Lyrics:

Jesse Owens was a runner
He could think of nothing ‘funner’
Than to run for America...
The fastest man on the earth
He ran to prove a person’s worth

He ran to overcome prejudice....
The Nazi skies had darkened
White Supremacy was threatened...
But nothing broke his concentration

He was many things that Hitler hated
But soon hate would be abated
Jesse ran just for fun!!

Go Jesse!! Go Jesse!
Go Jesse for the gold!!!
He ran for self and country
But he showed the world while running
That the gold of friendship is the best thing
That we all can hold.

The 1936 Olympics
Jesse Owens was a whiz
Prejudice had been out-shone......
The 100-meter dash had ended
Tension had just been suspended

Jesse stood tall on the Olympic throne.....
As Jesse faced Adolph Hitler
Knowing he was now a winner
One triumph had just been scored...
And with the 200 meter dash, the high jump and the relay
Jesse set 4 gold Olympic records...

Go Jesse!! Go Jesse!
Go Jesse for the gold!!!
He ran for self and country
But he showed the world while running
That the gold of friendship is the best thing
That we all can hold.

But the greatest triumph of all
As prejudice now took a fall
The German jumper, big Luz * Long
Had befriended Jesse in the high jump
Raising Jesse’s hand in triumph

See more of our Social Studies and African-American History Song Lyrics

Many thanks to Kathleen Wiley for permission to publish these lyrics.
© Funtime Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

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