"Give", Said the Little Stream

In his last General Conference address Elder Neal A. Maxwell shared several memories with little lessons that were important to him. One included a song he sang as a child.

In my Primary days, we sang “‘Give,’ Said the Little Stream”—certainly sweet and motivating but not exactly theologically drenched.

I like to think that Elder Maxwell was indirectly inviting us to look deeper into the song. It may not be theologically drenched but I think it's simplicity is quite beautiful.  It sounds like a song that Jesus would sing. Jesus was a master of simplicity. This song sounds like it could have come out of the Sermon on the Mount.

What does this song say to you?

"Give," said the little stream,
"Give, oh! give, give, oh! give."
"Give," said the little stream,
As it hurried down the hill;
"I'm small, I know, but wherever I go
The fields grow greener still."

Singing, singing all the day,
"Give away, oh! give away."
Singing, singing all the day,
"Give, oh! give away."

"Give," said the little rain,
"Give, oh! give, give, oh! give."
"Give," said the little rain,
As it fell upon the flow'rs;
"I'll raise their drooping heads again,"
As it fell upon the flow'rs.

Singing, singing all the day,
"Give away, oh! give away."
Singing, singing all the day,
"Give, oh! give away."

Give, then, as Jesus gives,
Give, oh! give, give, oh! give.
Give, then, as Jesus gives;
There is something all can give.
Do as the streams and blossoms do:
For God and others live.

Singing, singing all the day,
"Give away, oh! give away."
Singing, singing all the day,
"Give, oh! give away."

Words: Fanny J. Crosby, 1820-1915
Music: William B. Bradbury, 1816-1868. Arr. (c) 1989 IRI