We Shall Overcome

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Date of birth: January 15, 1929
Place of birth: Atlanta, Georgia
Date of death: April 4, 1968 (aged 39)
Place of death: Memphis, Tennessee, by assassination
Major organizations: Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Notable prizes: Nobel Peace Prize (awarded in1964)
Presidential Medal of Freedom (1977, awarded posthumously)
Congressional Gold Medal (2004, awarded posthumously)

The American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968) refers to the reform movements in the United States aimed at abolishing racial discrimination of African-Americans. The "Southern Freedom Movement" was about the struggle for civil rights under law (freedom from White domination), but more importantly, it was about fundamental issues of freedom, respect, dignity, and economic and social equality.

This song, WE SHALL OVERCOME, was sung by all those who joined in this civil rights movement.

1. We shall overcome (2) We shall overcome some day
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe
We shall overcome some day

2. The Lord will see us through (2)
The Lord will see us through some day.
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe
The Lord will see us through some day.

3. We’re on to victory (2) We’re on to victory some day.
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe
We’re on to victory some day.


4. We’ll walk hand in hand; we’ll walk hand in hand
We’ll walk hand in hand some day.
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe
We’ll walk hand in hand some day.

5. We are not afraid; we are not afraid.
We are not afraid today.
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe
We are not afraid today.

6. The truth shall make us free; the truth shall make us free.
The truth shall make us free some day.
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe
The truth shall make us free some day.

7. We shall live in peace; we shall live in peace.
We shall live in peace some day.
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe
We shall live in peace some day.


Will is a modal (helping verb). It tells us something about the future and is used with the base form of the verb.

to overcome is a verb, meaning to conquer obstacles or problems.

Write all the future verbs in this song:
1. We (will) shall overcome [shall can be used for
1st person singular (I) and first person plural (we), but we usually say, will .
2.
3.
4.
5.

We’re on to victory. = Soon we will be victorious/ we will win.

We are not afraid. = present tense of the verb “to be”

What’s the difference? I believe. I do believe.
Gati©2008