[Dialogue] Simple Gifts (lord of the dance)

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Simple Gifts" is an 1848 _Shaker_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaker)  song 
by _Elder Joseph  Brackett_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Brackett) .
It has endured many inaccurate descriptions. Though often classified as an  
anonymous Shaker _hymn_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hymn)   or as a work 
song, it is better classified as a dance song. 
     
 
Contents

 

The composer
Elder Joseph Brackett was born in _Cumberland, Maine_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumberland,_Maine) , on  May 6, 1797. He first joined the _Shakers_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaker)  at _Gorham,  Maine_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Gloucester,_Maine) , now known as Sabbathday Lake, the last remaining 
Shaker community.  Elder Joseph Brackett died on July 4, 1882._[1]_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_Gifts#cite_note-0)  
The lyrics
"Simple Gifts" was written by Elder Joseph while he was at the Shaker  
community in Alfred, Maine in 1848. These are the lyrics to his one-verse  song: 


'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,  

'Tis the gift to come down where you 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. 


With thanks to Wikipedia,
 
Paul
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