Soundtrack for a Revolution | ArticleLyrics of the Freedom Songs
"Soundtrack for a Revolution" is a window into the musical and lyrical soul of civil rights movement, as well as the men and women that used song to give them the strength and solidarity to stand up for justice in the face of staunch, often violent injustice and bigotry. These songs and chants of freedom, sung by protestors, activists, and civil rights leaders during the 1950s and 1960s, have now been taken up anew in "Soundtrack" by such contemporary performers as Joss Stone, John Legend, Anthony Hamilton, Wyclef Jean, The Roots, Richie Havens, and others. To read the lyrics of the songs that inspired the civil rights movement, click on the titles below or simply scroll down.
This May Be the Last Time
Performed by Anthony Hamilton & Blind Boys of Alabama
This may be the last time
This may be the last time, children
This may be the last time
May be the last time I don't know
This may be the last time we ever sing together
This may be the last time, children
This may be the last time
May be the last time I don't know
May be the last time we shine together
May be the last time I don't know
This may be the last time we
This may be the last time, children
It may be the last time
May be the last time I don't know
I don't know
I really don't know what tomorrow will bring
Wade in the Water
Performed by Angie Stone
Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God's gonna trouble the water
Well, some say Peter and some say Paul
But God's a-gonna trouble the water
There ain't one god that made us all
God's a-gonna trouble the water
Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God's gonna trouble the water
This Little Light of Mine
Performed by the Carlton Reese Memorial Unity Choir
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Down in my heart
I'm gonna let it shine
Down in my heart
I'm gonna let it shine
Down in my heart
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Down in South America
I'm gonna let it shine
Down in South America
I'm gonna let it shine
Down in South America
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Ain't gonna make it shine
Just gonna let it shine
Ain't gonna make it shine
Just gonna let it shine
Ain't gonna make it shine
Just gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
I'm Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table
Performed by Guy and Candie Carawan
I'm gonna sit at the welcome table,
I'm gonna sit at the welcome table one of these days,
Hallelujah!
I'm gonna sit at the welcome table,
I'm gonna sit at the welcome table one of these days.
I'm gonna feast on milk and honey,
I'm gonna feast on milk and honey one of these days,
Hallelujah!
I'm gonna feast on milk and honey,
I'm gonna feast on milk and honey one of these days.
I'm gonna sit at the Woolworth counter,
I'm gonna sit at the Woolworth counter one of these days,
Hallelujah!
I'm gonna sit at the Woolworth counter (and eat!),
I'm gonna sit at the Woolworth counter one of these days.
Which Side Are You On?
Written by Florence Reece
Performed by Hank Thomas and Performed by The Freedom Singers
Which side are you on, boy?
Which side are you on?
Which side are you on, boy?
Which side are you on?
My daddy was a freedom fighter
And I'm my daddy's son
And I will fight for freedom
Until everybody's won
Which side are you on, boy?
Which side are you on?
Which side are you on, boy?
Which side are you on?
Ninety-Nine and a Half Won't Do
Performed by Carlton Reese
I got to have all your love, night and day
Not just a little part, but all of your heart, sugar
Ninety-nine and a half just won't do
Oh, no, no, just won't get it
Don't be led in the wrong direction
To start this thing off right, a man need a little love and affection,
Yes he do, now
Ninety-nine and a half just won't do
Oh, no, no, just won't get it
All right. Lookie here
We got to bring it all down, start gettin' it right
We got to stop this messin' around, and keep the thing up tight,
Yes we do, now
Ninety-nine and a half just won't do
Oh, no, no, just won't get it
All right, sugar
Got to have a hundred,
Got to have a hundred, all right
Ooh, I must do, I must do,
I must do now
Oh! Got to have a hundred!
Got to have a hundred!
Oh! Got to have a hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-hundred, too right. Got to have a hundred, now. Oh!
Hallelujah, I'm a-Travelin'
Performed by Hank Thomas (to the tune of "Hallelujah I'm a Bum")
Hallelujah, I'm a-traveling
Hallelujah, ain't it fine;
Hallelujah, I'm a-traveling
To Jackson this time
Keep Your Eyes on the Prize
Performed by Joss Stone
Paul and Silas bound in jail
Had no money for to go their bail
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on
Hold on, why don't ya
Paul and Silas began to shout
The jail doors opened and they walked right out
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on
Hold on, why don't ya
Hold on, Hold on
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on
Hold on, why don't ya
Hold on, Hold on
Keep your eyes on the prize
Hold on, why don't ya
Hold on, Hold on
Keep your eyes on the prize
And hold right on
Just keep your eyes right on the prize
Hold on mmm yeah
Hold, hold right on
Hold on
Keep your eyes on the prize
Ain't Scared of Your Jails
Written by Lester Cobb
Performed by Chuck Neblett
I ain't a-scared of your dog
'coz I want my freedom
I want my freedom
I want my freedom
ain't a-scared of your dog
And I want my freedom now!
We Shall Not Be Moved
Performed by Lynda Lowery
We shall not
We shall not be moved
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters
We shall not be moved
Wallace is our enemy
He must be removed
Wallace is our enemy
He must be removed
Performed by Mary Mary
We shall not
We shall not be moved
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters
We shall not be moved
On our way to victory
We shall not be moved
We're on our way to victory
We shall not be moved
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters
We shall not be moved
I'm not going to move y'all
I want my freedom
And I'm gonna get my freedom
We're on our way to victory
I believe we're gonna set it free
Yes, I believe we're gonna get there
We're gonna get there
We Shall Overcome
Zilphia Horton adaptation
Performed by Guy Carawan and Performed by Harold Middlebrook and Performed by Anthony Hamilton, Joss Stone, Blind Boys of Alabama, Mary Mary, and John Legend
Deep in my heart I do believe
We shall overcome some day
We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome
Some day
We'll walk hand in hand
Some day
We shall live in peace
Some day
We are not afraid
Today
The whole wide world around
Some day
I'm On My Way
Performed by the Carlton Reese Memorial Unity Choir featuring Mamie Brown-Mason and Performed by Odetta at the March on Washington
I'm on my way to the freedom land
I'm on my way to the freedom land
I'm on my way to the freedom land
Yes I'm on my way, oh Lord
to the freedom land
It's an uphill journey, but I'm on my way
It's an uphill journey, but I'm on my way
It's an uphill journey, but I'm on my way
Here's to the State of Mississippi
Written by Phil Ochs
Performed by Wyclef Jean and Jerry Wonder
Here's to the state of Mississippi,
For Underheath her borders, the devil draws no lines,
If you drag her muddy river, nameless bodies you will find.
Whoa the fat trees of the forest have hid a thousand crimes,
The calender is lyin' when it reads the present time.
Whoa here's to the land you've torn out the heart of,
Mississippi find yourself another country to be part of!
Here's to the state of Mississippi,
Woah and here's to the state of Mississippi,
Here's to the people of Mississippi
Who say the folks up north, they just don't understand
And they tremble in their shadows at the thunder of the Klan
The sweating of their souls can't wash the blood from off their hands
They smile and shrug their shoulders at the murder of a man
Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of
Mississippi find yourself another country to be part of
Here's to the state of Mississippi,
Woah and here's to the state of Mississippi,
Here's to the state of Mississippi,
Woah and here's to the state of Mississippi
Will the Circle Be Unbroken?
Performed by Richie Havens
I was standing by my window
On a cold and cloudy day
When I saw the hearse comin
Just to take my mother away.
So I told the undertaker:
“undertaker please drive slow
For this body you are hauling
Lord, I hate, I hate to see her go”
Will the circle be unbroken?
By and by lord, by and by,
There's a better home a-waitin'
In the sky lord, in the sky.
Well I followed close behind her,
Tried to hold up and be brave,
But I could not hide my sorrow
When they laid her in the grave
Will the circle be unbroken?
By and by lord, by and by,
There's a better home a-waitin'
In the sky lord, in the sky.
One by one, the seats were emptied
By one by one, they went away
Now my family, they are parted
When we see each other someday
Will the circle be unbroken?
By and by lord, by and by,
There's a better home a-waitin'
In the sky lord, in the sky.
In the sky lord, in the sky.
In the sky lord, in the sky.
Yes, We Want Our Freedom
Performed by Cleo Kennedy and Carlton Reese from "Sing for Freedom"
Yes, we want our freedom
Yes, we want our freedom
We want out freedom
and we want it now
We want out freedom
and we want it now
Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round
Performed by the Carlton Reese Memorial Unity Choir featuring Eloise Gaffney
Ain't gonna let nobody turn me ‘round,
Turn me round, turn me ‘round.
Ain't gonna let nobody, turn me ‘round.
I'm gonna keep on a-walkin';, keep on a-talkin',
Walkin' into freedom land.
Ain't gonna let segregation turn me 'round,
Turn me 'round, turn me 'round.
Ain't gonna let segregation turn me 'round,
I'm gonna keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin'.
Walkin' into freedom land.
I'm gonna walk
I'm gonna walk
I'm gonna sing
I'm gonna sing
Performed by The Roots
Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round,
Turn me 'round, turn me 'round.
Ain't gonna let nobody, turn me 'round.
I'm gonna keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin',
Marchin' on to freedom land
Ain't gonna let no jailhouse turn me 'round,
Turn me 'round, turn me 'round.
Ain't gonna let no jailhouse, turn me 'round.
I'm gonna keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin',
Marchin' on to freedom land
Ain't let segregation turn me 'round,
Turn me 'round, turn me 'round.
Ain't gonna let segregation turn me 'round,
I'm gonna keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin'.
Marchin' on to freedom land
Keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin',
Marchin' on to freedom land
Governor Wallace
Written by James Orange
Performed by The Freedom Singers from "Voices of the Civil Rights Movement" and Performed by Chuck Neblett
Well I read in the paper
Just the other day
The freedom fighters
They are on their way
They are coming by bus and an airplane too
They would even walk if you would asked them to
So governor Wallace, oh yeah
You never can jail us all
Governor Wallace, oh yeah
Segregation is bound to fall
Take My Hand, Precious
Written by Thomas Dorsey
Performed by Mahalia Jackson
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home
When my way grows drear
Precious Lord linger near
When my life is almost gone
Hear my cry, hear my call
Hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home
When the darkness appears
And the night draws near
And the day is past and gone
At the river I stand
Guide my feet, hold my hand
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I'm tired, I'm weak, I'm lone
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home
Woke Up This Morning
Performed by SNCC Freedom Singers and Performed by John Legend
Woke up this morning with my mind
Stayed on freedom
Woke up this morning with my mind
Stayed on freedom
Woke up this morning with my mind
Stayed on freedom
Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah.
I'm walking and talking with my mind
stayed on freedom
I'm walking and talking with my mind
stayed on freedom
I'm walking and talking with my mind
stayed on freedom
Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah.
Ain't nothing wrong with my mind
Stayed on freedom
Oh, there ain't nothing wrong with keeping my mind
Stayed on freedom
There ain't nothing wrong with keeping your mind
Stayed on freedom
Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah.
I'm singing and praying with my mind
Stayed on freedom
Yeah, I'm singing and praying with my mind
Stayed on freedom
Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah.
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