We Shall Overcome
Backgrounder: We Shall Overcome
is synonymous with the African
American Civil Rights Movement
(1955-1968). And is frequently
sung today after hate tragedies.
Most ascribe the origin to a gospel
hymn by Methodist preacher
Charles Albert Tindley (1851-1953),
who penned 50 hymns while
ministering in Philadelphia; and
credit the lyrical origins of “We
Shall Overcome” to the refrain of
Tindley’s “I’ll Overcome Some Day.
Guy Carawan (b.1927), a white
folk musician introduced the song
to the Civil Rights Movement
by teaching it to the Student
Nonviolent Coordinating Comm
in North Carolina, in 1960.
The song was then picked up
by folk singers such as Joan Baez
in the early 1960s and sung at
folksong concerts & protest rallies
where it became adapted for the
Civil Rights Movt with new stanzas.
Lord, we will Overcome by Faith:
By this we know that we love the
children of God,when we love God
and keep his commandments.
For this is the love of God, that
we keep His commandments.
And His commandments
are not burdensome.
For whatever is born of God
overcomes the world. And this
is the victory that has overcome
the world – our faith. Who is
he who overcomes the world,
but he who believes that Jesus
is the Son of God (1 John 5:2-5).
Heavenly Father, thank you for
your saving grace and for your
Word that whoever is born
of God overcome the world.
We know You use circumstance
to help us to mature in the faith,
to grow in grace and to become
the person that You have us to be.
Lord often the circumstances of
my life do not reflect my choice,
but You are showing me that
Your ways are best for my life.
Thank You for all that You are
teaching me through adversities,
for You are drawing me ever
closer into Your arms of love.
Lord, Help us we pray to gain a
greater understanding of Your
perfect perspective on our life.
Give me patience in adversities
and help me to recognise
Your guiding hand towards me.
Pray that I’ll not be overwhelmed
or overcome by life’s difficulties,
but use each one to teach me
more of Your character, love
and grace – and make me
increasingly willing to be changed
into the person U want me to be.
And thanks that with your grace,
we shall overcome someday!
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
We shall overcome (2x),
We shall overcome, some day.
O deep in my heart, I do believe
We shall overcome, some day.
We’ll walk hand in hand (2x),
We’ll walk hand in hand, some day
O deep in my heart, I do believe
We shall overcome, some day.
We shall live in peace (2x),
We shall live in peace, some day.
O deep in my heart, I do believe
We shall overcome, some day.
We are not afraid (2x),
We are not afraid, TODAY
O deep in my heart, I do believe
We shall overcome, some day.
Backgrounder: We Shall Overcome
is synonymous with the African
American Civil Rights Movement
(1955-1968). And is frequently
sung today after hate tragedies.
Most ascribe the origin to a gospel
hymn by Methodist preacher
Charles Albert Tindley (1851-1953),
who penned 50 hymns while
ministering in Philadelphia; and
credit the lyrical origins of “We
Shall Overcome” to the refrain of
Tindley’s “I’ll Overcome Some Day.
Guy Carawan (b.1927), a white
folk musician introduced the song
to the Civil Rights Movement
by teaching it to the Student
Nonviolent Coordinating Comm
in North Carolina, in 1960.
The song was then picked up
by folk singers such as Joan Baez
in the early 1960s and sung at
folksong concerts & protest rallies
where it became adapted for the
Civil Rights Movt with new stanzas.
Lord, we will Overcome by Faith:
By this we know that we love the
children of God,when we love God
and keep his commandments.
For this is the love of God, that
we keep His commandments.
And His commandments
are not burdensome.
For whatever is born of God
overcomes the world. And this
is the victory that has overcome
the world – our faith. Who is
he who overcomes the world,
but he who believes that Jesus
is the Son of God (1 John 5:2-5).
Heavenly Father, thank you for
your saving grace and for your
Word that whoever is born
of God overcome the world.
We know You use circumstance
to help us to mature in the faith,
to grow in grace and to become
the person that You have us to be.
Lord often the circumstances of
my life do not reflect my choice,
but You are showing me that
Your ways are best for my life.
Thank You for all that You are
teaching me through adversities,
for You are drawing me ever
closer into Your arms of love.
Lord, Help us we pray to gain a
greater understanding of Your
perfect perspective on our life.
Give me patience in adversities
and help me to recognise
Your guiding hand towards me.
Pray that I’ll not be overwhelmed
or overcome by life’s difficulties,
but use each one to teach me
more of Your character, love
and grace – and make me
increasingly willing to be changed
into the person U want me to be.
And thanks that with your grace,
we shall overcome someday!
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
We shall overcome (2x),
We shall overcome, some day.
O deep in my heart, I do believe
We shall overcome, some day.
We’ll walk hand in hand (2x),
We’ll walk hand in hand, some day
O deep in my heart, I do believe
We shall overcome, some day.
We shall live in peace (2x),
We shall live in peace, some day.
O deep in my heart, I do believe
We shall overcome, some day.
We are not afraid (2x),
We are not afraid, TODAY
O deep in my heart, I do believe
We shall overcome, some day.