This song became associated with the Civil Rights Movement from 1959, when Guy Carawan stepped in with his and Seeger's version as song leader at Highlander, which was then focused on nonviolent civil rights activism.
Seeger and other famous folksingers in the early 1960s, such as Joan Baez, sang the song at rallies, folk festivals, and concerts in the North and helped make it widely known.
Here is a link to Pete Seeger’s performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhnPVP23rzo
It is also very valid to all of us in these difficult times.
Be careful!
Gaël Liardon (18 December 1973 – 21 October 2018) was a Swiss classical keyboard player, composer and academic.
Born in Lausanne, he studied harpsichord,
organ and continuo playing with Pierre-Alain Clerc and Jovanka Marville, piano with Freddy Balta, and improvisation with Rudolf Lutz.
He has been organist of the church of Villamont, Lausanne, from 1995.
In 2009, he obtained a diploma of teaching theory at the Geneva University of Music, with distinction.
He taught music pedagogy at the Geneva Conservatory till his untimely death in 2018.
In 1997, he created the Festival de Musique Improvisée de Lausanne and also participated in the creation of the research group on improvisation of the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis.
In 2011, he founded the Sweelinck Ensemble in Geneva.
Most of us know him by his chorale prelude in old style, which he published free for all on IMSLP.
We’re still thinking of you every time we play one of your compositions, Gael.
Thanks!