Go Down Moses
When Israel was in Egypt’s land, let my people go
Oppressed so hard they could not stand let my people go
Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt’s land.
Tell old Tell old Pharaoh Pharaoh to let my people go


Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Comin' for to carry me home.
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Comin' for to carry me home.

Looked over Jordan, & what did I see? Comin' for to carry me home.
A band of angels comin' after me, Comin' for to carry me home.

If you get there before I do, Comin' for to carry me home.
Just tell my friends that I'm a comin' too. Comin' for to carry me home


Heav’n Heav’n
I got a robe, you got a robe, … All God's children got a robe.
When I get to Heav'n gonna put in my robe,
Gonna shout all over God's Heav'n, Heav'n, Heav'n
Everybody talkin' bout ain't nobody going to,
Heav'n, Heav'n, Heav'n…. Gonna shout all over God's Heav'n

I got shoes, you got shoes … I got a harp, you got a harp …

Oh, Freedom
Oh-o freedom.  Oh-o freedom. Oh freedom over me (over me)
And before I’ll be a slave, I'll be buried in my grave.
And go home to my Lord and be free (and be free)

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!
I'm on my way to the freedom land!
I'm on my way, praise God! I'm on my way.

I asked my brother to come w/me… I'm on my way, praise God! I'm on my way.
I asked my sister to come w/me… I'm on my way, praise God! I'm on my way.
If they say no, I'll go alone… I'm on my way, praise God! I'm on my way.
I'm on my way, & I won't turn back… I'm on my way, praise God! I'm on my way.

ACT II:  Civil Rights Movement 1960’s

AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS {FREEDOM} SONGS: Revival of the spiritual
It’s been said that The Civil Rights movement was the singingest movement in American history. During the 1960s and 70s, many of the freedom songs sung by Civil Rights workers were new versions of old slave spirituals with updated lyrics that expressed the Civil Rights Movement. Sometimes, the words of traditional spirituals were slightly changed for special events, like this next song. Where’s Selma & why was it an important place?

Marching 'Round Selma (sung to the tune of Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho)
Marching ‘round Selma like Jericho, Jericho, Jericho
Marching ‘round Selma like Jericho
For segregation wall must fall

Look at people answering (woo)
To the Freedom Fighters call (woo)
Black, Brown & White American say (woo)
Segregation wall must fall

Good evening freedom’s fighters (woo)
Tell me where you’re bound (woo)
Tell me where you’re marching (woo)
From Selma to Montgomery town

This next song was sung by Black & White people alike during workers' union movement and civil rights rallies. People would stand and hold the hands of the people next to them, with their arms criss-crossed, and they’d sway from side to side. This symbolizes unity & determination.

We Shall Overcome
We shall overcome, we shall overcome … we shall overcome someday
Oh-o deep in my heart ….. I do believe we shall overcome someday

We'll walk hand in hand … We shall all be free…

Workers became empowered during the Civil Rights movement. This next song was used as a motivational union song. Workers were speaking up about unfair work conditions, unfair wages, and people of all colors stood together to protest and fight for equal rights. We need some volunteers to join us on stage…we’ll let the teachers pick one student from each class

WHAT DO WE WANT? FREEDOM! WHEN DO WE WANT IT? NOW!!! EQUAL RIGHTS! EQUAL PAY!

We Shall Not Be Moved
We shall not, we shall not be moved
We shall not, we shall not be moved
Just like a tree planted by the water,
We shall not-ot be moved

We're fighting for our rights…

We're building a mighty union….

Black & White together…

Great songwriters in the 1960's: 
Pete Seeger, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springstein, Bono, The Impressions, Richie Havens, Bob Marley, Joan Baez, Woody Guthrie, Janis Ian - ...to name a few

The song is a call to action for the American worker, taking symbols from the work place and turning them into calls for action toward equality.

The first verses talk about re-purposing a hammer and a work bell. The third verse talks about "having a song," - a symbol of people using their voices to speak out on their own behalf. The final verse reminds us that we all have a hammer, a bell & a song, and we must remember use them.

If I Had A Hammer
G Em
If I had a ham-mer
F G C G F
I'd ham-mer in the mo-rn-ing,
G C Em
I'd ham-mer in the eve-ning
F G
All o-ver this la-nd.
G7 C
I'd ham-mer out da-n-ger,
Am
I'd ham-mer out wa-rn-ing,
G F C
I'd ham-mer out love be-tween
F C
my broth-ers and my sis-ters
F C G C Em F
A-ll o-ver th-is la-n-d.


(HAS) If I had a bell
I'd ring it in the morning…

(KF) If I had a song
I'd sing it in the morning …

(ALL) Well I got a hammer
And I got a bell
& I got a song to sing all over this land
It's the hammer of justice
It's the bell of freedom
And it's the song about love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

Lift Every Voice And Sing {composed by James Weldon Johnson}
This song is considered the African American National Anthem. There was a time when this song was taught in schools. However, few young people know the words of this song today. Traditionally, men were also supposed to take off their hats, and people would stand out of respect for our ancestors and the memories that this song is supposed to evoke.

Lift ev'ry voice and sing, Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise
High as the list'ning skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won.

Aint Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round
Aint gonna let nobody … turn me 'roun’, turn me 'roun’, turn me 'roun’
Aint gonna let nobody….turn me roun’
I'm gonna keep on walkin', keep on talkin’, marchin’ into freedom land

Aint gonna let no jailhouse … Aint gonna let no policemen …

ACT III
Present day...

Where are we today with our crys for freedom? Do you ever hear a song about freedom? By whom?

People Get Ready
People get ready, there's a train comin'
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
You don't need no ticket you just thank the lord

People get ready, there's a train to Jordan
Picking up passengers coast to coast
Faith is the key, open the doors and board them
There's hope for all among those loved the most

People get ready there's a train comin'
You don't need no baggage, just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
You don't need no ticket, just thank the lord.

Redemption Song (Composed by Bob Marley)
G Em C G/B Am
Old pirates yes they rob I Sold I to the merchant ships
G Em C G/B Am
Minutes after they took I From the bottomless pit
G Em C G/B Am
But my hand was made strong By the hand of the almighty
G Em C D G
We forward in this generation Triumphantly Won't you help to sing,
C D G C D Em C D G C D G
These songs of freedom All I ever had, Redemption songs Redemption songs
G Em C G/B Am
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery None but ourselves can free our minds
G Em C G/B Am
Have no fear for atomic energy Cause none of them can stop the time
G Em C G/B Am
How long shall they kill our prophets? While we stand aside & look
G Em C D
Some say it's just a part of it We've got to fulfill the book
G C D G C D Em
Won't you help to sing, these songs of freedom Cause all I ever had,
C D G Em / / / C / D / Em / / /
Redemption songs