Working Class Solidarity

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Lore & Background

The song Cash recorded has a rich history, evolving from a late 19th-century spiritual to a staple of labor and civil rights movements. However, it is not one of the oldest American protest songs; its specific use as a labor and civil rights anthem developed later. The lyrics draw from biblical scripture, with the direct quote "He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved" coming from Psalm 62:2. The phrasing "I shall not be moved" also appears in Psalm 16:8 and Psalm 62:6, not exclusively in Jeremiah 17:7-8 and Psalm 62:2 as previously stated. Although the source notes the song's widespread adoption by groups like the Freedom Singers at the 1963 March on Washington and its use as a union anthem, Cash’s version on *My Mother's Hymn Book* (2004) stands apart as a direct tribute to his mother’s musical heritage rather than a political statement. The song's journey from camp-meetings to the Civil Rights Movement highlights its enduring power across different eras of struggle and faith.

In Their Own Story

In 2004, Johnny Cash contributed to the legacy of "I Shall Not Be Moved" by recording it for *My Mother's Hymn Book*. This specific entry sits alongside other recordings from artists like Blind Roosevelt Graves (1929), Charley Patton (1929), and The Million Dollar Quartet in 1956, which featured Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash. While the source does not detail a specific performance event for the 2004 track other than its publication date, it places this recording within a rich lineage of interpretations ranging from Mississippi John Hurt’s 1965 session to Public Enemy’s 2012 version on *Most of My Heroes Still Don't Appear on No Stamp*. Cash’s contribution connects him to the song's early roots as a slave jubilee and its later life as a global protest anthem, used in Swedish anti-nuclear movements and translated into Catalan by Xesco Boix in 1967. The recording serves as a bridge between the spiritual origins of the text and its modern cultural footprint.

Reader's Guide

To understand "I Shall Not Be Moved" through Johnny Cash’s lens, one must recognize it as part of *My Mother's Hymn Book* (2004). Listeners should note that while the song is famous for its secular use in labor and civil rights protests—where it was sung by The Freedom Singers in 1963 or adopted by the Housemartins on their 1985 single "Caravan of Love"—Cash’s version emphasizes its hymn roots. The lyrics rely heavily on the metaphor of a tree planted by waters that does not see heat or cease yielding fruit, a direct reference to biblical scripture. Fans can trace this specific track back to the early 19th-century American South, where it likely began as a slave jubilee. Unlike versions by Joan Baez in Spanish ("No Nos Moverán") on *Gracias a la Vida* (1974) or The Seekers in 1968, Cash’s rendition aligns with the spiritual tradition of affirming faith through the declaration "I shall not be moved."

Did You Know?

• The song was originally likely sung at revivalist camp-meetings in the late 19th-century African-American spiritual tradition.
• Alfred H. and B. D. Ackley copyrighted a hymn named "I Shall Not Be Moved" in 1908.
• The lyrics are based on biblical scripture describing a man who is "like a tree planted by the waters."
• A Spanish translation titled "No Nos Moverán" was part of the soundtrack for the TV series *Verano azul*, popularizing it among Spanish youth.