We Shall Overcome

Music piece by:
Attributed to Charles Albert Tindley
Testimony by:
Héctor Salgado
Experience in:
Cárcel de Concepción / Cárcel El Manzano, December 1974

I would like to add, to the testimony of Alfonso Padilla, a picture of the musical group that performed the Joan Baez(1941-) US singer-songwriter, key figure of the folk music revival in the mid-20th century. song, 'We Shall Overcome'. This group was formed and led by Alfonso Padilla during his time in prison. I was one of the first guitar students of Padilla.

The picture of the group was taken the same day a photographer was allowed to come in and take passport pictures for the people that were being exiled.

In the picture, I was 17 years old and I am third from left to right. The picture of the musical group was taken after Padilla was exiled to Finland.

In 2017, I was invited with a friend to Joan Baez's house in California for dinner. During dinner, I mentioned her the story of 'We Shall Overcome' at the Jail of Concepción. She was very moved and grateful that under those conditions we were able to sing that song.


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Published on: 30 March 2019


We shall overcome someday
oh, deep in my heart, (I know that) I do believe
we shall overcome someday.

We'll walk hand in hand, we'll walk hand in hand
we'll walk hand in hand someday
oh, deep in my heart, I do believe
we shall overcome someday.

We are not afraid, we are not afraid
we are not afraid today
oh, deep in my heart, I do believe
we shall overcome someday.

We shall live in peace, we shall live in peace
we shall live in peace someday
oh, deep in my heart, I do believe
we shall overcome someday.

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