The Rhythm Divine

They were the songs that galvanised the American Civil Rights Movement in the late 1950s and early 60s. Taken up first by street protesters, and then by musicians like Pete Seeger, The Weavers and The Staple Singers, songs like 'We Shall Overcome' and 'Study War No More' became international anthems for freedom. But how many people realised they were singing versions of 19th century gospel songs and hymns?

When I was a student in Brisbane in the early 1980s I remember hearing protest songs being sung during the street marches that took place then. But it wasn't until recently that I found out many of those songs came out of the church. So tonight I thought I'd play you some of those songs, those reworked hymns, including 'Down by the Riverside' and 'We Shall Not be Moved'. And they're still going strong even now. We'll hear two very recent versions by Mavis Staples, and Bruce Springsteen, as well as some of the Civil Rights performers like The Weavers and The Freedom Singers.

First broadcast 13 July 2007.

Further Information

Timeline for the Civil Rights Era 1954-1971
From the American PBS series.

The Voices of Civil Rights Bus Tour
The Voices of Civil Rights Bus Tour visited 39 cities in 22 states, beginning in Washington, D.C., on August 3. The bus traveled part of the route of the 1961 Freedom Riders, stopping at historic sites along the way from Virginia to as far west as California, north to Milwaukee, and on to historic Topeka, Kansas.

American Roots Music
A list of singers and musicians like Pete Seeger and Mavis Staples for further exploration, taken from the PBS TV series ,American Roots Music.

Music

CD title: We Shall Overcome: Recorded Live at his Historic Carnegie Hall Concert June 8, 1963 (vinyl LP)
Track title: We Shall Overcome
Artist: Pete Seeger
Composer: Horton/Hamilton/Carawan/Seeger
CD details: CBS BP 233100
URL: http://www.peteseeger.net/

CD title: We Shall Overcome: The Pete Seeger Sessions
Track title: Eyes on the Prize
Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Composer: trad/ Alice Wine
CD details: Columbia 82876828762
URL: http://www.brucespringsteen.net/albums/weshallovercome.html

CD title: We'll Never Turn Back
Track title: We Shall Not be Moved
Artist: Mavis Staples
Composer: trad. arr. Ry Cooder & Mavis Staples
CD details: Anti E 86830 2
URL: http://www.mavisstaples.com/

CD title: World Music of Struggle; We Shall Overcome
Track title: I'm On My Way to Freedom Land
Artist: The Freedom Singers
Composer: trad.
CD details: Columbia CK 47850
URL: http://www.voicesofcivilrights.org/bustour/journal_entry33.html

CD title: The Weavers: Reunion at Carnegie Hall 1963
Track title: Study War No More
Artist: The Weavers
Composer: arr. and adapted Lee Hays/Hellerman//Gilbert/Hamilton
CD details: Vanguard 2150 2
URL: http://folkmusicarchives.org/weavers.htm

Presenter

Geoff Wood

Producer

Geoff Wood