I Shall Not Be Moved
Song
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"I Shall Not Be Moved" (Roud 9134), also known as "We Shall Not Be Moved", is an African-American spiritual, hymn, and protest song dating to the early 19th century American south.[1][2] It was likely originally sung at revivalist camp-meetings as a slave jubilee. The song describes being "like a tree planted by the waters" who "shall not be moved" because of faith in God. Secularly, as "We Shall Not Be Moved" it gained popularity as a labor union song and a protest song of the Civil Rights Movement.[3]
The text is based on biblical scripture:
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
In 1908 Alfred H. and B. D. Ackley copyrighted a hymn by the name "I Shall Not Be Moved".[4]
In June 2026, CBS News included the song in its list of the 250 essential American songs of the past 250 years.[5]
Civil rights movement
As "We Shall Not Be Moved" the song gained popularity as a protest and union song of the Civil rights movement.[3]
The song became popular in the Swedish anti-nuclear and peace movements in the late 1970s, in a Swedish translation by Roland von Malmborg, "Aldrig ger vi upp" ('Never shall we give up').[6]
Recorded versions
Among others, the following artists recorded "I (We) Shall Not Be Moved":
- Blind Roosevelt Graves (1929)[7] – reissued on The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of (2006)
- Charley Patton (1929)[8]
- The Almanac Singers with Pete Seeger on The Original Talking Union and Other Union Songs (1955)[9]
- The Harmonizing Four (single; Gotham 1954)[10]
- Lonnie Donegan on Lonnie Donegan Showcase (1956)[11]
- The Million Dollar Quartet (Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash) (1956)[12]
- The Freedom Singers at the March on Washington (1963)[13] in a medley with other songs
- Mississippi John Hurt on The Best Of Mississippi John Hurt (recorded 1965, published 1970)[14]
- Ella Fitzgerald on Brighten the Corner (1967)[15]
- Oktoberklub on Der Oktober-Klub singt (1967)[16]
- Xesco Boix on No Serem moguts! (We shall not be moved!) (1967) a Catalan version of the protest song quite popular on that time by Viasona.[17]
- The Seekers, on several albums including The Best of The Seekers (1968)[18]
- Son House on The Real Delta Blues – 14 songs from the man who taught Robert Johnson (recorded 1960, published 1974)[19]
- Joan Baez ("No Nos Moverán") on her Spanish-language album Gracias a la Vida (1974)[20]
- Henry Qualls on Blues from Elmo, Texas (1994)[21]
- Underground Ministries featuring Kenny Bobien (Vinyl, 12", Single, Promo) (1999)[22]
- Sweet Honey in the Rock on Still the Same Me (2000)[23]
- This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb on Front Seat Solidarity (2002)[24]
- Peter, Paul and Mary on In These Times (2003)[25]
- Johnny Cash on My Mother's Hymn Book (2004)[26]
- Mavis Staples on We'll Never Turn Back (2007)[27]
- Public Enemy on Most of My Heroes Still Don't Appear on No Stamp (2012)[28]
- Owen McDonagh & The Bogside Men on Songs of Irish Civil Rights (1970)[29]
- Rhiannon Giddens on They're Calling Me Home (2021)[30]
- Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder on GET ON BOARD[31]
The Housemartins on the 12 inch version of their 1985 UK number 1 single "Caravan of Love"
In popular culture
David Spener has written a book documenting the history of this song title, including how it was translated into Spanish, changing the first singular to third person plural, "No Nos Moverán"[32] (meaning "They will not move us"). That version was part of the soundtrack of the well-known popular TV series Verano azul, which popularized the song among the Spanish youth.[33]