We Shall Overcome by Black Bear Extraordinaire
To kick off Black History Month 2022, we are sharing a song about the fight for freedom by Black Bear Extraordinaire. Eziah Blake (they/them/theirs), also known as “Black Bear Extraordinaire,” is a 32 year old Black, Queer and Trans “Theminine” spoken word artist, singer, lyricist and activist. Listen to the song here and see the lyrics below:
Chorus/Intro
Deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome someday
Deep in my heart
I do believe
we shall overcome someday
Verse 1
Every day another hashtag, say their names
Every day another body bag, nothing has changed We take to the streets and they place the blame On us, they really should be ashamed
But they’re not and we are so fucking tired
We’ve had enough of all the shit that’s transpired POTUS it’s you and the pigs that are really fired We won't stop until our victory is acquired
In the bullshit we will not drown
Uprise and march in every single town
Demand humanity for the black & the brown
Turn up and turn out til this shit is shutdown
They can’t continue to deny us joy and our laugher If we unite imagine all the systems we will shatter All us if true freedom is what we’re after
No black person left behind cuz ALL BLACK LIVES MATTER
Chorus
Deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome someday
Deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome someday
Verse 2
Not everyone can be on the front lines
So that’s something we all gotta keep in mind
Some of us can’t march and that shit is okay
We each contribute to the movement in our own way
What’s important is we lift each other up high We need to be arms linked if we wanna get by Together our voices will amplify
And we are gonna show them why
Our anger’s justified and we will not quit
They’re jealous of our beauty though they will not admit But we’ve been passed down true strength & grit So we could take on all the racists and the hypocrites
They spoke out so we could say what we gotta say They prayed for our future so that today we could pray They paved the way so we could pave another way They fought another day so we could fight another day
No justice no peace
No racist police
No racist police
No racist police
No justice no peace
No racist police
No racist police
No racist police
Chorus
Deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome someday
Deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome someday
Bridge
It is our duty to fight for our freedom.
It is our duty to win.
We must love and support one another.
We have nothing to lose but our chains
We have nothing to lose but our chains
We have nothing to lose but our chains
Verse 3
Maybe that someday is right now
I know it hurts but we keep on going somehow We gotta stay united and we can not allow Them to kill our hope and keep our spirits down
Our liberty and Justice must be our fixation Deny it they may but we’re the ones who built this nation Time for talk is over no more negotiation
So let’s raise our fists for black liberation
Chorus/Outro
Deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome someday
Deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome today
