jlewis - post 7_music

The one song that always affects my mood is "We Shall Overcome". “We Shall Overcome” an early civil-rights protest song has come through the ages as a calming song. The melody is based in gospel, and while not a marching song, has been sung in marches for civil rights, women’s right, gay and lesbian rights, just to name a few.. In fact I can’t think of a song that has been sung on more streets, in more churches, by as many diverse groups of people as this song. While most people think Pete Seeger wrote this song, they would be wrong. Pete Seeger, in interview, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-FmQEFFFko  says the song was first written in 1909. Lucille Simmons introduced Pete Seeger to the song and he printed it in 1948 in a publication called People Songs Bulletin. It has been recorded by such artist as Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger (of course), and my favorite, Diana Ross. This link will take you to Diana Ross singing it in Budapest, 1996.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnzmPrsLXn8

I remember the first time I heard the song, sitting on the back porch steps of the church I could not go into (it was an African American Church). Their church services were always longer than my church’s, and their songs were much more uplifting. This one made me feel like I could fly, yet at the same time, kept me on the ground. Still does.