Oh, Freedom facts for kids
"Oh, Freedom" is a powerful freedom song. It became popular after the American Civil War. This was a time when people fought for equal rights for African Americans. This song is often linked to the Civil Rights Movement.
Famous singers like Odetta and Joan Baez performed it. Joan Baez sang it at the big March on Washington in 1963. This march was a very important event for civil rights. The song was first recorded in 1931. It was called "Sweet Freedom" back then. A radio producer named Richard Durham used it as an opening for his radio show Destination Freedom from 1948 to 1950.
What the Song Says
This song started from an older spiritual. That spiritual was called "Before I'd Be a Slave." It had a main part that went like this:
O, what preachin'! O, what preachin'!
O, what preachin' over me, over me!
Before I'd be a slave, I'd be buried in my grave,
And go home to my Lord and be saved.
The first two lines would change each time. But the strong message about freedom stayed the same. Modern versions of "Oh, Freedom" use similar words. They often start with "Oh freedom / Oh freedom / Oh freedom over me."
Different Versions of the Song
Sometimes, people added new verses to the song. This is common in African-American music. It shows how creative people are. One verse started with "No more tommin'." This word came from the character Uncle Tom in a book called Uncle Tom's Cabin. It meant someone who was too submissive to white people. These verses were not in the original song. They were added later to fit new feelings.
For example, during the 1964 presidential campaign, civil rights activists changed the words. They were against Barry Goldwater becoming president. Their version said: "And before I'd be a slave / I'll see Barry in his grave / And go fight for my rights and be free." This showed their strong feelings about freedom and justice.
See also
- Civil rights movement in popular culture
