We Shall Overcome
Pete Seeger, Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, Preservation Hall Jazz Band
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We shall overcome, We shall overcome, We shall overcome, some day. Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe We shall overcome, some day. We'll walk hand in hand, We'll walk hand in hand, We'll walk hand in hand, some day. Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe We shall overcome, some day. We shall live in peace, We shall live in peace, We shall live in peace, some day. Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe We shall overcome, some day. We are not afraid, We are not afraid, We are not afraid, TODAY Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe We shall overcome, some day. The whole wide world around The whole wide world around The whole wide world around some day Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe We shall overcome, some day.
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Written by: Frank Hamilton, Guy Carawan, Pete Seeger, Zilphia Horton
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Historical Significance"We Shall Overcome" is a protest song that became a key anthem of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.
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Artists' ContributionBoth Joan Baez and Pete Seeger were influential folk singers who contributed to popularizing the song by performing it at rallies, concerts, and other events during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.
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Song OriginThe song originated from the African American spiritual "I'll Overcome Someday" by Charles Albert Tindley. It was then adapted and changed into the current version known as "We Shall Overcome."
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Pete Seeger's InfluenceSeeger was one of those who changed the lyric from "I" to "We," helping to give the song its collective and empowering connotation suitable for a civil-rights protest song.
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Joan Baez's PerformanceJoan Baez famously performed the song on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington in 1963.
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Symbolic Use"We Shall Overcome" grew in popularity to become a universal symbol of protest and hope, transcending the U.S. Civil Rights Movement and adopted by various activists worldwide.
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Usage in cinemaThe song has been used in several key historical and cultural documentaries and movies, such as in "Malcolm X," "Lee Daniels' The Butler," and the documentary series "Eyes on the Prize."
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Song RecordingA version of the song performed by Bruce Springsteen, a music contemporary of Baez and Seeger, was also recorded for the Grammy-winning album, "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions."
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Presidential EndorsementThe song has won the endorsement of several U.S. presidents. President Lyndon B. Johnson used the phrase "We Shall Overcome" in speeches advocating for civil rights legislation, and President Barack Obama sang the song during the memorial service for Clem Pinckney.
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Library of Congress RecognitionIn 2006, "We Shall Overcome" was placed in the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry for its "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" value.
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Citation
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"We Shall Overcome Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 14 Jun 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/802021/Pete+Seeger/We+Shall+Overcome>.
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