Consider This from NPR

The songs that define America

16 snips
Jul 4, 2025
This discussion explores how music shapes American identity, especially around Independence Day. It highlights the evolution of 'This Little Light of Mine' into a civil rights anthem. The emotional power of songs like 'Fanfare for the Common Man' and Bob Dylan's 'The Times They Are a-Changin'' is examined, revealing their role in promoting unity during challenging times. A young choir's journey to perform at the March for Our Lives illustrates the timeless importance of protest anthems and their ability to inspire hope across generations.
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ANECDOTE

This Little Light of Mine's Power

  • Betty Mae Fikes transformed the innocent children's song This Little Light of Mine into a defiant civil rights anthem in 1963.
  • She improvised lyrics after friends were attacked, including oppressors like Jim Clark and the KKK to empower the movement.
INSIGHT

Freedom Songs Are Anointed

  • Civil rights survivors call freedom songs 'anointed' and sing them for courage and protection.
  • This spiritual quality explains the enduring power of This Little Light of Mine over decades.
INSIGHT

Fanfare for the Common Man

  • Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man is celebrated for its heroic and uplifting spirit.
  • It channels hope and goodness, capturing the American dream of peace and prosperity.
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