a direct attack on the ego.
The Mystery of the Second Verse
You will often find a second verse in modern songbooks. It usually starts with "The Lord is my shepherd" or something about "The earth is the Lord's."
Just so we’re clear: Brackett didn't write those.
They were added in the 20th century to make the song feel more like a traditional hymn. Folk singers like Judy Collins or the Weavers helped popularize these variations. While they’re pretty, they change the vibe. The original version is almost secular in its language—it doesn't mention God or Jesus once. It focuses entirely on the "gift" and the "place just right." It’s a psychological map as much as a religious one.
Is it a Folk Song or a Hymn?
Technically, it’s a "dance song."
In the 1800s, it was almost entirely forgotten outside of Shaker communities. It wasn't until Edward Deming Andrews published The Gift to be Simple in 1940 that the world outside the Shaker villages really took notice. Andrews was a scholar who realized that Shaker music was a goldmine of American folk art.
Then came Copland. Then came the folk revival. Then came Sydney Carter, who used the melody (but not the lyrics) for "Lord of the Dance" in 1963.
Now, the lyrics for simple gifts are sung at presidential inaugurations (like Obama’s in 2009) and in elementary school music rooms. It has become a sort of civic hymn. We use it when we want to feel "authentic" or "grounded."
Actionable Insights: How to Use the Spirit of Simple Gifts
If you’re looking for these lyrics because you want to perform the song or just meditate on it, don't treat it like a museum piece. It’s a tool.
Focus on the verbs.
The song is built on "be," "come down," "find," "bow," "bend," and "turn." These are all active. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by life, try applying the "turn" logic. Sometimes the solution isn't a new path, but a 360-degree rotation back to where you started, but with a better perspective.
Check your sources.
If you’re a choir director or a teacher, use the original verse first. Let the brevity sit there. Don't rush to fill the silence with the fake second verses. There is power in the loop.
Understand the "Valley."
In literature, we usually want to be on the mountaintop. This song says the "valley of love and delight" is the goal. Reframe your "low" points as the "place just right." It sounds cheesy, but historically, the Shakers were some of the most productive and peaceful people in American history. They were onto something.
Sing it as a round.
The melody is a perfect "shaker." It’s designed to be sung in a circle. If you have a group, don't just sing it straight through. Layer it. Let the "turning" happen in the music itself.
The lyrics for simple gifts aren't just about being poor or having fewer toys. They are about the terrifying, wonderful freedom that comes when you stop trying to be "up there" and finally accept being "down here." It’s about the joy of being exactly where you ought to be.
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Stop looking for more verses. You already have everything you need in those few lines. Turn, turn, until you come 'round right. It's harder than it looks, but that's why it's a gift.