FOLKWAYS RECORDS Album # FH 5591 © 1~61 by Folkways Records and Service Corp., 121 W. 47th St. NYC USA
WE SHALL OVERCOME sonlis OF THE "FREEDom RIDERS" AnD THE "'SIT -IDS" Spirituals, Gospels and new songs of the Freedom Rider and Sit-in Movement sung by The Montgomery Gospel Trio The Nashville Quartet and GuyCarawan
• Nashville Quartet - Joseph Carter I making it known throUgh thefr his have been to jail and suffered Bernard Le.fayette, James Bevel, toric "81t-ina", "stand-iDS" and violence and abuse many times Samuel Collier "freedom rides" that they vill for the cause of freedom. They accept nothing less than first have seen the lunch counters and Montgomery Trio - Minni e Hendrick, class citizenship today in Ameri theatres opened to Negroes in Mary Ethel Dozier I Gladys Burnette ca. Nashville as a result of their Carter actions. Nashville Quartet Along with their serious approach The three high school girls from The four fellows attend American to life they have the ability to loklntgomery, AJ.abama. and the four Baptist Theological Seminary i n laugh and sing and entertain seminary students fI:Om nashville I Nashville. They have been key others. Their singing for and with Tennessee that are beard singing l eaders and partiCipants in the the students when they were in jail on this record are representative demonstrations there and on t he helped keep the morale up and ease of h\Uldreds of tb:lUsands of other r ecent "freedom ride" through tensi ons. As one student put i t Southerb Negro students vho are Alabama and MiSSissippi. They "it eased that k.not in th@ pit of my stomach". "My Dog La'ves Your Dog" ly the freedom of contact vith vhites of the emphasis has been put on the and parodies of Ray Charles songs vhich at present is not possible in lunch counters and the forms of about the happenings of the day are Montgomery . The morning before they demonstration that has come to be alwayS favorites when they are started bome to Nashville and M:lnt knovn as the "sit- in". Nevs of the clovning and cutting up. "We Shall gomery on the train Moe Asch phoned "sit- in mo vement" and its accomplish Overcome" is the favorite of all and asked them to come up to his ments has gone around the world and the songs they sing. It has spread studio and make this record. Though the "sit-ins" \lill surely take their so fast snd been so widely sung this they vere all tired from the week place in our history books as a last year that it has become the end they still felt like singing milestone in the llegro ' s struggle unofficial theme song for the move and what you hear on this record is for equality in the United States . ment. Other spirituals like ''We a fairly spontaneous session of im Shall Not Be Moved". "I'm Gonna promptu singing and harmonizing that And it appears that this is only Si tAt the Welcome Table" and "Oh took place that lOOming before they the first chapter to be written in Freedom" have been widely sWlg by all started back to their respective this new ground svell of student them and the students at mass meet homes. protest. Already in Nashville. ings. social gatherings and demon Tennessee, the students have written strations . chapter two. After being the first About the movement : major Southern city to achieve lunch Montgomery Trio counter desegregation last year. Since Feb. 1st. 19601 hundreds of they have gone ahead this year to The three girls from Montgomery know thousands of Negro students have again become the first to achieve what it is to live in one of the demonstrated their desire and de desegregation of the movie theatres, most brutal Jim Crow cities in the termination to struggle for "first February Ist l 1961. the first anni South. They have witnessed the class citizenship" in America. In versary of the "sit-ins", vas cele historic happenings of the 1955 bus over three hundred Southern communi brated by South wide "stand-ins" at boycott, the mob violence in reac ties they have "sat-in" at public movie theatres denied to the NeSTo tion to the "sit-ins" and the dime store lunch counters. "stood- students. In Nashville it took "freedom ride" . Lack of police pro in" at public movie theatres. less than three months to again be tection from the hoodlum elements "knealt-in" at churches. "waded- in" successful. This vas about the has made it harder for students to at public beaches , visited segrega same arount of t1I:le it took them demonstrate in Montgomery than Nash ted public parks l and disobeyed t he to gain access to the lunch co~~ter ville. Also the police have direct segregated seating signs in busses. stools last year. Now they ar e al ly intimidated the students but trains. depots and stations where ready discussing what their goal still they have demonstrated. The witing rooms . rest rooms. drinking should be for next year. Montgomery Improvement Association fountains and eating places are segre has carried on the struggle in spite gated . They have come together to The key to all this success has been of constant harrassment by the express this nev surge tovards the students use of the philosophy police and threats of violence froD freedom at mass meetings. prayer and the techniques of "non-violence" white hate groups. These girls who vigils and poster wlks. They have which they have adhered to with sing spiritual and gospel songs partiCipated in voter registration great dedico.tion. The first example that express the spirit of freedom drives and stimulated economic with of its great poyer and usefulness have sung often for this organiza draval campaigns against the business was the Montgomery bus boycott of tion and for many other groups in es that practice Jim Crow customs. 1955 . Martin Luther KinG applied Montgomery. They are used to the They have very effectively dramatized the ideas and techniques of Ghandi fact that these meetings may be to their communities. the country and to the situation in ~b nttomery and harrassed by police or vbite bood the world that they vill no longer preached them to his sixty t housand lums and that they have to be care accept "second class citizenship" in follovers \lho stayed off the busses ful about yhere they go, vhat they this "land of the f ree and the home and walked for eighteen mo ntns. do and vhat they say. Songs like of the brave." They have once end This was the first successful mass ''We Are Soldiers In the Army" • for all broken the Southern stereo non-violent campaign in the U.S . "Hold On" and "I'm Goona Let My type and disproven the idea that Since that successful milestone Rev. Little Light Shine" are some of Negroes are happy vi th segregation. King and his fellow ministers of the their best and have helped to lift Over three thousand students have nevly formed Southern Christian the spirits of many people in had -to go to jail because they Leadership Conference have been ur l-k>ntgomery . participated in these demonstra ging more mass soc'ial action cam tions . Many have suffered violence paigns based on non-violence to Nev York Trip at the hands of hoodlums and police secure equal rights for Negroes in men vho in many cases are committed the South. Also such groups as Both the girls from M:lntgomery and to enforce the customs of segrega COREl AFSC & FOR with leadership the fellovs from Nashville were tion. But this Msn ' t dampened the experienced in t he techniques of heard on Feb. lOth this year at spirits of the students or the non- violence have been teaching Carnegie Hall in Nev York at a effectiveness of the movement. On and vorking in the South for the benefit concert for the Highlander the contrary it has continued to last fey years. It vas a likely Folk School vhere they appeared spontaneously mushroom allover the thing for the students to have with Rev . Fred Shuttlesvorth from South where Negro student communi adopted these ideas and techniques Birmingham. Alabama and vith Pete ties exist and their courageous once they came in contact with Seeger. Guy Carawan. Memphis Sl1m action has caused the older genera them. Once the poverful example and Willie Dixon . (It was at tion of adult Negroes (who are of Montgomery vas set and such a Highlander Folk School in the generally very cautious vhen it strong spokesman as Rev. King had Cumberland Mts. of Tennessee that comes to such radical social action) preached the gospel of non-violence Guy Caravan met both of these to act in support of them. Shocked (vhich actually represents a radi groups and got the idea to bring and indignant over the treatment cal fullfillment of their Christian them to New York for the concert. given the students by the hoodlum teachings) across the South the He has sung vi th both groups many elements. police and courts. the stage vas set for the Negro stu times at Highlander and in Nashville. adults have rallied to their aid and dents to make use of it. It pro He and the fellovs worked together raised great quantities of money for vided an ef.fective channel of ac to make the Folkways L.P. The their legal defense, partiCipated tion for them vhen the time came Nashville Sit-In Story andtbey put in ecooomic boycotts. gone to the to shov their graving unrest and on Nashville's first folk song polls in greater numbers, demonstra disatisfaction with the sloy pace "hootenanny" .) This vas both ted with the students in increasing of desegregation. The spark that groups first trip to New York . Their numbers and expressed a great pride set off the ",hole series 'of non Staten Island Ferry ride to the in these bold new steps by tne violent demonstrations across the Statue of Liberty and the viev from yo~r generation. South vas the Feb. 1st sit-in of the top of the Empire State Building tour students at Greensboro, North topped off a memorable weekend. The nsult ,0 far of all this pro Carolina in 1960. The students After a weekend or Sightseeing, test has been the desegregation of faith in the power of non-violence shopping. parties. singing and mak dime store eating facilities in has given them the courage to go i ng many ney friends the girls from over a hundred and fifty Southern back day after day and face the M:lntgomery commented on vhat a communities. Many gains on other cravds of hoodlums . the assaults different world this vas. especial- fronts have been made also but most and abuse without striking back
2 and attempt to stand tall and peace busses and used bus stations with twenty seven of them were arrested ful in tbe face of danger and try out regard for the segregation and are DOW in jail. Seven more and feel brotherly f eelings to signs. In Anniston their bus vas are in jall in Mont gomery along wards their opponents. And it is burned to oblivion by an incendiary wi th integration l eader s Rev. Wyatt this courageous, disciplined and bomb t hrown into the bus and some Tee Walker I Rev . Ralph Abernathy and loving behavior that has won them of the riders were hospitalized. Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth for using the respect and concern of so Local police in Birmingham, Annis the segregated bus facilities there. many people to their cause . ton and f.bnt gomery in many instances Just what the outcome will be of all during the first fev days refused this is not yet clear. Student and As I write this, nevs of t he lat est to give the riders protection. Some adult integration leaders are call and most dramatic of all the stu of these offici als are under federal ing for a Southvide assault on segre dent non- violent protests in the investigation nov. If it hadn ' t gated t ravel facilities (including South, the Freedom Ride , is being been for the Federal Marshall s there train & airplane stations) in broadcast on the radio . The mob would have been additional serious response to these beatlngs and j ail violence in Birmingham, Anniston violence in Montgomery where a mob ings. All of this has been headline and f.iontgomery I Alabama has been formed outside of a church where nevs both in the U.S . and abroad for the worst yet. Many freedom riders fifteen hundred Negroes were hold the last week. The Freedom Ride, if h3.\'e been beaten senseless. Over ing an anti-segregation rally fea it accomplishes nothing else, bas seven hundred Federal Marshalls had turing the freedom riders and Martin surely achieved its goal of dramatiz to be called in alon£ with National Luther King . They had to use tear ing these evil practices to the Ameri Guardsmen to help local p:llice gas to disperse the mob. Two bus can peopl e and the determination of keep order while three groU?S of loads of freedom r iders then went the students to overcome these un freedom riders rode interstate on to Jackson Mississippi where American practices.
Students being taken to the paddy wagon
A discussion group on non-violence, Student Advisory Council
3 On the mayor's steps after 4,000 students marched in silence over two miles to that spot in protest of the bombing of Attorney Loobey's home, Tenn. (From left to right; Mayor Ben West, Rev. C.T. Vivian, and three student leaders; Diane Nash, Curtis Murphy and Lonnie Hubbard.)
Martin Luther King speaking to a mass meeting of 4,000 people the night after Attorney Looby's home was bombed. ~ SIlE I Band 3: ROCK MI SWL We've got to hold up the blood- stained banner, Band l t THIS LITTIE LIGFll' OF MINE CHORUS: We've got to hold it up unti ~ we die . Rock ury soul. in the bosom of Abraham, This little light of mine, I'm gonna Rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham, ~~ mother vas a soldier; let it shine, Rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham, She bad her bands on the Gospel Plow. This little light of mine, I'm gonna Oh, rock my soul. One day she got old, she couldn' t let it shine, fight anytOOre, This little light of mine, I'm gonna Sounds of life, raging high, She said} "I ' ll stand here and fight let it shine, Sometimes I'm up, sometimes I'm dow; anyhow. " Let it shine, let it shine, let it Sometimes I laugh, sometimes I cry; shine . Sometimes I'm level to the ground. (CHORUS)
Deep dovn in the South, I'm gonna let (CHORUS) I'm so glad I ' m c soldier; it shine, I ' ve got my hands on the Gospel Plow. Deep dovn in the South, I'm gonna let Sounds of life, raging high, One day I'll get old and I can't it shine, Sometimes I cry, sometimes I smile; fight 8.l'l,)T.I)re, Deep down in the South, I'm goona let Sometimes I'm dow, sometimes I ' m up; But you know I ' ll stand. here, child, it shine, Sometimes I'm level to the groWld. and I'll fight anyhow. Let it shine, let it Shine, let it shine. (CHORUS 2X) (CHOR US)
We have the light of freedom, we ' re gonna let it shine, We have the light of freedom, we're Band4:~ Band 71 WE SHALL NO'!' BE MOVED gOD.'1a let it shine, We have the light of freedom, we're Paul and Silas bound in jail, CHORUS: gonna let it shine, Had no one to go their bail; we5nall not, we shall not be IOOved, Let it shine, let it shine, let it Keep your hand on that plow} hold on. We shall not, we shall not be DOved ; shine. Just like a tree that' s standing by CHORUS : the water, God gave it to us, we're genna let it Hold on, hold on, We shall not be IOOved. shine, Keep your ~nd on that plow, hold on. God gave it to us, we're goona let it We're fighting for our freedom, we shine, Freedom 's name is mighty sweet, shell not be moved, God gave it to us, we're gonna let it Soon one day I ' m proud. we're gonoa We're fighting for our freedom, we shine, meet; shall not be moved ; Let it shine, let it shine, let it Keep your hand on that plow, hold on. Just like a tree that's standing by shine. the water, (CHORUS) We shall not be moved . Oh, all in the church, we ' re gonna let it shine, Got my band upon the Gospel Plow, (CHORUS) Oh, all in the church, we 're gonna Ain' t got long on my journey now, let it shine, Keep your hand on that plow, hold on. We must stand and fight together, we Oh, all in the church, we ' re gonna shall not be moved, let it shine. (CHORUS 2X) We must stand and fight together, we Let it shine, l e t it Shine, let it ehnil not be moved; shine. Just like a tree that' s standing by the water, (Repeat first verse) We shall not be moved. Band S: IE!' US BREAK BREAD TOOETHER (CHORUS) Let us break bread together on our knees, (on our knee s) Band 2: THERE'S A MEETING HERE TONIGHT Let us break bread together on our knees, (on our knees) Meeting tonight, meeting tonight, When I fallon my knees, with my Meeting on the old campground . fact to the rising SWl, Meeting tonight, meeting tonight, Oh, Lord have mercy on me. (Kneel SIlE II Meeting on the old campground. before the Saviour, kneel before the Saviour, kneel Band 1: YOUR rx:o Sing just like this on the old camp- before the Saviour oow.) ground, c __ Let us pray to God t ogether on our Dog, dog, dog, dog. Sing just like this on the old My dog loves your dog; ground, knees, (on our knees) Let us pray to God together on our Your dog loves my dog. Sing just like this on the old camp- Etc .... grolmd, knees, (on our knees) When I fall on my knees, with my Sing just like this on the old camp- Lead voice: ground. face to the rising sun, Oh, Lord have mercy on me. (Kneel All of them dogs: before the Saviour, kneel I'm talking about a rabbit dog, I ' m talking about a 'coon dog, This 1s the 'rI8.y we pray on the old before the Saviour, kneel before the Saviour DOW.) I ' m talking about a moon dog, campgrolmd, All of them dogs. This is the way we pray on the· old Let us drink vine together on our I'm talking about a big dog, campgrolmd, I'm talking about a little dog, This is the way we pray on the old knees, (on our knees) Let us drink wine together on our All of them dogs, campground} All of them dogs, This is the way we pray on the old knees, (on our knees) When I fall on my knees, with my All of them dogs. campground. I 'm talking about your dog, face to the rising sun, Oh, Lord have mercy on me. I 'm talking about my dDg, Shouting tonight, shouting tonight, All of them dogs, . Shouting on the old campground . All of them dogs. Shouting tonight, shouting tonight, I wonder vh3 can't we sit under the Shouting on the old campgrolmd . apple tree. Band 6: WE ARE SOLDIERS IN THE ARM! My little doggie Vas a-playing one Meeting tonight, meeting tonight, CHORUS: day, Meeting on the old campground. ~ soldiers in the army; (dog, dog, a-dog, dog, .dog.) Meeting tonight, . meeting tonight, We have to fight, although we have to Down in the meadow in a bundle of Meeting on the old campground. cry. hay. 5 (dog, dog, a-dog, dog, dog. ) Band 3: I'M SO GlAD And before I'll be a slave, Your little doggie then came along, I ' ll be buried in my gr ave, (dog, dog, a - dog, dog, dog.) I'm so glad I'm fighting for my And go home to the Lord a nd be Hey, little doggie, 'WOn ' t you walk right, free. me home. I'm so glad I ' m fighting for nry (dog, dog, a-dog, dog, dog . ) right, No more heartache, no more heartache, I'm so glad I'm fighting for ray No more heartache after awhile j You won't w.lk vith me, right, And before I ' ll be a slave, You won't talk vith me. Singing Glory Hallelujah, I'm so I'll be buried in my gr ave, Why don ' t you hold my hand, glad. And go home to the Lord and be free. So we can understand'! Nov., can't you see that you and me I'm so glad segregation ' s got to go, There ' ll be freedom, there III be Wi ll be 80 a - happy? I'm so glad segregation' s got to go, freedom, Sit under the apple tree. I'm so glad segregation's got to go, There 'll be freedom after awhilej Singing Glory Hallelujah, I'm so And before I'll be a slave, My dog a-love your dog, glad. I ' ll be buried in my grave, And your dog a-love ray dog. Etc ... And go bome to the Lord and be free. I'm so glad integration's on its way, Lead voice: I'm so glad integration's on its way, (Repeat first verse) All of them dogs. I'm so glad integration'S on its way, I'm talking about a rabbit dog, Singing Glory Hallelujah, I'm so I'm talking about a ' coon dog, glad. I'm talking about a moon dog, I'm talking about a black dog, I'm so glad we're in this fight Band 5. WE SHALL OVERCOME I'm talking about a vhite dog, together, I'm talking about a long dog, I'm so glad we're in this fight We shall overcome, ve shall overcome , I'm talking about a hot-dog, together, We shall overcome someday. All of them dogs . (5X) I'm so glad we ' re in this fight Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, I 'WOnder w~ can ' t we sit under the together, We shall overcome someday. apple tree. Singing Glory Hallelujah, I'm so glad . The truth will make us free, the truth vill make us free, I'm so glad we ' re fighting to be The truth will make us free someday, Oh , deep in my beart, I do believe, Band 21 MICHAEL R Never ~en to heaven but I've been told, Hallelujah! Band h. CJ! FREE roM The streets up there are made of gold, Oh, freedom, oh, freedom, Hallelujah! Oh, fre;9-om ~~e!"- awhile j b -.