Songs for the March on Washington

Subject: RE: Songs for the March on Washington
From: GUEST,Paul Kaplan
Date: 11 May 06 - 12:14 PM

I vividly remember three songs sung from the stage. One was "Blowin' in the Wind," performed by Peter, Paul and Mary. I had first heard the song sung by Dylan, and, in my teenage foolishness, still resented them for leaving out his "yes'ns" before each line. Their performance was stirring, nonetheless.   I was thrilled that Bob himself was there, singing "Only a Pawn in Their Game," about Medgar Evers. And of course, ending with "We Shall Overcome," which I think we all recognized as the experience of a lifetime. The song was so deeply imprinted in my brain that, on the return bus, I could hear it as if I were wearing headphones, though I did not at the time know what headphones were. I sat there listening to the song, sung by some quarter million people in my head, just following along.

Subject: RE: Songs for the March on Washington
From: fretless
Date: 10 May 06 - 10:49 AM

My experience from that day more or less parallels Azizi's: a festive and upbeat atmosphere. By the time the Rev. king gave his now-famous speech I was sitting with my feet in the water of the Reflecting Pool, about half way between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington monument.

Of the songs you cite, maybe the Drinking Gourd was sung by some performer in between the speeches, but it NEVER was a marching song on the big march in Washington or for any of the CR demonstrations I participated in back then. Of the ones on the list,
We shall overcome,
Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round, and
Woke up this morning with my mind on freedom
are the ones I remember singing most frequently. Nothing formal or organized. Just clusters of similarly minded folks singing as we walked from the busses or Union Station to the west end of the National Mall. Add to the list "This little light of mine." It's surprising that Josephine missed that one.

One or two others from the list are conceivable as active CR songs from the march("Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round" perhaps) but I couldn't guarantee it.

On the other hand, the idea of folks on that march or any other from that era breaking out into a lusty rendering of "Swing low sweet chariot" is just laughable.

Finally, I don't remember seeing a book of "Songs for the March on Washington, August 28, 1963," either at the march or in CR activities thereafter. And I tend to be a collector. If I'd seen the book, I'd probably still have a copy at home.

Subject: RE: Songs for the March on Washington
From: GUEST,Joel Bresler
Date: 10 May 06 - 08:51 AM

Thanks for the comments. Here are the details on the LP cited above:

We shall overcome (Joan Baez) -- Press conference (President Kennedy) -- I have a dream (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) -- He's got the whole world in his hands (Marian Anderson) -- Oh! Freedom (Odetta) ; Complete speech (Rabbi Joachim Prinz) -- "Ballad of Medgar Evans" (Bob Dylan) -- Hammer song (Peter, Paul and Mary) -- The demands (Bayard Rustin) -- The pledge (A. Philip Randolph).

Title from slipcase./ "Authorized recording, produced by the Council for United Civil Rights Leadership" featuring speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., A. Philip Randolph, and others, with songs performed by Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and others./ Texts of the speeches and songs (4 p.) inserted in container.

Presents a portion of the speeches and songs given at the 1963 demonstration, including commentary by newscasters covering the event. Includes Dr. Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech, speeches by Rabbi Joachim Prinz, Roy Wilkins, Bayard Rustin, A. Philip Randolph, and other civil rights leaders; and songs by Joan Baez, Marian Anderson, Odetta, Bob Dylan, and Peter, Paul, and Mary.

http://www.folkways.si.edu/search/AlbumDetails.aspx?ID=1072

I'm looking forward to our discussion!

Joel

Subject: RE: Songs for the March on Washington
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 May 06 - 01:34 AM

There was an albumcalled "We Shall Overcome," put out by the Council for United Civil Rights Leadership, but I am nto sure if it has all of those songs and/or speeches on it or not. I have a friend who had a coy and told me about it.

I did a google search for the LP and found this page which looks as though it might have some good info for you: CLICK HERE. (There is one listed as a documentary under Folkways, listed as Braodside.)

Hope this helps,

kat

Subject: RE: Songs for the March on Washington
From: Azizi
Date: 10 May 06 - 01:21 AM

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

****

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

Subject: Songs for the March on Washington
From: GUEST,Joel Bresler
Date: 09 May 06 - 11:53 PM

Dear friends:

There is a booklet entitled "Songs for the March on Washington, August 28, 1963" in two university collections in the US. It's credited to Josephine Schwarz and includes the songs listed below. My questions, for anyone who was at the march, or knows someone that might be able to help:

1)      What was the purpose of the book? Was it distributed widely to attendees, or more selectively to leaders, or ??
2)      Is there any record of what songs were actually sung on the march and at the Lincoln Memorial? I don't mean by a few participants, of course, but rather those sung with thousands of folks joining in.
3)      Does anyone know if "The Drinking Gourd" was sung that day?

Thanks in advance for any help,

Joel Bresler
[e-mail]

SONGS
We shall overcome
Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round
Yankee Doodle wanted learning
We shall not be moved
Which side are you on?
Bull Connor's jail
Keep your eyes on the prize...
Halleluhah [sic] I'm travellin
I'm on my way
We shall walk through the valley
The hammer song
We are moving on to victory...
Swing low sweet chariot
Woke up this morning with my mind on freedom
This land is your land (Woody Guthrie)
Blowin in the wind (Bob Dylan)
Oh Mary, don't you weep
The drinking gourd
Freedom
Many thousands gone
Passing through.