"We Shall Overcome" is a protest song that became a key anthem of the Civil Rights Movement. The original source of "We Shall Overcome" was a gospel hymn entitled "If My Jesus Wills", composed sometime between 1932 and 1942, and copyrighted in 1954 by African-American Baptist choir director, Louise Shropshire. Shropshire was a close friend, civil rights ally and spiritual confidant of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

We Shall Overcome

We shall overcome, we shall overcome,
We shall overcome someday.
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,
We shall overcome someday.

We’ll walk hand in hand, we’ll walk hand in hand,
We’ll walk hand in hand someday.
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,
We shall overcome someday.

We are not afraid, we are not afraid,
We are not afraid today.
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,
We shall overcome someday.

We shall all be free, we shall all be free,
We shall all be free someday,
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,
We shall overcome someday.

We shall overcome, we shall overcome,
We shall overcome someday.
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,
We shall overcome someday.


haggadah Section: Songs
Source: Adaptation by Brandi Ullian