Scripture Verse

This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4

Introduction

Words & Mu­sic: Charles A. Tind­ley, in New Songs of the Gos­pel, ed­it­ed by C. Aus­tin Miles & Mau­rice A. Clif­ton (pseu­do­nym of J. Lin­coln Hall) (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­vania: Hall-Mack, 1900), num­ber 27 (🔊 pdf nwc). This song was the ba­sis for the Am­er­ican ci­vil rights an­them, We Shall Ov­er­come.

portrait
Charles A. Tindley (1851–1933)

Lyrics

This world is one great bat­tle­field
With forces all ar­rayed,
If in my heart I do not yield
I’ll ov­er­come some day.
I’ll ov­er­come some day,
I’ll ov­er­come some day,
If in my heart I do not yield,
I’ll ov­er­come some day.

Both seen and un­seen pow­ers join
To drive my soul as­tray,
But with His Word a sword of mine,
I’ll ov­er­come some day.
I’ll ov­er­come some day,
I’ll ov­er­come some day,
But with His Word a sword of mine,
I’ll ov­er­come some day.

A thou­sand snares are set for me,
And mount­ains in my way,
If Je­sus will my lead­er be,
I’ll ov­er­come some day.
I’ll ov­er­come some day,
I’ll ov­er­come some day,
If Je­sus will my lead­er be,
I’ll ov­er­come some day.

I fail so oft­en when I try
My Sav­ior to obey;
It pains my heart and then I cry,
Lord, make me strong some day.
Lord, make me strong some day,
Lord, make me strong some day;
It pains my heart and then I cry,
Lord, make me strong some day.

My mind is not to do the wrong,
But walk the nar­row way;
I’m pray­ing as I jour­ney on,
To ov­er­come some day.
To ov­er­come some day,
To ov­er­come some day;
I’m pray­ing as I journ­ey on,
To ov­er­come some day.

Though ma­ny a time no signs ap­pear,
Of an­swer when I pray;
My Je­sus says I need not fear,
He’ll make it plain some day.
I’ll be like Him some day,
I’ll be like Him some day;
My Je­sus says I need not fear,
He’ll make it plain some day.