Civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. often acknowledged the importance of music and song to the success of the civil rights movement. Incorporating jazz, folk, rhythm and blues, and gospel, the songs of the civil rights movement were critical in motivating and galvanizing activists and ordinary citizens alike. Consequently, on this page are listed many of the popular songs and musical performances associated with the African American Freedom Movement, especially those from the period 1955-1972; when possible, direct links are also supplied.
For other songs inspired at least in part by the civil rights movement, see this NPR list. There were also songs that supported segregation and white supremacy: to hear some of them, search “Klan songs” in Google (or an equivalent query). Click here for an overview.
Angelou, Maya:
Source: The New York Times
During January and February, 1960, Ms. Angelou organized a “Cabaret for Freedom” in order to raise funds for the Southern Christian Leadership Council.
Baez, Joan:
Source: PBS
Baez, Joan and Bob Dylan at the March on Washington (1963)
“Birmingham Sunday” (1963-64)
“Oh Freedom” and “Turn Me Around” (1984)
“We Shall Overcome” (1963)
“Amazing Grace” (1976)
Belafonte, Harry:
Source: Television Academy
“Oh Freedom” (1960)
Brown, Oscar:
Source: Spotify
Sin & Soul (an album, 1960).
Carawan, Guy:
Source: New York Times
“We Shall Overcome” (1961)
“Ain’t You Got a Right to the Tree of Life” (1990)
In 2011, Guy Carawan and his wife, Candie, filmed an interview about their lives and music. During the interview Guy and Candie perform “We Shall Overcome,” “Eyes on the Prize,” and “Tree of Life.” This interview can be found here.
Collins, Judy:
Source: Alamy
“It Isn’t Nice” (1965)
Coltrane, John:
Source: Spotify
“Alabama” (1963), a composition written in response to the 1963 bombing at 16th Street Baptist Church.
“A Love Supreme” was recorded by Coltrane’s quartet on December 9, 1964 and released in February of 1965.
Come by Here [Kumbaya]
Cooke, Sam:
Source: biography.com
“Blowin’ in the Wind” (1964)
“A Change Is Gonna Come” (1964)
Darby, Tom, and Jimmy Tarlton:
“Birmingham Jailhouse” (1927): According to Diane McWhorter’s Carry Me Back, lyrics to this song were adapted to civil rights purposes during the Birmingham Campaign of 1963.
Dylan, Bob:
Source: Encyclopedia Brittanica.
“Ballad of Emmett Till” (1989)
“The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” (1964)
“Only a Pawn in Their Game” (1964): click here for a student’s analysis of this song and Bob Dylan’s performance of it at the March on Washington.
“Oxford Town” (1962)
“Paths of Victory” (1963)
“The Times They Are A-Changin‘” (1964)
“He Was a Friend of Mine” (1991)
Ellington, Duke:
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica
“King Fit De Battle of Alabam”
Emmett, Daniel Decatur:
“Dixie” was written in 1859. Because of its nostalgia for the antebellum South, this song has often been employed by people resistant to the African American Freedom Movement.
Freedom Singers (Cordell Reagan, Rutha Mae Harris, Bertha Johnson, Charles Neblatt):
“Oh Pritchett, Oh Kelley” (1997)
“We Shall Overcome” (2006)
Gober, Bertha:
Hamer, Fannie Lou:
Source: Patheos.com
To learn more about Hamer’s contributions as a singer go here.
Hays, William Shakespeare:
Source: Public Domain Music, “William Shakespeare Hays”
“The Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane”
Holiday, Billie:
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica
“Strange Fruit” (1939)
The Impressions:
“People Get Ready” (1965)
Jackson, Mahalia:
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica
Jones, Matt:
LiTTLE RICHARD:
“Greenwood” (1970)
“Freedom Blues” (1970)
Lightfoot, Gordon:
Mccartney, paul:
“Blackbird” (1968): click here for a description of the song’s history, which was inspired by the Little Rock Nine.
Mingus, Charles:
Source: Encyclopædia Britannica
“Fables of Faubus” (1960)
Ochs, Phil:
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica
“Going Down to Mississippi” (mid-1960s)
“Here’s to the State of Mississippi” (1965)
“Here’s to the State of Mississippi”
Odetta:
Source: San Francisco Classical Voice
Paisley, Brad, and LL Cool J:
“Accidental Racist” (2013)
Paxton, Tom:
“Goodman, Schwerner, and Cheney” (1965)
Peter, Paul, and Mary:
Source: Wikipedia
“If I Had a Hammer” (1963)
PRESLEY, Elvis:
Source: Library of Congress, C-DIG-ppmsca-10455
“If I Can Dream” (1968)
“In the Ghetto”(1969)
Reynolds, Malvina:
Roach, Max:
Source: Collection/Library of Congress, William P. Gottlieb
We Insist!: Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite (an album)
Seeger, Pete:
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica
“Black and White” (1956)
“It Could Be A Wonderful World”
“Michael, Row the Boat Ashore” (1960)
“The Ink Is Black The Page is White”
Simone, Nina:
Source: North Carolina Department of Natural & Cultural Resources
SNCC Freedom Singers:
Staple Singers:
“Freedom Highway” (1965)
Staples, Mavis:
Three Dog Night:
“Black and White” (1972)
White, Joshua:
Source: Wikipedia
“Uncle Sam Says” (1941)
“Trouble” (1940)
“Defense Factory Blues” (1941)
Young, Neil:
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica
“Alabama”(1972)
“Southern Man” (1970). Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home, Alabama” (1974) responds to Young’s “Southern Man” and “Alabama.” “The Three Great Alabama Icons” (2001) by the Drive By Truckers is also in dialogue.