If My Jesus Wills-UKE

This Gospel hymn by Louise Shropshire was composed sometime between 1932 and 1942 and is most commonly known as “I’ll Overcome.” If that title sounds familiar, that’s because this was likely the inspiration for the Civil Rights protest song, “We Shall Overcome.” A book by Isaias Gamboa traces the song’s history and links Shropshire directly to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sources also indicate how the song found its way into the American Folk music scene. Zilphia Horton and the Highlander Folk School archived a version by African American union workers in the late 1940s. Horton then famously taught her adaptation to Pete Seeger. And from him, it was taught to so many others. What an incredible journey of such a relevant song through history. This song features triplet and dotted rhythms, secondary dominant chord functions and enharmonic pitches. “If My Jesus Wills” sheet music is in the key of F major with standard notation, ukulele tab and lyrics.