Stuart Stotts traces the history of the song “We Shall Overcome” in an account that also offers insight into folk music as a living, ever-changing art form. Glimpses of the song that eventually became “We Shall Overcome” can be found in church hymns from the European tradition and African-influenced slave spirituals. A song called “We Will Overcome” emerged from these antecedents on the picket lines of the labor movement in the first half of the twentieth century, and in the early 1960s, this staple of union activism began to be adapted by singers and organizers in the civil rights movement. Its transformative journey continues today as verses are added to fit new causes. As it has passed from singer to singer, many individuals and groups have shaped the song both musically and lyrically, with Pete Seeger, who provides a foreword for this volume, being one of the most influential. In addition to source notes and a bibliography that includes recordings and DVDs (a CD is included with the book), Stotts relates two personal stories in an author’s note that speaks to the power of this song as part of the struggle for peace and social justice. (Age 11 and older)

"We Shall Overcome" isn't a complicated piece of music. The first verse has only twenty-two words, most of them repeated. The melody is straightforward. The chords are basic. Yet the song has had a profound effect on people throughout the United States--and the world.

In clear, accessible language Stuart Stotts explores the roots of the tune and the lyrics in traditional African music and Christian hymns. He demonstrates the key role "We Shall Overcome" played in the civil rights, labor, and anti-war movements in America. And he traces the song's transformation into an international anthem. With its dramatic stories and memorable quotes, this saga of a famous piece of music offers a unique way of looking at social history.
Author's note, bibliography, source notes, index.