I thought Pete Seeger’s classic civil rights march would be more than appropriate for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Here’s Mavis Staples singing, along with some classic footage, lest we forget.
Paul and Silas bound in jail
Had no money for to go their bail
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold onPaul and Silas thought they was lost
Dungeon shook and the chains come off
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold onFreedom’s name is mighty sweet
And soon we’re gonna meet
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold onI got my hand on the freedom plow
Won’t take nothing for my journey now
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold onHold on, hold on
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold onSoozie!
Only chain that a man can stand
Is that chain o’ hand on hand
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold onI’m gonna board that big greyhound
Carry the love from town to town
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold onHold on, hold on
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold onHey!
Hey!
Now only thing I did was wrong
Stayin’ in the wilderness too long
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold onThe only thing we did was right
Was the day we started to fight
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold onHold on, hold on
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold onOne, two!
(The only thing we did was wrong)
(Staying in the wilderness too long)
(Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on)Woah, woah!
(The only thing we did was right)
(Was the day we started to fight)
(Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on)Hold on, hold on
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold onHold on, hold on
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold onAin’t been to heaven but I been told
Streets up there are paved with gold