Collins, Judy - Simple Gifts 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
It will be in the valley of love and delight

When true simplicity is gained
To bow and to bend, we will not be ashamed
To turn, turn, will be our delight
'Til by turning, turning, we come round right





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Collins, Judy Simple Gifts Comments
  1. P.... C....

    Beautiful

  2. S.... M....

    It's like a Buddhist sutra and yet written by Christians. There is hope for the world.

  3. B.... D....

    One of my all time favorites..thanks for sharing!

  4. J.... O....

    Perfect.

  5. K.... W....

    This song, by Judy Collins, will be played at my funeral.

  6. A.... H....

    I miss you Abbie

  7. D.... P....

    And then... Amazing Grace...

  8. P.... M....

    One song that even gets atheists ,and agnostics weeping, because it represents a mindset, and a community of people who loved beautifully, walked the walk, and lived their lives by compassion, and example, not judgement, arrogance, and greed

    P.... M....

    The Beatitudes, The Sermon on the Mount's words are PROOF that Jesus was AT LEAST the greatest Philosopher and Man that ever lived. I think that honest, truly Intellectual "atheists" could not help than to agree. God's blessings to you Peter.

  9. M.... M....

    Tis a gift to be simple tis a gift to be free tis a gift to come down where you ought to be and when you find yourself in the place just right twill be in the valley of love and delight when true simplicity has gained to bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed to turn turn will be our delight to by turning turning we come round right

  10. L.... H....

    I believe "to turn" is referring to repentance here. "Turn from your wicked ways, and seek the Lord."

  11. G.... P....

    Ah! Such bliss it is to achieve simplicity!

  12. F.... F....

    This song could almost be a Zen mantra or a haiku...stunning, like Judy,just beautiful and timeless.

  13. H.... D....

    I HAVENT HEARD HER SING THIS IN LIKE 30 YEARS! I use to be such a fan in my teens and 20s and 30s, then I lost touch. Jus recently heard all the songs I collected back then, LOVE HER! Sad and sweet, Judy is the best!

    H.... D....

    Hello. I can mirror that experience with the voice of Judy Collins and then I heard and bought the CD of her singing at The Wolf Trap at the age of 70..she stirred a pot insid eme long thought empty. This lovely quaker song dates from the 1850 period and generally contributed to the Elder - Joseph Bracket then orchestrated by Aaron Copland and became part of his suite "Appalatian Spring" . It has that rare musical combination in that it posseses beautiful dignity some I do hope ( as an Englishman) we shall see fully restored to America after this dreadful election campaign ends.

  14. J.... ....

    whos watching in 2016

  15. L.... W....

    I agree with the past comments
    It was too fast.

  16. B.... B....

    I forgot that I used to play this song on the banjo. LOL Judy's wide range of musical genre is sweeping and broad. When I'm dead and gone, and you here someone humming 'simple gifts' from a graveyard afar, don't worry, it'll only be me, humming this song for an eternity to God and his choir, if he's listening.

  17. w.... ....

    This song really speaks to me--brings me calm and peace.  I wish our society would strive to be more simpler--

  18. S.... T....

    A lovely rendition but the pace seems too fast.  It needs to be at a slower pace.

    S.... T....

    +Steven Torrey It was originally meant to be danced to, and it would be hard to dance to at the slow pace of most versions I've found online. It's nice at a slow pace too but I'm glad to find one at the more joyful pace as well.

  19. C.... W....

    I believe that these are this version of the words: 
    "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 are 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."

    C.... W....

    Charles Weber and when we find ourself's in the place just right. is the right way to sing it

  20. R.... H....

    Heard this song back in the 1971, sung by Pete Duel in "Alias Smith and Jones" and never forgot it, now I have just discovered it's origins and the rest of the verses.

  21. A.... X....

    My class is doing music and we have to play this song

    A.... X....

    I understand your pain. the song is OK but good enough for me to listen to again.

  22. G.... m....

    is this a flute?

    G.... m....

    +Grace middleton It's a Recorder :)

    G.... m....

    Grace middleton a recorder, I think

  23. R.... L....

    This song has been arranged and sung just about everywhere and still many still say it's "Anonymous" or "Traditional."  Wrong.  It was actually written for the Shaker dance ritual in 1848 by Elder Joseph Brackett Jr. Judy's version is  a very nice arrangement.

    R.... L....

    +Roger Lee All traditional songs have an author of origination; that's cool that you know who wrote this traditional folk song. I'm a musician retired, but this kind of info about the music I love the most keeps it burning in my soul.

  24. L.... H....

    they have your song on smule

  25. J.... G....

    Actually, despite the assertion of the person who posted this, the lyric has absolutely nothing to do with Psalm 145, save that the same shaker elder did write music for that psalm.

  26. M.... P....

    My Pa loves this song!

  27. T.... B....

    I sung this today at all xity choir im 12

  28. S.... C....

    It makes me wanna cry

  29. b.... ....

    I just love this song

  30. B.... E....

    Once you hear this, if it is the first time, it will implant itself in your brain never to be forgotten. It has a "round" pattern that makes it so memorable. It's a simple tune that so well embodies the sentiment that the Psalm conveys.

  31. R.... B....

    One of my very most favorite songs.....It would be nice to be in the peace described herein, but just hearing it makes me feel all right!

  32. T.... ....

    Thanks for posting this ! I sang this beautiful song to my daughters when they were children & my daughter has taught the song to my 2 young grandchildren... I'm thrilled. :-)

  33. S.... K....

    Very rich and soothing. Nourishing.
    Thank you very much, Judy and jackeroo08.

  34. t.... ....

    my mom used to sing me to sleep with this song when i was little :') it's so beautiful

  35. K.... ....

    I am 15 and I think judy rocks :)

  36. S.... E....

    this gives me goosebumps :)

  37. i.... ....

    It's a recorder but for some reason it's in the difficult key of Db. It would be so much 'simpler' to take it down to C but I guess the recorder part was an after-thought and this was the best key for Judy's voice.

  38. L.... M....

    It's a penny whistle, I know because I play this on it .

  39. p.... ....

    @rae1195 I'm trying to place the wind instrument, as well. I thought either penny whistle or recorder. Definitely an end-blown wind instrument.

  40. b.... ....

    @WhitMcMo It is actually both a REEL and a song of praise. To the Shakers there all they did was in praise of God, from doing a reel to making their "simple" furniture.

  41. W.... M....

    Simple Gifts is not a praise song, sorry, but it was a REEL. The words refer to dance calls, as in square dancing.

  42. S.... M....

    was this played on the recorder? b/c i have to play it on the recorder, and then sing it

  43. m.... ....

    First time I've heard Judy sing this -- (where have I been?) THANKS!