We Shall Overcome
We Shall Overcome is a well-known Civil Rights Anthem. The song is lyrically descended from “I’ll Overcome Some Day”, a hymn by Charles Albert Tindley, published in 1901.
I made a video, which uses the instrumental version (track #8) from my album, Uplifting Guitar Hymns. Verses 1 and 2 are my fingerstyle guitar arrangements. Verse 3 is a harmonica melody with guitar accompaniment.
Martin Had A Dream
In 2000, I wrote some new words to We Shall Overcome melody for the MLK Holiday. This alternative lyric is titled, “Martin Had A Dream”. The lyrics are at the end of this post.
This song was intended for children. However, these days it seems like a good reminder for adults as well.
At that time, I was occasionally playing childrens music with Linda MacFarlane. We sang and played this song with the children and parents at a weekly music and movement hour at the then Teachers Closet store in Rutland. A few years later, we also taught this song when we were teaching Guitars In The Classroom courses at Rutland Rec Dept. (Dana Rec Center).
Voting Rights
The voting rights issue has re-emerged, almost 50 years after the Civil Rights era and Voting Rights bill passed by Congress during President Lyndon Johnson’s administration. This video includes a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King (1963), and his son Martin Luther King III (2022). Both talked about the Senate filibuster’s role in preventing voting rights for all U.S. citizens.
Alternative lyric
Martin Had A Dream
To the tune of “We Shall Overcome”
New lyrics by Ron Pulcer (2000)
For Martin Luther King’s Birthday (January 15th) and National Holiday
Martin had a dream.
Martin had a dream.
Martin Luther King had a dream…
Oh, deep in his heart,
He did believe,
We could live in peace someday.
Respect your brother,
Sister, father, mother,
Classmates, teachers, everyone, another…
Oh, when you’re at home,
When you’re at school,
Don’t forget the Golden Rule.
We’re one human family.
We’re one human family,
Black and white, all colors that we see…
Oh, it’s up to me,
It’s up to you,
To make Martin’s Dream come true.