WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED

“We Shall Not Be Moved” was first sung in 1931 by members of the West Virginia

Miner’s Union, led by Frank Keeney. The song was a favorite on picket lines because it

was easy to add dozens of verses telling the story of any particular strike. Slightly

different verses are found in Carry It On by Pete Seeger and Bob Reiser, 1985. Seeger

and Reiser say the song was adapted from the gospel song “I Shall Not Be Moved” by

African-American textile workers in North Carolina during the 1920’s. Other verses were

added by the U.S. Civil Rights movement in the 1960’s. The Civil Rights “era’s” version

that I knew of this song included lines like…”black and white together….; we’re fighting

for our freedom…….;” Its another one of those songs that continued with made up verses

depending on the situation and the need to sing.

We shall not, we shall not be moved