Freedom Singer Bertha Gober wrote the words to "We'll Never Turn Back" in November 1961 after she was expelled from Albany (Ga.) State College for attempting to use whites-only restrooms.
April 23, 2007 (Press Release) --
Freedom Singer Bertha Gober wrote the words to "We'll Never Turn Back" in November 1961 after she was expelled from Albany (Ga.) State College for attempting to use whites-only restrooms. Gober wanted to "go cleanslided," which was slang for entering white-only areas.
Her song began: "Now we been 'buked and we've been scorned / we've been talked about, sure as you were born / but we'll never turn back, no we'll never turn back / until we walk in peace."
The anthem is the title track of Mavis Staples' new CD.
Original Freedom Singer Charles Neblett sings on six tracks. The title track features Staples accompanied by Mike Elizando on piano. In an interview from his home in Russellville, Ky., Neblett, 66, recalled the first time he heard "We'll Never Turn Back."
"That song was the theme of SNCC, anyway," said Neblett. "No one was going to turn us around. This song captured the feeling of the people who were in the movement, especially in Mississippi. So many people had been killed and nothing had been done about it. We were in the pressure cooker. One of the reasons we went on the road as the Freedom Singers was to tell the story of what was going on in the South, because at that time the news media and newspapers were not picking it up."
Label founder Andy Kaulkin suggested to Staples that she record "We'll Never Turn Back" after reading Rep. John Lewis' 2006 book John Lewis in the Lead: A Story of the Civil Rights Movement. Lewis was SNCC president.
In a separate interview, Staples explained, "In 'We Shall Overcome' we felt that Dr. King had done so much that we had moved on some. The [segragation] signs came down. We could go into restaurants and hotels in the South. 'We Shall Overcome' didn't become us anymore. It was time for 'We'll Never Turn Back.' We came too far to turn around. And don't try to make us go back. We are on our way to freedom land. I cried when I sang that song."
Neblett and the Freedom Singers were aware of the Staple Singers. "Ray Charles took us over, so did Pops and Mavis," said Neblett, a native of Orlinda, Tenn., near Nashville. "Oh, Pops! And I had never met Mavis until this project. When I heard her sing in person, it brought everything back to me. I loved her contralto, and sometimes she even sings bass."
On May 14 and 15, Staples, the SNCC Freedom Singers, Ry Cooder and drummer Jim Keltner will make a rare appearance at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. No shows are currently scheduled for Chicago.
Source: http://www.msn.com
Her song began: "Now we been 'buked and we've been scorned / we've been talked about, sure as you were born / but we'll never turn back, no we'll never turn back / until we walk in peace."
The anthem is the title track of Mavis Staples' new CD.
Original Freedom Singer Charles Neblett sings on six tracks. The title track features Staples accompanied by Mike Elizando on piano. In an interview from his home in Russellville, Ky., Neblett, 66, recalled the first time he heard "We'll Never Turn Back."
"That song was the theme of SNCC, anyway," said Neblett. "No one was going to turn us around. This song captured the feeling of the people who were in the movement, especially in Mississippi. So many people had been killed and nothing had been done about it. We were in the pressure cooker. One of the reasons we went on the road as the Freedom Singers was to tell the story of what was going on in the South, because at that time the news media and newspapers were not picking it up."
Label founder Andy Kaulkin suggested to Staples that she record "We'll Never Turn Back" after reading Rep. John Lewis' 2006 book John Lewis in the Lead: A Story of the Civil Rights Movement. Lewis was SNCC president.
In a separate interview, Staples explained, "In 'We Shall Overcome' we felt that Dr. King had done so much that we had moved on some. The [segragation] signs came down. We could go into restaurants and hotels in the South. 'We Shall Overcome' didn't become us anymore. It was time for 'We'll Never Turn Back.' We came too far to turn around. And don't try to make us go back. We are on our way to freedom land. I cried when I sang that song."
Neblett and the Freedom Singers were aware of the Staple Singers. "Ray Charles took us over, so did Pops and Mavis," said Neblett, a native of Orlinda, Tenn., near Nashville. "Oh, Pops! And I had never met Mavis until this project. When I heard her sing in person, it brought everything back to me. I loved her contralto, and sometimes she even sings bass."
On May 14 and 15, Staples, the SNCC Freedom Singers, Ry Cooder and drummer Jim Keltner will make a rare appearance at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. No shows are currently scheduled for Chicago.
Source: http://www.msn.com
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