a History of "We Shall Overcome"
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- Опубліковано 14 чер 2020
- We Shall Overcome became the anthem for the Civil Rights Movement, thanks in part to the movement leaders, and thanks in part to artists and folk signers like Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger. But the roots of the song go way back to the Civil War and slavery.
Maybe the most poignant thing about the evolution of We Shall Overcome is that there’s been a NEED for it to evolve. From the beginning, black music has always been about acknowledging oppression while hoping for a better future. That’s a paradox. That’s why the clip of Fountain Hughes is so inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time.
So the next time you hear this song, and I hope we don’t need any more versions of it, just know that it’s invoking the memory and traditions of some of America’s greatest fighters. People like Pete Seeger, Mahalia Jackson, Charles Tindley, Fountain Hughes, Union Soldiers, and perhaps even the first generations of born African American slaves. It’s powerful stuff. But it’s music, and music is powerful.
Thank you for making this video! I am an elementary music teacher and I used this to teach my 4th and 5th graders about the musical and cultural history of this song. We are singing it as our "Song of the Month" this month and I appreciated having an in-depth explanation and conversation from a culture bearer. Thank you again!
Just made my day 🥲🤍
❤
I hope that you can still use it as part of your curriculum. I had no idea of its amazing history.
Damn. I cried so much watching this. The fact this doesn’t have more views is near criminal. So many amazing people who deserve to be seen and heard, now more than ever. And you deserve so much love and growth for making such a masterful video. Found out about this song in gathering for the recent reinstatements in Tennessee. Looked up Joan Baez’s version and couldn’t keep myself from breaking down its so beautiful. Thank you for doing history’s serves.
Thank you...we do not know where we are going until we know where we came from.
Absolutely amazing work here!!!! Zilphia Horton has a huge part in both bringing the elements of lyrics and melody together and then carrying it to the people who made history with it. I know she is often left out of this history when it is told. Curious, when so many others are keenly included. The message about music here is powerful -- inclusive, goes everywhere, grows and changes, holds all kinds of meanings as it moves through our lives and social contexts. Absolutely, the best presentation I've seen on We Shall Overcome. Wonderful!!!
O Sanctissima is also used as the melody of a famous German Christmas Song "Oh du fröhliche" ~ "Oh you joyful"
This is a wonderful correlation and connection! Thank you for sharing!!
Sheesh! That's a mindblowing discovery! I'd bet, most of the germans aren't aware of this connection.
This video is SO well done. thank you so much - using it as an intro to my music classes for teaching protest songs/music of the civil rights movement!!
And by the eventide, we shall overcome.
Wow…. Thank you. Fell asleep and quickly woke up with this song stuck in my head. Not sure about anything or why this happened, but I’m so grateful to have found your video. You are so full of humility and kindness…. Thank you for bringing this very important and beautiful information to us.
We are reading "We Shall Overcome: The Story of a Song" by Debbie Levy and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton in my fourth grade dual language class. I thank you for your video. I am going to use it in conjunction with the book, so that my students can hear the different versions and better understand the song's history.
chills over my spines, so much respect for the people who where made slaves, for there perciference, curage and pain the have suffert, i have learnd a wise lesson.
Superb! I'm just reading Bernice Johnson Reagon's essay, "The Civil Rights Movement," in AFRICAN AMERICA MUSIC: AN INTRODUCTION, and although she lays out the song's history in detail, she doesn't go back as far as you do with the song's melody. You've added something new here, and I'm grateful for the lesson.
Hey that means a lot to me! Thank you for taking to time to watch and share your thoughts !
Genie, this is so well done. Thank you for creating this and everything else you do!
THANK YOU for watching! Your opinion means a lot! I’m a big fan of your work!
Thank-you for this data! I am deeply moved!
This is a great history of a wonderful and powerful song. Thank you.
Many thanks and blessings, @GenieDeez. "...that's powerful stuff..." indeed!
Fantastic lesson, very thorough. Will be sharing this with my 7th Grade General Music class for our Protest Music Unit. Thank you for creating this!
Great job! This really helped me with my music research paper and was really fun to watch! Keep up the good work :D
This is so beautiful and such an amazingly well-done informational/educational video. Thank you
Such an interesting discussion of one of the most beautiful Melodie’s ever written
What an emotional journey. Thanks for this video (and for adding Mahalia Jackson to it. I love her). I learned this song back in 2006 from Bruce Springsteen's cover and I loved it. I didn't know the whole story about it. Thanks! Greetings from Italy 👋
This video is so well done! Thank you for the diligence in your research. I learned something and will share with my students.
Powerful, sad and beautiful at the same time. Thank you for sharing~ 8:46
Thank you so much for this music history. The only other person I know whose soul is filled with a love of African American music history is Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon. I knew that Pete Seeger had changed the word "will" to "shall," because Dr. Reagon speaks about this and how the Seegers gave unendly of themselves. Toshi Reagon is, after all, named after Toshi Seeger. But I had never heard that the melody was informed by "No More Auction Block." Your video is fascinating for everyone devoted to African American music history. Thank you again.
What an eye opener (ear and heart opener too) this should have millions of views!!!
Fam 🤍🤍🙏🏽🙏🏽 That pretty much makes my day and inspires me to create. Thank YOU
@@GenieDeez it's also wonderful that the creator of this video takes the time to respond. we're glad you hear us
I'm teaching this song to my students and I'm really glad to have found this while looking into its background. What an excellent video - I've probably never more quickly subbed and hit the bell lol
Well if that’s not the biggest compliment I’ve ever received! 🤍🙏🏽😩 thank you for making my day! And please let me know how it goes with your students
@@GenieDeez
Aw. Of course!
I'll let you know
Thank you for this insightful, thorough, researched look at We Shall Overcome.
Amen. Powerful video, Thank You for the lesson. Keep teaching. ❤
Sublime 💫🌬️🤍🖤🤍🖤♥️
Immense Thank you to you for This Mighty important document ! I send you from France but beyond that from my heart : Grand Bravo merci beaucoup, to be (Merci d’exister)🙏🏽
ALWAYS, EVER & FOR EVER BE, STAY PROUD ! CONTINUE THE SAY IT LOUD : “I’M BLACK AND I’M PROUD !” 💫
An incredible video. I am showing my students a virtual field trip on the March on Washington, and I’ll be focusing a little bit on We Shall Overcome. I will be playing your video in class. Thanks so much for creating this.
Makes my day family 🙏🏽🤍
Wonderful. Inspiring. Thank you. Praises to the heroes.
And thank YOU, for real 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙂
Thanks for the video! I hear about this song when I was reading the biography of Martin Luther King.Once I finished the book I put this song playing and just give me chills, imaging all the people singing together and fighting for their lives always with peace and hope on their minds. So beautiful.
I first heard Roy Zimmerman's version which fleshes it out even more with a couple of extra verses which give it a more modern feel. Definitely something worth checking out. Excellent video, there's nothing more fascinating and beautiful than the history of activism and music.
We Shall Overcome - Roy Zimmerman: ua-cam.com/video/nLoKnyZsQQc/v-deo.html
Hi , thanks for educating me . Your amazing Brother !!!! Peace ☮️
Peace to you fam! Thanks for the love
Good video. Informative. It's nice to see Charles A. Tindley getting the credit he deserves.
Thank you for this information! I will be sharing with my followers and members. It's important for all to understand the importance of the Civil Rights Movement and its history, including the music that was sung.
Agreed one hundred percent! And THANK YOU for this comment and for sharing. It means a lot to me 🙏🏽🤍✊🏽
Thanks so much for this !!! This is amazing information in 8 mins wow
Means a lot to me! Thank you for watching !
This is a wonderful distillation of the history of "We shall overcome." The video and audio clips make your presentation really engaging. I will be showing it to my 5th grade students.
I'm a sixth grader and my teacher showed it to me
Thanks for this powerful story.
Thank YOU for watching :)
thanks for this video. i have chills watching this...
Thank you for your research and posting this video!
Thank you so much for uncovering and distilling this information. New subscriber right here.
Thank you for making this lovely video.
That was a profound 8 1/2 minutes! Thank you for that.
The production quality and content of this video are amazing!
Means the world to me Daniela 🤍🙏🏽
brilliant! researching for an essay based around folk music and the civil rights movement. this is really good stuff!
Tom thanks again man! This really encouraged me
Thank you for this - wonderful work. I am a public school music teacher and I shared this with my students today as we were discussing the role of music in the Civil Rights Movement; it was a much more concise and comprehensive presentation on this song than I could have provided in the time I had to teach about this. Very grateful to you and your insight and work in putting this together.
This makes my day 🤍🤍🤍 Thank you for sharing and for supporting !!! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
How was the response to the video ?
@@GenieDeez The kids were fascinated and moved by it. It led to many great discussions; about great folk singers of the 20th century, having the courage to face "hard history," and how music is our time machine - something I say all the time but your video really took us WAY back on the wings of a song. Thanks again!
That’s AMAZING. I’m so glad it led to discussion; I find that’s some of the most valuable experience in a classroom. May I ask the age or grade you teach? I’m collecting all the data I can! 🥳😬
@@GenieDeez Sure - I'm a kinder through 5th grade music teacher in Asheville, NC - I used your vid with my 3rd and 4th graders. Thanks again for your insightful work.
Thank you for the insightful journey!
Thank you for watching!
Beautifully
Well done.
. . .if you were in my class, you would have the Top A+!
Brilliant Research,
Awesome Presentation.
You've got it.
My heart is full, from the depth and Beauty of this Presentation.
Awesome.
Wonderful video - thank you. I had a "duh!" moment when you brought in No More Auction Block -- I've sung that as well as We Shall Overcome many times, and the similarity simply didn't register.
the most beautiful song for this sick dying world ... today generation must hear this
Thank u for this chronological history!
I wish u could create a documentary on the influence of Africans over all musical trends across the world! We need it so badly for posterity!
Sam this means the world to me! Thanks for your support and fantastic idea about the full documentary 🤔🤔🤔
This is an emotional journey… heart breaking and inspiring at same time ❤
Wonderful video and great commentary. I'm a big Pete Seeger fan and I'm recalling an interview he gave where he said the reason he changed Will Overcome to Shall Overcome...he said it was because when you form the word Shall your mouth opens wide, where as with the word Will....the mouth is more closed...(try it, it's true) and he said the word Shall made it more singable.....great work on this video again, I'll be looking for more :-) Blessings.
Thats such a wonderfully subtle but impactful piece of knowledge! “Shall” DOES make smile holy cow
So many things I wanna type out and say about this video but It’d take to long. Amazing video.
so well researched and spoken, thank you so much God bless you
Incredible work, thank you
Thank you for this.
Thank you for this video .
Genius ! Congrats , Man !
I am amazed that this late in my life I am still receiving information that makes me crackle behind the eyes. Despite the continuing threats to our existence, things are better and humanity is more humane.
Brilliant research! And brilliantly made movie, too! Bravo, you have done a great job! Hats off to you, from Kolkata (The City of Joy and the City of Mother Teresa), India!
Makes my day dear friend 🧡🙏🏽🙏🏽🙂
@@GenieDeez 🙏
This is beautiful - thank you for sharing! I look forward to using this video in my music classroom - powerful messaging!
Brilliant! So much in our histories are an evolution of one thing on to the other and resignify themselves. It is a Paradox
INDEED! 🤍
@@GenieDeez I am from Argentina and follow how Mardigrass (Carnaval) resignify historical motifs and use them as a flag and anthems to reclaim negated social and human rights
Yes. Genie, yes! Powerful mini doc. Thank you for summing up and connecting so well. I'm showing this to my 6th grade music class!
Natalie!! You’re the best and THANK YOU again for sharing. I do hope the class enjoyed it
Fantastic information and absolutely amazing this💖💖💖😍😍😍🌹💐👏👏👏
Thank you ❤!!
Very cool video. Great work. Thank you.
Love that...Thanks mate! ❤️
Appreciate you friend! 🤍🙏🏽
That was amazing! ♥️
I love you for this, great job ♥️✨
🤍🤍🤍
Great video man!!!
Lovely video. Detailed.
You nailed it!
Yes Music is Powerful!
Fascinating! I teach this song every year to a my upper grade elementary music students. It's so powerful to heart their young voices sing the song. I'm really excited to share your video with them this year. So glad I came across it. Thank you.
Doug this made my day! Thank you family. And please let me know how it goes!
Thank you for this imformative video.
I appreciate this. ❤️
Awesome video man!
Family, thanks man. Appreciate you!!
Such wonderful work! I´m writing an essay about the civil rights movment with Joan Baez and "We shall overcome" as the elected artist and this was so great and giving for the essay! As english is not my first language you made this video very accessible for everyone, thank you!
Waoh. History is good. I had no idea about these links this song has.
Thank you for this
This made my day 🙏🏽🤍
Wow! Seriously. Just wow 😯
Appreciate you family 🙏🏽🙏🏽🤍
Nice one, fella. I learnt something.
This is a beautifully done video. I’ll be showing it to my music students this week. Thank you!
Lisa THANK YOU!!! That means a lot to me. Thanks for sharing with your class; I hope they enjoyed it!
Giving credit to Atron Twigg and Kenneth Morris, would took Rev. Tindley song and put the words together for this one. But it was Lucille Simmons, in 1945 that help bring the song to the prominence that it is today. She started singing it at a labour protest in SC; and change the word I to "WE". She then brought the song to Highlander Folk School,where she shared it with other labor activists. At the time , Zilphia Horton, head of the school’s cultural program, learned the song and taught it to Pete Seeger.
He (Pete), sang it when Martin Luther King visited to give a speech 10 years later and the song gained popularity until today. So I give big credit to the late Lucille Simmons Whipper who dead this past August 2021.
I have used your video all this week in my 4th and 5th grade music classes. I love how you use this song, which we happened to be learning anyway, to demonstrate the "big idea" of how music is changed by history but also has the power to change history. This is great work and I'm interested in watching your other videos..
Means a lot to me Shannon! Hopefully can get back to making more videos soon
Thanks for this video! I'm trying to find the roots of "There is mean things happening in this land" which Pete Seeger also sung. Do you have any info on this one? Thanks in advance.
poet Girija Kumar Mathur
In India, the renowned poet Girija Kumar Mathur composed its literal translation in Hindi "Hum Honge Kaamyab (हम होंगे कामयाब)" which became a popular patriotic/spiritual song during the 1970s and 80s, particularly in schools.

en.m.wikipedia.org › wiki
We Shall Overcome - Wikipedia
Muy buena investigación me encantó. Felicidades a tu canal
Genie, thank you for your work, I am a history teacher in Santo Domingo... questions: 1) why dont you mention Joan Baez, her version of the song, her influence on Dylan, and both their performance a Washington? and 2) I always thought Zilphia Horton had tought the song to Pete Seeger, so i am missing Highlander Folk School, too
Hey Friend! Thank you for your support and for the comment. You’ve illuminated some blind spots that I neglected 🙏🏽 I think I also (unconsciously) prioritize archival footage, and the predominance of footage of certain historical figures over others influenced how I cut this together too. But, to your point, pointing out not only the popularizers but The Who taught those popularizers goes a long way in doing our historical work. I appreciate you!!
I agree with TB about you not mentioning Joan Baez -because her version of it IS how I first heard this song (back in the 60s)!
I agree too!
@@GenieDeez I realize many artists "borrow" tunes & ideas from others and influences... But, I hadn't realized Dylan's, "Blowin' in the Wind" was a 'takeoff' from "No More Auction Block" -Music is truly an amazing artform! But, your video here otherwise is very thorough and totally well done! I will use its info (also) in teaching students songs about MLK and the "gospel" genre. Thanks again! ww
In one of her interviews, Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon is asked about this. She paused for a moment and then began talking about how Seeger worked on the song at Highlander and then took it back North, returning it to the South some time later. It's a fascinating interview. Dr. Reagon's love for African American music history is on full display. I think it was a Democracy Now interview with Amy Goodman.
What a wonderful video! Using it in my Music History class, Introduction to the Music of the U.S. while talking to my students about music for reform. Thanks so much for this.
Grateful for this, posted it on my FB page--also in light as we enter into the court case on behalf of George Floyd. may there be justice, truth and mercy for all involved. I carry this song in my heart.
Looks like JUSTICE WON for Mr George Floyd!
May we now make some RADICAL Policy changes in "policing"
Great video. The song "No more auction block" wasn't created by military men during the Civil War; however, it was a Negro Spiritual dating long before the Civil War.
Thank you! So good!
What version of O Sanctissima are you playing?
Thank you again!
LOVE
Thank you for this investigation into the lineage of “We Shall Overcome”.
Although the pieces explored may have contributed to the development of “We Shall Overcome”, I think the word “borrowed” implies a conscious intent.
How much of the melody from “O Sanctissima” is “borrowed”?
Again, thank you for the exploration into this incredibly important piece of music and history.
~ Frank
Very well done! I teach 7th grade and this was beautiful!
THIS IS AWESOME! Using it to teach my middle school choir
This Song goes back to Slave days long before Seeger too
Like Amazing Grace....
The Words are from Newton but the Tune was heard on a Slave Ship
Or Cotton Fields
The Spiritual Stories are passed down from our Ancestors ....
We shall overcome are not the Original Hymn words which we sang through our Church History in our Southern
My Grandpa sang other words
About the Lord Backgrounds either
I appreciate this though because it took a lot of Courage to march and sing with us
People were often rascist and Brutale
My Parents and I experienced things
Blessings
Thank you
It was the Anthem too for Irish Catholics against discrimination, during the troubles of the 60s 70s 80s in Northern Ireland
Wowww I didn’t know that !
@@GenieDeez check out we shall overcome troubles Northern Ireland video👍👍👍