Belafonte is perhaps best known for singing the "Banana Boat Song", with its signature lyric "Day-O". Throughout his career, he was an advocate for civil rights and humanitarian causes.
Belafonte won three Grammy Awards (including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award), an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. In 1989, he received the Kennedy Center Honors. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1994. In 2014, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy's 6th Annual Governors Awards and in 2022 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Early Influence category and was the oldest living person to have received the honor.
http://singyoursongthemovie.com
Oh Freedom
Harry Belafonte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in a my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
No more mourning, no more mourning, no more mourning over me
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in a my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in a my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
Oh freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom over me
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in a my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
There'll be singin', there'll be singin', there'll be singin' over me
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in a my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
Oh freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom over me
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in a my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
The lyrics of the song 'Oh Freedom' by Harry Belafonte express the unshakeable will of a Black American to achieve freedom through death. The repetition of the line 'And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in a my grave' shows the resolve of the individual to never be enslaved again. The line 'Oh freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom over me' is a bold declaration of the desire for freedom from oppression and slavery. The song is also about hope for a better future. The lines 'No more mourning, no more crying' indicate that there will be an end to the pain and suffering of the present, and a time of rejoicing will replace it.
The song is a powerful expression of resistance to slavery and racism. It emerged during a time when Black Americans were fighting against segregation, racial discrimination, and other forms of oppression. Many Black Americans sang this song during the civil rights movement to express their commitment to freedom and to inspire others to join the fight for equality.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom over me
I desire freedom with all my heart, soul and being.
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in a my grave
I will never accept enslavement; death is preferable.
And go home to my Lord and be free
In death, I will finally be free and return to my creator.
No more mourning, no more mourning, no more mourning over me
The loved ones who will miss me when I'm gone will no longer have to suffer.
No more crying, no more crying, no more crying over me
The pain and sadness of my leaving will be replaced with the joy of my freedom.
There'll be singing', there'll be singing', there'll be singing' over me
A celebration of my life and the pursuit of liberty will continue long after I'm gone.
Writer(s): Robert Corman, Robert Decormier, Adapted By:Milt Okun, Harry Belafonte Copyright: Clara Music Publishing Corp.
Contributed by Josiah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ta chovendo unicornio
I KNOW ANYONE WILL READ THIS...BUT..I JUST WANNA SHARE THE STORY OF MY GRANDMA PARENTS, THEY WERE SLAVES
ALMOST THEIR ENTIRE LIFES
I'm white...but almost of my entire family is black........my grandma once told me that her mother was a native south american and her dad was a african slave.......they were both captured in 1885 when they were just babyes......they lived almost their entire lifes as slaves till 1903 when they run away of their ''owners''.............a couple of years later my grandma born.....1920 as a free woman! thanks to her parents....but when she was 5 her mother died......she has spend almost her entire life living as a slave, she was stabed,sexualy abused many time by her master.....he used to beat her many times with a whip on the ''pelourinho''(a place where the brazilian masters used to punish then)......she wasn't used to freedom......she died at her bed at home, with her daughter and her husband by her side!.................i'm white.....YES....I KNOW...but i have black blood at my veins....and my grandma even with almost her 100 years,sometimes tell me that i should be thankfull that there's no slavery anymore........we're all equal!!!
the mother of my grandma was: Iamoara Hasani
and the father of my grandma was: Akmod Whandê
they were fighters....they were slaves.......they were my family.....they are the reason that i'm here....and they'll never be forgoten!
Paul Dasen
RIP Mr Belafonte. Thank you for all your songs and all that you have done 🙏
Jivon Lee Jackson
I have heard many versions of this song over the years. This is the first version I heard optimism!
Tyler Pickalocks
R.I.P Mr. Belafonte you are a legend
Frank Pluta
Farewell Harry...you have been and will continue to be an inspiration for all of us and FREEDOM!!
Martine Vanaverbeke
Just love this long from Harry Belafonte ! We have sung his song with our choir "La Pastourelle" a number of years ago.
Yes Oh freedom !
Emma Hawkins
We sing it, too. In this time. With the " Angel Children's Gopel Choir". I love to sing all that amazing songs.
Acadia Bonita
As of the 15th of this month, myself and anyone adopted in the state of NY, can now walk into the office of vital records, and get our original birth certificates. After 80 plus years of our identities being a state secret. A lot of us died before this day, and I am thinking of them. When I go to the city to get mine, I will be bringing all of them with me, in my heart. Oh FREEDOM. Thank you to all of the folks who voted YES, and to the gov for signing the bill, and to everyone who supports and loves an adopted person. Thank you!!! Mostly, I thank God for getting me to this day. Amen.
Emily Lee
I would like more of an explanation? Where are you from
MsJellyBean123
My dad had this album and this song was one of my favorites! Thanks for posting.
Mr. Poltergeist
Rest in Peace, Harry!