<DIV><DIV><DIV>&#8220;We Shall Overcome&#8221; isn&#8217;t a complicated piece of music. The first verse has only twenty-two words, most of them repeated. The melody is straightforward. The chords are basic. Yet the song has had a profound effect on people throughout the United States&#8212;and the world. <BR>&nbsp;</DIV><DIV>In clear, accessible language Stuart Stotts explores the roots of the tune and the lyrics in traditional African music and Christian hymns. He demonstrates the key role &#8220;We Shall Overcome&#8221; played in the civil rights, labor, and anti-war movements in America. And he traces the song&#8217;s transformation into an international anthem. With its dramatic stories and memorable quotes, this saga of a famous piece of music offers a unique way of looking at social history. <BR>Author&#8217;s note, bibliography, source notes, index.<BR></DIV></DIV></DIV>