A California native, Guy Carawan moved to New York City in the 1950s and became involved in the folk music revival scene. In Greenwich Village, Carawan was introduced to musicians in the People's Songs network such as Pete Seeger and the Weavers, from whom he learned songs featured on this recording. He recognizes those who taught him and credits the sources of his inspiration in the album's liner notes. For instance, Carawan learned "Hobo's Lullaby" from an old Woody Guthrie record and "This Little Light of Mine" from Pete Seeger and a Clara Ward record. He is perhaps best known, however, for introducing "We Shall Overcome"?one of the most popular protest songs of the Civil Rights Movement to the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in 1960.