Simple Gifts 

Joseph Brackett (1797-1882); 

Shaker dancing song

'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 our delight, 

Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.

That Piece of Music

(For percussive instruments)

Sixteen Tons

19th Century Folk Song

Refrain:

You load sixteen tons and what do you get?

Another day older and deeper in debt.

Saint Peter don’t you call me, ‘cause I can’t go,

I owe my soul to the company store!

*Verse 1:

Some folks say a man ’s made out of mud, 

But a poor man is made out of muscle and blood.

Muscle and blood… skin and bone…

A mind that’s weak and a back that’s strong…

*Verse 2:

I was born one mornin’ when the sun didn’t shine, 

I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine,

I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal,

And the foreman said, “Well-a-bless-a-my-soul…”

*Verse 3: 

If you see me comin', better step aside.  A lot of men didn't, a lot of men died.  

One fist of iron, the other of steel—

If the right one don't get you, then the left one will…

*Verses to be sung by soloists

Boomwhacker Song (TBD)

Percussion and Boomwhackers

El cóndor pasa (If I Could)

Song by Simon & Garfunkel

I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail

Yes, I would

If I could

I surely would

Chorus:

Away, I'd rather sail away

Like a swan that's here and gone

A man gets tied up to the ground

He gives the world its saddest sound

Its saddest sound

I'd rather be a hammer than a nail

Yes, I would

If I only could

I surely would

Chorus

I'd rather be a forest than a street

Yes, I would

If I could

I surely would

Chorus

I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet

Yes, I would

If I only could

I surely would