Keep Your Eyes On The Prize (1950s)

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Keep Your Eyes on the Prize is a folk song that played an important and noteworthy part during the 1950s American Civil Rights Movement. It is based on the traditional song, "Gospel Plow," conjointly referred to as "Hold On," "Keep Your Hand on the Plow," and various permutations therefrom.

An early quotation to the older song, "Gospel Plow," existed in Alan Lomax's 1949 book "Our Singing Country."[1] The book that refer to a 1937 version recorded by Elihu Trusty of Paintsville, Kentucky, was archived in the Library of Congress (Ref No .1397 A1). Lomax's references for Gospel Plow quoted two earlier works. The first reference was from English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians that was published around 1917, showing that Gospel Plow was staged from at least the early twentieth century. The second reference was a 1928 book, American Negro Folk-Songs, which indicates an African-American heritage as the original song.[2][3]

Key Lyrics

The only thing that we did wrong, Stayed in the wilderness a day too long.

But the one thing we did right, Was the day we started to fight.

We’re gonna board that big Greyhound, Carrin’ love from town to town.

We’re gonna ride for civil rights, We’re gonna ride for both black and white.

We’ve met jail and violence too, But God’s love has seen us through.

Possible Lyricist

The lyrics of the modern version of Civil Rights song "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize" were repeatedly credited to Alice Wine. She was a member of the Moving Star Hall, a famous musical group on Johns Island, South Carolina. A book titled Ain't You Got the Right to the Tree of Life written by Guy and Candie Carawan documented songs that was performed by Moving Star Hall and the lives of African Americans on Johns Island in the early sixties.[4]

Biblical Reference

The title of the modern song was adapted from Bible verse Philippians 3:17 "keep your eyes on those who live as we do" and verse 14, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

The "Gospel Plow" title is also shown as an adaptation from Luke 9:62: "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

The "Paul and Silas" lyrics are clearly taken from Acts 16:19-26:"Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands."[5]

Reference

  1. John Lomax and Alan Lomax. Our Singing Country, A Second Volume of American Ballads and Folk Songs. 1949. The Macmillan Companyp 44 - 45. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  2. Cecil J. Sharp and 0. Campbell. "English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians". 1917. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. Vol. 2 p. 292. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  3. N. L. White. "American Negro Folk-Songs". 1928. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. p. 115. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  4. Previous unsubstantiated internet references to "lyrics by Mrs. Alice Wine": http://www.acousticmusicarchive.com/eyes-on-the-prize-chords-lyrics http://folkmusic.about.com/od/folksongs/qt/KeepYourEyes.htm http://raymondfolk.wikifoundry.com/page/Gospel+Songs. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  5. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize. Wikipedia. Retrieved February 3, 2021.