Lyr Req/Add: The Gift (Stephanie Davis)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Gift (Stephanie Davis)
From: Genie
Date: 26 Dec 11 - 03:25 PM

"The Gift" is a track on Stephanie Davis's albums
"Home For The Holidays"
and
"River Of No Return"


Someone posted on Facebook a week or two ago that Stephanie was offering a free download
of this song, and I see that last year I posted a link for that, but the link I posted is just a link for streaming the song, not for downloading.   I can't find the download link so far but maybe someone else has it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Gift (Stephanie Davis)
From: Mark Ross
Date: 20 Dec 11 - 08:16 PM

Stephanie is also a really good fiddler. We played in a band together 30 years ago in Western Montana.


Mark Ross

Subject: RE: The Gift (A Poor Orphan Girl Named Maria)
From: Genie
Date: 19 Dec 11 - 10:45 PM

It's great that Stephanie is so generously sharing downloads of this song. I wish she would post the song on YouTube so a lot of people who, apparently, only know the song as "'The Gift', by Aselin Debison," could also hear Stephanie play and sing it and would realize that Aselin Debison is not the songwriter.
(Among the comments I saw posted for a YouTube of Aseling Debison's recording was one praising Debison for the wonderful "story" and "melody" of the song.   Others may not explicitly credit Debison as the composer but seem to imply that.)

Related thread:

Req: Christmas song:wounded bird-Nightingale

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Gift (Stephanie Davis)
From: Genie
Date: 19 Dec 11 - 10:44 PM

It's great that Stephanie is so generously sharing downloads of this song. I wish she would post the song on YouTube so a lot of people who, apparently, only know the song as "'The Gift', by Aselin Debison," could also hear Stephanie play and sing it and would realize that Aselin Debison is not the songwriter.
(Among the comments I saw posted for a YouTube of Aseling Debison's recording was one praising Debison for the wonderful "story" and "melody" of the song.   Others may not explicitly credit Debison as the composer but seem to imply that.)

Subject: RE: The Gift(A Poor Orphan Girl Named Maria)
From: GUEST,sheet music in D
Date: 19 Dec 11 - 02:53 PM

Subject: The Gift(A Poor Orphan Girl Named Maria)
From: open mike
Date: 16 Dec 11 - 11:35 PM

This has been my favorite Christmas song since I heard it several years ago!! It is by Stephanie Davis, whose music I would recommend!
The Gift--A Poor Orphan Girl Named Maria this from her web site:
Stephanie's song, "The Gift", always brings a wide range of emails and inquiries, especially around the holidays. A couple of the most asked questions are, "Where can I get sheet music to 'The Gift'?", and "Are there any backing tracks available for 'The Gift'?" Well, now we can say "yes" to both questions! For a limited time, we are offering them as free downloads as Stephanie's way of saying thanks for your continued support. We only ask that if you perform "The Gift" in public, you credit Stephanie as the composer and that these materials not be duplicated for profit. That being said, simply scroll down to find a list of available keys and click on the download icon for the key(s) of your choice.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: The Gift (Stephanie Davis)
From: Genie
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 02:18 AM

Oh, and I just realized that you can also download, free, an mp3 of Stephanie Davis playing and singing her own song, at that same site, here:
"The Gift" - written & performed by Stephanie Davis

Subject: RE: req/ADD: The Gift (Stephanie Davis)
From: Genie
Date: 01 Jan 10 - 07:55 PM

And you can download the sheet music, free, from Stephanie Davis, here
and also download - also free - Stephanie's musical backup tracks in several keys

Subject: RE: req/ADD: The Gift (Stephanie Davis)
From: open mike
Date: 24 Dec 09 - 03:06 PM

i am glad to see that the thread title reflects credit to the song writer, Stephanie Davis. This song is also included in the Winter's Grace c.d. by Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: The Gift (Stephanie Davis)
From: Genie
Date: 24 Dec 09 - 02:15 PM

It seems everybody and his/her brother/sister is covering this song these days. Unfortunately, the song is usually attributed to either Aselin Debison or Garth Brooks instead of the actual songwriter, Stephanie Davis.

If you go here, you should be able to hear an excerpt of
Stephanie singing "The Gift."

Subject: RE: req/ADD: The Gift (Stephanie Davis)
From: Genie
Date: 06 Dec 09 - 07:51 PM

BTW, my mention of the mondegreen "night in Gale" refers to this post in a previous thread about this song.

That post gives a wonderful illustration of how misheard lyrics make their way quickly into common lore, especially now, via the wonders of those "internets." LOL

Subject: The Gift (Stephanie Davis) sung by Aselin Debison
From: Genie
Date: 06 Dec 09 - 07:42 PM

Aselin Debison's recording -- often played on radio in the last few years -- has the line as "Now the gift-giving service was coming," not "... Christmas eve service ...".

She also very clearly and precisely sings " ... the very first nightingale's song," not " ... nightingale song."    (This makes more sense to me, because I gather that the implication is that this was the song of the first nightingale, not just the first time one ever sang.
And, yes, I know, nightingales were probably around -- singing, even -- before people started celebrating the birth of Jesus with church services, but let's suspend disbelief long enough to enjoy a good story. ) : )

There are a few other minor variations between what's posted at Stephanie Davis's website and the way Aselin Debison sings the song.

Lyrics printed in liner notes and on songwriters' own websites are not always 100% accurate. Sometimes they leave out words - even key words. Just the kind of errata that can occur when a book is published. Note that half of the punctuation is missing from the lyrics you found at Stephanie Davis's website. It doesn't mean there shouldn't be periods at the ends of sentences, just because whoever typed up the lyrics omitted them. : )

I don't think minor variations such as "whose beauty was fit for a king" vs. "for its beauty was fit for a king" [Aselin Debison's version] or "to that cascade of notes" vs. "to the cascading notes" really matter. But there IS a difference between "nightingale" and "night in Gale." (Cf. one of the other threads about this song.) *g*

Subject: RE: req/ADD: The Gift (Stephanie Davis)
From: GUEST,DWR
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 08:30 PM

Well, yes, those are 100% EXACTLY as sung by Stephanie Davis, but the ones I gave on 10 Dec 02 - 05:04 PM are EXACTLY as sung by Aselin Debison, save one small typo which you can probably attribute to me.

Where I have There where diamonds, incense and perfume it should have been There were diamonds, incense and perfume So I threw in an extra H. Speaking of H's, I also should have capitalized the references to Him.

Don't know what the Gift according to Garth or Joni might be. Haven't listened to them lately. I should, they're both good,too.

Subject: ADD: The Gift (Stephanie Davis)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 05:24 PM

We've had a lot of almost-correct lyrics posted. This should be the definitive version. I copy-pasted it from the songwriter's Website,
-Joe-

---

THE GIFT
(Stephanie Davis)

A poor orphan girl named Maria was walking to market one day
She stopped for to rest by the roadside where a bird with a broken wing lay
A few moments passed 'till she saw it, for its feathers were covered with sand
But soon, clean and wrapped, it was traveling in the warmth of Maria's small hand

She happily spent her last peso on a cage made of rushes and twine
She fed it loose corn from the market and watched it grow stronger with time

Now the Christmas Eve service was coming, and the church shone with tinsel and light
And all of the townfolk brought presents to lay by the manger that night
There were diamonds and incense and perfumes in packages fit for a king
But for one ragged bird in a small cage, Maria had nothing to bring

She waited till just before midnight so no one would see her go in
And crying, she knelt by the manger, for her gift was unworthy of Him

Then a voice spoke to her through the darkness: "Maria, what brings you to me?"
"If the bird in the cage is your offering, open the door—let me see!"
Though she trembled, she did as He asked her, and out of the cage the bird flew
Soaring up into the rafters on a wing that had healed good as new

Just then the midnight bells rang out and the little bird started to sing
A song that no words could recapture, whose beauty was fit for a king

Now Maria felt blessed just to listen to that cascade of notes sweet and long
As her offering was lifted to heaven by the very first nightingale song

Stephanie Davis
Recluse Music (BMI)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift (Stephanie Davis)
From: Genie
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 12:15 AM

Here's a You Tube of this song sung by Aselin Debison.

This is the recording I've heard most often on radio, though I like Stephanie's own as much or more.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: open mike
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 11:19 PM

http://www.stephaniedavis.net/

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: open mike
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 10:19 PM

we have another thread on this song...i posted to it with stephanie davis's home page where you can find the song and the "dots and lines"
it was written by her.

Subject: The Gift-new Christmas song (Stephanie Davis)
From: Genie
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 06:25 PM

Yeah, this song's on the treacly side -- but IMO, no more so than Little Drummer Boy and other Christmas songs about poor people (or animals) who have little or nothing in the way of material goods but give something that is precious to them.

What the heck is wrong with being reminded of what real giving is about?   ;-D

(I'm sure Stephanie's song could be 'attacked' on other grounds too, such as that nightingales probably predate the birth of Jesus or that she uses the hackneyed phrase "fit for a king" TWICE -- count 'em! -- twice in the same song! LOL
But a lot of Christmas carols could be similarly picked apart.

Oh, and the tune, while kind of a generic Spanish-flavored simple 3/4 time tune, is IMO much prettier than "My Bonnie."   *G*

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 24 Dec 04 - 12:27 AM

Another year, still another version, Joni Harms. ALL her music is good, by the way. Check her out at http://joniharms.com/

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: akenaton
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 07:56 AM

I agree with Harvey (brave Man). Definitely one for the "Country" shelf.
By the way Harvey,Thanks for being one of the Guys who brought me into folk music back in the sixties.
It was back in the days of the civil rights marches in America,I bought "The best of British folk music 2" from Transatlantic and heard you sing "Kids colour bar" and "Death come easy".I Immediately knew what "Folk Music" really meant.Iv still got the record ,which is a sampler, containing songs by Bert Jansch, Marc Brierley,Owen Hand,David Campbell, The Campbell group,The Dubs ect
From reading your post, you seem to be the kind of person I always thought you must be.    Best Wishes Ake

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: jaze
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 07:26 AM

Someone gave me Aselin Debison's cd last year. But I do like Stephanie Davis' version better. Haven't heard Garth Brooks do it. Sweet yes. but DIFFERENT-one can grow tired of the same songs over and over.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: open mike
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 01:12 AM

yes i just discovered stephanie dav is...
she has a great gardening song..Harvest Time..
am workjing on learning it...she has excaped
nashville back to montana....and is glad she did.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 10:09 AM

Well yes, Harvey. Definitely sweet. But sometimes a bit of sweetness is good for you, especially at this season of the year.

Maybe it's not up there with the absolute classics, but it's worth a listen. Give it a go at the PHC site. It's less than 5 minutes long. (Doesn't sound like "My Bonnie" either!)

Gotta go. Presents to wrap and songs to listen to ~~ both sweet and not-so-sweet. Happy Holidays to all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: harvey andrews
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 09:56 AM

Dear me, where did that come from? Thick as treacle and sickly sweet.It reads just like an old music hall two hanky job. I couldn't read it seriously, it immediately sang in my head to the tune of the verse of "My Bonny lies over the ocean" done recitative. What an opening line!! Bah, humbug!! (Scrooge)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 09:36 AM

You know, I was thinking of this song just yesterday and considering whether the thread needed to be revived. Thanks, Genie.

As for versions, I have heard three. Opinions follow:

Stephanie Davis ~~ easily the best in my mind. Hardest to find, but you can give her a listen at the PHC link Genie gave last year. You can also hear a better quality :45 sample at her site.
Stephanie's recordings page   Go there if you want to purchase one of her albums, though they are available from other mailorder sources (including Camsco, I'll bet!). All of her albums are worth having. The Gift is on her "River Of No Return" CD. I see that she has a brand new one out that I was not aware of ~~ it contains her recording of Spotted Ass. For those of you who have heard that one, I don't need to explain it ~~ for those who haven't, check it out at her site!

Aselin Debison ~~ quite good. As you can tell above, the version I first heard and which set me on the search for the rest. The link I gave to her site last year will get you to a sample. Easier to find than Stephanie's recordings ~~ I bought mine at Borders while passing through St. Louis last year.

Garth Brooks ~~ don't knock this one. I was prepared not to like it, but found that I did. GB can do a song up right when he wants to. It's on his 1992 Christmas album and should be easiest to find.

I know there are other versions, but with a title like The Gift, they are hard to locate. BMI is no help, listing only the Garth Brooks on Stephanie's credits page.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: GUEST,Genie (too lazy to log in)
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 02:21 AM

Just heard this song on My 94.1 FM (or was it KIXI 96.5?) in San Diego today and it reminded me to add this song to my Christmas repertoire.

So good to hear it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: Genie
Date: 11 Dec 02 - 01:24 PM

It's ok, jaze. Mockingbirds can 'do' nightingales along with the rest of their repertoire. My mom and dad have one in their back yard in San Diego, and when I'm visiting, I'm treated to a glorious concert every morning and evening. In the springtime (nesting season), the concert lasts all day!

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: GUEST,jaze
Date: 11 Dec 02 - 02:31 AM

Thanks so much for that link, Genie. I did screw up on the bird, didn't I. And thanks to all who helped with this search. Isn't the Mudcat great?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: Genie
Date: 11 Dec 02 - 01:38 AM

Here is a link to the Prairie Home Companion broadcast of 12-2-2001, with a clip of Stephanie Davis singing
The Gift

The website says Stephanie Davis wrote "The Gift," as does Laurie Lewis, in an interview on PHC.

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: Genie
Date: 11 Dec 02 - 01:05 AM

No wonder I couldn't find it on the net! It's a nightingale, not a mockingbird! LOL!

Thanks for posting it, Dale. I'll check out the PHC archives for that song.

Is this the same "The Gift" that Garth recorded? Kenny Rogers also sings a Christmas song called "The Gift" (the title track from his album that contains "Pretty Little Baby Child"), but it is a totally different song.

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: Genie
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 09:32 PM

Yes, Dale, thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: GUEST,jaze
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 07:31 PM

Thanks for finding it,Dale. It's really a nice song. So nice to hear a different song at christmas.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: GUEST, Dale
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 06:22 PM

It's me again.   I got curious about WHO is Stephanie Davis ~~ found out! http://www.stephaniedavis.net/ Apparently The Gift was recorded by Garth Brooks, but more importantly (to me) by Stephanie herself, and everything I have heard from her site is good ~~ REALLY GOOD! I am adding her CDs to my next batch of purchases.

She sang The Gift on A Prairie Home Companion last December. Unfortunately, I missed it, but intend to go looking through the archives later.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: GUEST, Dale
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 05:27 PM

http://www.aselin.com/SweetIsTheMelody/index2.html

Should have pointed you here. Site is easy to navigate. Just click on music, then the song you want the lyrics for and they'll pop up in a javascript window. Sound samples, too. It'll be interesting to see where this all takes the young lady.

Cute story ~~ she'd rather be a star in the WNBA, but got cut from her Junior High squad this season. Says that's OK, she'll just keep practicing with the boys down the street and try again next year.

Oh, if you have a decent connection, check out the video, too. Nice 3 1/2 minute intro to her and her music.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GIFT (Stephanie Davis)
From: GUEST, Dale
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 05:04 PM

THE GIFT
Stephanie Davis 1990

A poor orphan girl named Maria
Was walking to market one day
She stopped for to rest by the roadside
Where a bird with a broken wing lay
A few moments passed till she saw it
For its feathers were covered with sand
And soon cleaned and wrapped it was traveling
In the warmth of Maria's small hand

She happily gave her last peso
On a cage made of rushes and twine
She fed it loose corn from the market
And watched it grow stronger with time

Now the gift-giving service was coming
And the church shone with tinsel and light
And all of the townfolk brought presents
To lay by the manger that night

There where diamonds, incense and perfume
And packages fit for a king
But for one ragged bird in a small cage
Maria had nothing to bring

She waited till just before midnight
So no one would see her go in
And crying she knelt by the manger
For her gift was unworthy of him

Then a voice spoke to her through the darkness
"Maria, what brings you to me?
If the bird in the cage is your offering
Open the door, let me see"

So she trembled, she did as he asked her
And out of the cage the bird flew
Soaring up into the rafters
On a wing that had healed good as new

Just then the midnight bells rang out
And the little bird started to sing
A song that no words could recapture
For its beauty was fit for a king

Now Maria felt blessed just to listen
To that cascade of notes sweet and long
As her offering was lifted to heaven
By the very first nightingale's song

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: GUEST,jaze
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 02:59 PM

Thanks for trying, Sorcha

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 02:09 PM

Looks like it is too new, Jaze. I found lyrics for the title song, which is an Iris DeMent song, but not for The Gift. You may have to just buy the CD..............

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: GUEST,jaze
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 01:41 PM

Apparently the radio station spelled her name wrong. It is Aselin Debison,who is from Canada.

Subject: Lyr Req: The Gift-new Christmas song
From: GUEST,jaze
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 12:37 PM

The "Wounded bird" christmas song I asked about earlier is called "The Gift" by Aselyn Debbison. Can't find any info about her or the song. Has anyone else heard it or have lyrics? Thanks in advance.