Don't you know it's darkest before the dawn And this thought keeps me moving on If we could heed these early warnings The time is now, quiet early morning Some say that human kind won't long endure But what makes them of so sure I know that you who hear my singing Can make those freedom bells go on ringing And so we keep on while we live Until we have no more to give And when our fingers can strum no longer Hand the old banjo to the young ones stronger So though it's darkest before the dawn These thoughts keep us moving on Through all this world of joy and sorrow We still can have singing tomorrows