Lift Every Voice and Sing Lyrics.

 

"Lift Every Voice and Sing" is a song that has become an important anthem for the Black community. Its powerful lyrics and message have inspired generations of people to fight for justice and equality.

The song was written by James Weldon Johnson, an African-American writer and civil rights activist. It was first performed by a choir of 500 school children on February 12, 1900, as part of a celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. The song quickly gained popularity and became known as the "Negro National Anthem."

The lyrics of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" are a powerful tribute to the resilience and strength of the Black community. The opening lines of the song invite listeners to join in a call to action: "Lift every voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of liberty." The song then goes on to celebrate the struggles and triumphs of the Black community, from the "stony road" that their ancestors traveled to the "victory won" in the present day.

The second verse of the song highlights the power of faith in the face of adversity. The lyrics speak of "dark past" and "bitter cry," but also of "hope that the present has brought us." The verse concludes with a powerful image of a "new day begun," a symbol of the hope and optimism that continues to inspire the Black community.

The final verse of the song is a call to action, urging listeners to "march on till victory is won." This call to action has been taken up by countless activists and leaders throughout history, from the civil rights movement of the 1960s to the Black Lives Matter movement of the present day.

The enduring popularity of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" is a testament to its timeless message of hope, resilience, and determination. The song has been performed at countless rallies, protests, and events throughout history, and has been recorded by a wide range of artists in a variety of musical genres.

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in "Lift Every Voice and Sing" as a symbol of Black resistance and resilience. In 2020, the NFL announced that it would play the song before every game during the season, in an effort to promote racial justice and unity.

Here are the lyrics to "Lift Every Voice and Sing:"

Lift every voice and sing,

Till earth and heaven ring,

Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;

Let our rejoicing rise

High as the list'ning skies,

Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of faith that the dark past has taught us,

Sing a song full of hope that the present has brought us;

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,

Let us march on till victory is won.

 

Stony the road we trod,

Bitter the chastening rod,

Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;

Yet with a steady beat,

Have not our weary feet

Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,

We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,

Out from the gloomy past,

Till now we stand at last

Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

 

God of our weary years,

God of our silent tears,

Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;

Thou who hast by Thy might,

Led us into the light,

Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,

Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;

Shadowed beneath Thy hand,

May we forever stand,

True to our God,

True to our native land.

In conclusion, the lyrics of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" have become a powerful symbol of the struggle for justice and equality in the Black community. Its call to action and message of hope and resilience have inspired generations of people to fight for a better future. As we continue to confront the challenges of our time, the message of this powerful anthem remains as relevant and inspiring as ever.