Let Every Voice Be Heard

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President Barack Obama and the First Family join the performers on stage in the East Room of the White House as they sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at the conclusion of ÒIn Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement, Feb. 9, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.

I awaken around 3:30 this morning with these words on my lips.

I think to myself, “That sounds like a familiar lyric.” I open my voice memo app and record that line and this one as well: Let Kindness and Compassion Be The Rule.

A few hours later, I am googling “let every voice be heard gospel” and “let every voice be heard lyric” looking for the song I know is out there.

Lift Every Voice And Sing

What I find instead is a gospel song written in 1899 by brothers James Weldon Johnson (lyric) and John Rosamond Johnson (music), Lift Every Voice And Sing.

The soulful and powerful, Lift Every Voice And Sing

It’s known as the Black National Anthem. The lyrics are a powerful history lesson of Black people in the United States, as well as a call for liberation for African Americans. As I listen to many renditions of the song early this morning, I am moved by the power of the lyric and the soulful, emotional harmonies.

Lift ev’ry voice and sing
‘Til earth and heaven ring
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty

Let our rejoicing rise
High as the list’ning skies
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun
Let us march on ’til victory is won

Lyric: James W Johnson; Composer: John R Johnson
Lift Every Voice And Sing as only the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, can belt it!

Let Every Voice Be Heard.

Count Every Vote. Every Vote Counts.

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