Guitars were brought to Europe
About 800 years ago by Gypsies
The word tar means string in Persian
And India has the Sitar and Europe has the Guitar
But the banjo came to this country
About 200 years, 300 years ago
With the slaves, it's an African instrument
Its really more of rhythm instrument than any other thing
Don't you know it's darkest before the dawn?
And it's this thought keeps me moving on
If we could heed these early warnings
The time is now quite early morning
If we could heed these early warnings
The time is now quite early morning
Some say that humankind won't long endure
But what makes them feel so doggone sure?
I know that you who hear my singing
Could make those freedom bells go ringing
I know that you who hear my singing
Could make those freedom bells go ringing
And so we keep on while we live
Until we have no, no more to give
And when these fingers can strum no longer
Hand the old banjo to young one stronger
And when these fingers can strum no longer
Hand the old banjo to young one stronger
So though it's darkest before the dawn
This thought keeps me moving on
Through all this world of joy and sorrow
We still can have singing tomorrows
Through all this world of joy and sorrow
We still can have singing tomorrows
Oh, sing it with me
Through all this world of joy and sorrow
We still can have singing tomorrows
And that's for Haiti