Some songs don’t just play; they linger. They settle deep in your heart, where they weave themselves into memories, feelings, and quiet moments of reflection. Rory Feek’s “The Gift” is one of those songs. It’s a simple yet profoundly moving piece that speaks of love—not the fleeting kind, but the kind that’s steady, selfless, and deeply felt.
Rory Feek, known for his ability to tell stories through song, has always had a way of making music feel personal, like he’s sitting across the kitchen table, sharing a truth that’s as old as time. “The Gift” is no different. It’s not just about giving; it’s about the spirit behind the giving. The quiet sacrifices, the unseen gestures, the moments that matter far more than anything money can buy.
This song carries a tenderness that reminds us of life’s most valuable treasures—the love we share, the time we give, the ways we show up for one another when words aren’t enough. It’s a melody wrapped in warmth, sung with the sincerity that Rory Feek is known for. And if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a love so pure and selfless, “The Gift” will feel like a song written just for you
Video
Lyrics
A poor orphan girl named Maria
Was walking to market one day
She stopped for the rest by the roadside
Where a bird with a broken wing lay
A few moments passed ’til she saw it
For its feathers were covered with sand
But soon clean and wrapped, it was travelling
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 town folk 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
Then 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 just 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’s song