I was there.

However, I'm sorry that I can't be of any help to you as I didn't hear any speeches, and can't remember any of the songs and chants that were probably part of that historical event.

What I remember most about that day was the festive atmosphere and the thousands and thousands of people-mostly but not all Black.

I also remember desperately wanting some water or soda to drink, and desperately needing to use a public bathroom.

I'd be surprised if the "Drinking Gourd"song would have been sung that day since that kind of event would probably feature mostly if not all, percussive, uptempo songs and call & response chants.
I don't mean to diss that song, but in any recording that I've ever heard of that song, The Drinking Gourd was sloooow, with no handclapping, no foot stomping, and no soul stirring rhythm,

The Drinking Gourd is not a song that I remember from my teenage years in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Members of that organizations were absolutely not on the forefront of any civil rights protesting. I only remember us marching in what I now recognize was a pseudo demonstration at a Newark, New Jersey NAACP convention. But we did learn various civil rights songs. The ones I remember from your list are:

We shall overcome
Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round
We shall not be moved
Keep your eyes on the prize {I call this one "Hold On"}
Woke up this morning with my mind on freedom
Freedom

-snip-

I know "Swing low sweet chariot" and "Oh Mary, don't you weep" from your list, but I personally associate them with church and with the traditional spirituals/slavery times and not with the civil rights movement.

Though I don't recall knowing "Many thousands gone" from the mid 1960, I do know it now. However, I personally consider it as an [immediately] post-emancipation song and not one associated with the civil rights movement.

And I personally associate these songs more with the "folk" movement and not the civil rights movement:ciis eis pknow these songs just because I am an Americanac h more with church and not freedom songs:

One song that I very much remember from those time that I don't see on your list is "Certainly Lord". For the lyrics to that song and several other freedom songs {sorry, no sound clips}, visit this page on my website: http://www.cocojams.com/freedom_songs.htm

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I would like to also mention that my church in Atlantic City, New Jersey {Union Baptist Temple}was the center for the Civil Rights movement in that city during the Democratic Convention in 1964. As I'm sure you remember, during that convention, the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party challenged the seating of the all White Mississippi delagates.

I believe that it was during that time that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at my church. Fannie Lou Hamer from the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party could have also spoke at that church during that time, but I can't recall if she did or not. But I do remember one evening in which those Southern folks who were demonstrating in front of the convention center came to my church and led us in making "a joyful noise unto the Lord". Except for an uptempo version of "We Shall Overcome", I can't remember what other songs were sung that night. But I do remember that the speaker chided my church congregation for our lack of spirit when we sang those songs. This man spoke to that congregation more than 40 years ago. But I can still recall the way he exhorted us to sing with our whole hearts like folks do down South who were demonstrating for our rights and facing the real possibility of violent retribution from the Bull Connors of the South. He challenged us to sing loudly and mean what we sang. I remember this man saying something like "Sing until the church rafters shake with the sounds of your convictions".

And we did sing louder and I remember being moved by that singing. But I also remember feeling that if folks from the South could hear us, they probably would have thought we still hadn't put enough soul into that singing.

Given those memories, I rather doubt that "drinking guord" was a part of the reperatoire of songs that were sung that evening. Whatever else that song is, it doesn't strike me as a soulful, uptempo song.

But, of course, I haven't heard it sung by anyone in the South. if I did, I might change my mind about that song. But I have to say that outside of books and records, I've never heard the "Drinking Gourd" song sung.

And I'm even doubtful about the authenticity of that song, or its use as widely used aid to fleeing slaves.

But if that song helped even one person successfully flee slavery, than it is well worth every one of its {possibly suspect] lyrics or musical notes.

****

Best wishes,

Azizi