Latest revision - April 1, 2024
This pancocojams post presents information about and examples of the Gospel song "We Are Soldiers" (in the army). The lyrics to that Gospel song are also included in this post.
This post also showcases videos of and lyrics for "We Are Sorors". This adaptation of "We Are Soldiers" is sung by members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, the first historically Black Greek lettered sorority.
The content of this post is presented for historical, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the composer/s of this early Gospel song and the composer/s of the adapted sorority song. Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these YouTube videos.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS GOSPEL SONG
From https://hymnary.org/text/we_are_soldiers_in_the_army_we_have_to
..."First Line: We are soldiers in the army We have to fight although we have to cry
Author: Anonymous
Refrain First Line: We
are happy, always happy
Publication Date: 1880
Copyright: Public
Domain"...
-snip-
Although the composer of the Gospel song "We Are Soldiers (In The Army)" is unknown, that song is attributed to African Americans.
Here's an example of that attribution:
From http://www.folkways.si.edu/we-are-soldiers-army/african-american-struggle-protest/music/video/smithsonian "We Are Soldiers in the Army" by The Freedom Singers from Voices of the Civil Rights Movement: Black American Freedom Songs 1960-1966"
"Music was essential to the African-American struggle for civil rights and equality. "We Are Soldiers in the Army" demonstrates how the Black American traditional song repertoire and older styles of singing were used to inspire and organize the Civil Rights Movement."
-snip-
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzpyHzQmnD0 for a 2011 video of The Freedom Singers performing this song.
-snip-
The lyrical structure of "We Are Soldiers" and the fact that most of the renditions of this song on YouTube are attributed to African Americans affirms that this song is rightfully attributed to African Americans. .
****
LYRICS: WE ARE SOLDIERS (In The Army)
(unknown composer/s)
We are Soldiers,
In the army,
We have to fight,
Although we have to cry
We have to hold up the bloodstained banner
We have to hold it up
Until we Die!
My mother was a Soldier
Oh yes!
She had her hand on the Gospel Plow
Oh yes!
But one day she got old,
She couldn't fight anymore,
She said I'll stand here, and fight anyhow.
Woe oe oe oe!
We are Soldiers,
In the army,
We have to fight,
Although we have to cry
We have to hold up the bloodstained banner
We have to hold it up
Until we Die!
My Father was a Soldier,
Oh yes!
He had his hands on the Gospel Plow
But one day he got old,
He couldn't fight anymore,
He said, I'll stand here and fight anyhow.
O O O O
We are Soldiers,
In the army,
We have to fight,
Although we have to cry
We have to hold up the bloodstained banner
We have to hold it up
Until we Die!
I'’m so glad that I'm a Soldier
Oh yes!
I’ve got my hand on the Gospel Plow,
Oh yes!
One day I'll get old,
And can't fight anymore,
And I'll stand here and fight anyhow.
Oo- O - O
We are Soldiers,
In the army,
We have to fight,
Although we have to cry
We have to hold up the bloodstained banner
We have to hold it up
Until we Die!
From http://requestlyrics.com/read.php?1,675372; posted by Alarcaddemca, Sunday, October 14, 2007
****
EXAMPLES OF "WE ARE SOLDIERS"
OlSkoolSaint, Uploaded on Jun 22, 2008
Another recording with Imogene Green on lead
****
Example #2: "Soldiers In The Army" - Rev. James Cleveland
malacomg, Uploaded on Dec 20, 2010
Rev. James Cleveland - "Soldiers In The Army" available at www.malaco.com ...
-snip-
The soloist is Inez Andrews, one of the members of the renown Gospel group "The Caravans".
****
Example #3: We Are Soldiers In The Army
antiochvarina,Uploaded on Nov 16, 2009
Men"s Day Celebration/Men's Mass Choir
Mr.Golden Skipper and Mr.Johnnie Payne
-snip-
Here's a comment from this video's viewer comment thread:
MultiTrackstar123, 2011
"this reminds me when i was little they had the hardwood floor and for the bass of the beat the[y] stomped on the hardwood floor wearing all white and the women wearing nurse caps
****
VIDEOS AND LYRICS TO "WE ARE SORORS"
Example #1: AKA, Alpha chapter probate 2010 at Howard University part 1
Izunna Enyinnah, Uploaded on Apr 13, 2010
Alpha Kappa Alpha coming out show for 2010 spring at Howard University.
-snip-
"We Are Sorors" is sung around .037-2:47 in this video.
LYRICS:
We are sorors and we're striving.
We have to work, sometimes we have to cry.
(We have to cry.)
We have to hold on to Alpha Kappa Alpha.
And we'll keep holdin on until we die.
[repeat]
****
Example #2: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Chapter, Howard University Sp. 16: A.L.L.U.R.E.
Kevin Wilson, Published on Apr 10, 2016
The 2016 Plot Day presented by The ALPHA Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. at Howard University.
-snip-
"We Are Sorors" is sung around 1:46 to 2:09 in this video.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
No comments:
Post a Comment