Lift Every Voice and Sing

Jacksonville, Florida — February 12, 1900

Two brothers, both Black: James Weldon Johnson wrote the words; his brother J. Rosamond Johnson composed the music. James was principal of Stanton School, a segregated public school for Black children. The song was written for a school program celebrating President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, with Booker T. Washington as honored guest.

It was first sung by 500 Black schoolchildren at Stanton School. The schoolchildren learned it. Their parents learned it. It traveled.

Adopted by the NAACP — 1919

Nineteen years later, the NAACP officially adopted the song as the "Negro National Anthem" (a name that has evolved to "Black National Anthem"). For more than a century since, it has been sung at civil-rights gatherings, in Black churches, at HBCU graduations, at funerals, at protests, and in 2020 at the funeral for John Lewis on Capitol Hill.

Three verses. Today we focus on verse 1 + the chorus. A cappella by the end.

VERSE 1 (8 lines)

1. Lift ev’ry voice and sing,

2. Till earth and heaven ring,

3. Ring with the harmonies of liberty;

4. Let our rejoicing rise

5. High as the list’ning skies,

6. Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

7. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,

8. Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;

CHORUS (4 lines — this is what makes it complete)

1. Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,

2. Let us march on till victory is won.

(The chorus is the resolution. Verse 1 sets the question; the chorus answers it: "let us march on till victory is won.")