Difference between revisions of "This Land is Your Land"

Revision as of 00:19, September 15, 2012

This Land is Your Land is a communist folk song written by Woody Guthrie in 1940, and initially recorded in 1944. It has been recorded by performer/liberal activist Bruce Springsteen, folk singer Bob Dylan, and British socialist performer Billy Bragg. Despite the communist sympathies of Guthrie and this song, it is generally regarded as one of America's favorite folk songs and was at one point being considered as a suggestion to be the national anthem.^[1] Communist Pete Seeger has stated that Guthrie was also a communist; however, Guthrie's membership in the Communist Party is debated (though he has always been associated with United States communist groups), and his daughter called him a "commonist, not a communist."^[2]

One of the last verses of the song implies that there should be no such thing as private property.

As I was walking, I saw a sign there;

And on the sign said "No Trespassing";

But on the other side, it didn't say nothing;

This land is made for you and me.

An alternative is:

There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me;

Sign was painted, it said private property;

But on the back side it didn't say nothing;

This land was made for you and me.

Another verse referring to the welfare lines of the great depression is:

In the squares of the city, In the shadow of a steeple;

By the relief office, I'd seen my people.

As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking,

Is this land made for you and me?

References

1. ↑ [1]
2. ↑ Woody Guthrie still inspires, 100 years on from his birth Ed Vulliamy, guardian.co.uk, July 7, 2012, retrieved September 13, 2012