Why do we say "We shall overcome"?

Well-Known Expressions

We shall overcome

Meaning:

We will eventually win in the struggle.

Background:

This expression appears to date back before the American Civil War but became popular in the 1960s as the title of the civil rights movement's popular song, which derived its lyrics from Albert Tindley's Baptist hymn I'll Overcome Some Day written around 1900, and its music from a 19th century spiritual, No More Auction Block for Me.

We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome some day

CHORUS:
Oh, deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome some day

We'll walk hand in hand
We'll walk hand in hand
We'll walk hand in hand some day

CHORUS

We shall all be free
We shall all be free
We shall all be free some day

CHORUS

We are not afraid
We are not afraid
We are not afraid some day

CHORUS

We are not alone
We are not alone
We are not alone some day

CHORUS

The whole wide world around
The whole wide world around
The whole wide world around some day

CHORUS

We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome some day

CHORUS

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