A song for Black History Month 2012

For last years Black History Month I did lots of work on the fabulous song


 "Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around"

with years years 3, 4 5 & 6



The children were incredibly enthusiastic and needed very little prompting to sing it with an atmosphere of determined defiance. year 6 boys (who can sometimes be reluctant to sing) were queuing up to sing it solo.

There is a brilliant version of this on the  Sing Up website that I would highly recommend for key stage 2.

This year I am going to be teaching

"I wish I knew how it would feel to be free" - (also on the Sing Up website)

Here are the lyrics (as sung by Nina Simone)

I wish  I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I could break all the chains holding me
I wish I could say all the things that  I should say
say 'em loud, say 'em clear
for the whole round world to hear.

I wish I could share all the love that's in my heart
remove all the bars that keep us apart
I wish you could know what it means to be me
Then you'd see and agree
that every man should be free.

I wish I could give all I'm longing to give
I wish I could live like I'm longing to live
I wish that I could do all the things that  I can do
though I'm way overdue I'd be starting anew.

Well I wish  I could be like a bird in the sky
how sweet it would be if I found  I could fly
Oh I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea
and I'd sing cos I'd know that
and I'd sing cos I'd know that
and I'd sing cos I'd know that
I'd know how it feels to be free
I'd know how it feels to be free
I'd know how it feels to be free

There are some great versions on YouTube to show your classes but here are a couple to get you started.