The Magic of “Simple Gifts”: How a Humble Tune Conquered the World

If you have ever heard a melody that instantly makes you feel like you’re running through a sunlit meadow or taking a deep breath of crisp morning air, there’s a good chance you’ve crossed paths with “Simple Gifts.”

Even if the name doesn’t immediately ring a bell, the opening words and notes almost certainly will:

“’Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free…”

Despite sounding like an ancient folk song handed down through generations in the countryside, “Simple Gifts” has a fascinating, highly specific history. It evolved from a private spiritual dance tune into one of the most recognizable and beloved cultural touchstones in American history.

1. Born in a Quiet Community: The Shakers

The tune wasn’t written by a professional pop songwriter or a classical composer; it was created in 1848 by Elder Joseph Brackett, a member of the Shakers (formally known as the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing).

The Shakers were a religious utopian group known for their values of pacifism, communal living, social equality, and—most importantly—extreme simplicity. They believed that vanity, luxury, and complicated living cluttered the soul.

Brackett wrote “Simple Gifts” as a “quick dance” song for his community in Alfred, Maine. Shaker worship services were famously expressive, featuring lively singing, shaking, and physical choreography. The lyrics themselves served as literal movement instructions:

• “To bow and to bend we shan’t be ashamed”
• “To turn, turn will be our delight”

The tune was designed to be catchy, easy to learn, and entirely vocal (since instruments were largely barred from early Shaker worship).

2. The Aaron Copland Masterpiece

For nearly a century, “Simple Gifts” remained largely inside Shaker communities, passed down through oral tradition and handwritten manuscript songbooks. That all changed in 1944, when legendary American classical composer Aaron Copland was writing the score for a ballet by choreographer Martha Graham.

The ballet was called Appalachian Spring, and it told a story of pioneers building a homestead in the Pennsylvania wilderness. Copland wanted a theme that captured purity, pioneer spirit, and rustic American charm. He stumbled upon “Simple Gifts” in a book of Shaker songs and wove its melody into the climax of his ballet.