Free download; you get a pdf score and an mp3 recording of the song. Merle Gartrell was a beloved band teacher at White Station Middle School in Memphis Tennessee when Dr. King was assassinated. Merle Gartrell collaborated with his students to create the lyrics to this song as a way to process their grief. He told Peter Amidon that he is thrilled that folks are singing his song.
LYRICS
Once there was a gentleman who talked about the promised land. He reached out and took the problems of the people in his strong black hands. He had a dream that everybody aught to hear the bells of freedom ring, Now the people shout and sing about the dream of Marting Luther King. Sing about the dream of Martin Luther King.
Oh, the dream, the dream of Martin Luther King, Oh, the dream, the dream of Martin Luther King. In this dream he saw the people of this land walking side by side. White folk, black folk, yellow folk, red folk, loving one another with pride. Now he's gone away before the day his dream became a real thing; But he'll hear the angels sing about the dream of Martin Luther King; Sing about the dream of Martin Luther King.
He was a man who loved peace; He found a faith in belief, He preached that violence was wrong, But he he knew the fight would be long; He talked about a new day, But he walked a dangerous way. He knew the life of a slum and He sang, "We shall overcome.
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