Bruce Springstein did a cover of this song years ago, and he introduced it as an angry song - a protest song. In today's world, I can now understand that. Here in the States, we are going into one of the ugliest election cycles I've ever observed. The country is highly polarized, and I hope we are not beyond recovery. People need to trust each other and work together. There is more to life than the almighty dollar. Thank you for your cover, Mike.
I've been watching it begin to unfold from this side of the pond. No country is an island anymore.. we need to cooperate in trust and mutual respect.. alas the higher callings are drown out by the noise of national self interest and protectionism..
Love the hat :0) and I appreciate that you use the original lyrics Mike. Maybe this song really should be the rally song of the 99% movement. We need a lot more people in this world singing about social justice. Thanks for singing it.
I have to say Mike I agree with your sentiments expressed just before you began to play this song...its the essence of folk music to have a message that comes (usually) from all of us. This song captures some of the sentiments that many of us share regarding our so called 'democracy'. By the way as soon as I heard this I had to copy it and intend to remind MY listeners of the same political points that you expressed...you rebel..LOL Good luck and thanks for sharing your songs. Steve
At first glance I thought you were wearing a Willie Nelson headband then I realised it was a wooly hat...the headband would have been quite appropriate thougth I think! Well done again Mike...love the style that you played this in although some pedantic people made some petty criticisms I thought it was a great rendition of a classic. Best wishes to you my friend thanks for sharing the songs that you do. Ever thought of some Richard Digance songs?
I thought it was more like the Smurfs (or are you too young to remember them?). Thanks for all the pleasure you've given to me, and to so many Mike. And yes, listen with your ears and let your eyes take you somewhere beautiful.
Guess the commentary reinforces my belief in the ever-evocative power of music. Encouraging introspection, stimulating thought processes, and raising respectful discussion...I am quite sure that's what Woody had in mind when he wrote it...he succeeded admirably.
And so did you, in singing the song. Smiles to you my friend...
A very appropriate choice of song to voice your support Mike. The financial sector is not entirely to blame however. The retail giants have done much to destroy our manufacturing base over many years, and have laid waste to many small communities.
I was thinking of something clever to add but on reflection.... I think Nice hat and lovely song are the most appropriate! I was worried for a second when I thought you were wearing Christmas tree earrings though. :))
lol.. I didn't dress for the part.. it all happened in the space of an hour whilst I was tinkering with my guitar, watching the news and staying warm.. (and who says men can't multitask..!)
Good comment about not wanting polarity.......but that is the way of the world....music can be a political weapon and you have a talent which I envy....i think the debate is a healthy one but that many people engage in the debate without any real thought just predjudice......lets disagree and make some more music
Great version beautifully done.....don't agree with your thoughts on the middle class professional protesters but it was very well done. I don't think Woodie would have liked the changes in my view he would not recognise these people as his people. But we can't all have the same outlook on life.......I love your music so I'll agree to differ
i don't have a particular stance, it was just an observation..didn't think they were middle class, in london they all looked under twenty, either ex students or unemployed (there are a lot in this country at the moment).. i remember protests in the seventies, everyone has a voice.. as someone wrote, 'you don't see divisions from space' .. regards M:)
using your thinking, i could take your audio/video performance, steal it without your permission, use it for my profitable gain, and you'd have to be happy with it. the squatters you support are doing just that. if a person or company does well, they are not entitled to profit from their talents, according to the squatters.
my friend, go back to waltzing matilda, that is the "anti-squatter" anthem. if you get that, he got the sheep through his own labor, and government wanted it's take.
As I said earlier, I don't have a particular stance.. just an observation.. As for my performances.. I have never made a single penny (dime?) with music and have no intention to either.. some things transcend the material world.. I’ve grafted all my life, made my contribution and done the (very) hard yards.. steal away with importunity.
@ichingiching i'm not like that, i like your work, keep a-goin'! i made a couple bucks on one video on youtube and deleted it (it was my most popular one, i'll never monetize a video again, i have a friend that makes videos and wants to retire on his video monetization, more power to him)
no offence taken..we all have to make out way somehow.. i can't think of a better way than to make a living from music especially when it connects, enriches and gives joy.. happy days..
This is a good song but has never appealed to me personally. Even as a child I thought this land was made for the natives and as a first generation American on one side, I was often told I didn't belong here. As for the colossal greed in our society, not just at the highest corporate levels (greed exists all along the societal spectrum) -----if but for what we desire and willingly pay for, these corporate monsters could not exist.
the song has seemed to create some sense of polarity.. That was not my intention however there are always two sides to a coin.. In the last few hundred years there are many instances around the world of indigenous peoples loosing out to the dominance of ‘advanced’ societies.. as you said, North American Indians, Australian aborigines, Maoris in New Zealand, European Celtic tribes, if you could peal back the layers of time, the pattern would be repeated ad nauseun.. there seems to be a message..
Great song Mike and good to see you back performing. Fabulous guitar work as always. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the system the greed factor of some got out of hand and naturally, fair-minded people are keen to point that out. Best wishes and thanks as always.
Thanks Tony.. the song seemed to have brought cats and pigeons together (or is it hawks and doves) it was not my intention but something is bubbling away.. Woodie’s son seem to got away with it the song before..
This was one of my favorite early childhood songs we used to sing all the time when I was a kid. I am definitely not anti-capitalism, at least in its purest sense, but I do have a problem with what is called crony-capitalism where big business has too cozy a relationship with people in powerful government positions where they curry favor over their smaller competitors. That's what creates a lot of the perceived inequity. I think the protestors are a bit too broad in their criticism.
this song has raised more debate that anything I have posted to date.. it has struck a chord, one way or other.. as I mentioned earlier, I've done the hard yards and paid my debts but I’m wandering what the youth of the world will inherit. Its a powerful song that asks questions.. that can't be a bad thing??
@ichingiching I don't like to think of music as a weapon, more of a unifier and in the protest sense to raise ethical questions, which to me is the way Woody used it despite my childhood lack of understanding. It is one of the most successful songs in the world in that sense. Mike, your wondering about what the youth will inherit is the most relevant comment .... and most definitely not a bad thing......as we are fast becoming the past of the future generations...
@ichingiching Mike, I think you probably would not have got this kind of response if you had just sung the song without making any comment in reference to the "occupy" movement. Unfortunately, there are laws being broken @ these protest sites, and people are being harassed (sexually and otherwise). There is an element to this that seems to favor anarchy. I am all for free speech and and even peaceful protest, but I don't have much use for a mob mentality.
@ichingiching To answer your question, though, there is absolutely nothing wrong with powerful songs that ask provocative questions, but I think one shouldn't be surprised if a few answers that don't necessarily agree with each other are proffered in response. As someone has already pointed out, the premise of Woody's song may be arguable from the perspective of the original native Americans. What it gets down to from my perspective is that we live in a world full of sinners who need a Savior.
As usual (I always start with 'as usual'!) Mike stamps his own version on a song and it's soooooo politicaly relevant at this moment in time - is it odd or just a natural process that protest songs that were relevant 100, 50 , 25 or even 10 years ago will become ever so relevant in the current age. This land is..........., well it once was .................
isn't it sort of wonderful?! We older Singer/Performers now are the Source of so many songs that the younger Song People have never heard: and they're enjoying them! This is fun for us!!!!!!....
I like this.................. a lot.
bigislander2 1 month ago
thanks for listening..
ichingiching 1 month ago
Bruce Springstein did a cover of this song years ago, and he introduced it as an angry song - a protest song. In today's world, I can now understand that. Here in the States, we are going into one of the ugliest election cycles I've ever observed. The country is highly polarized, and I hope we are not beyond recovery. People need to trust each other and work together. There is more to life than the almighty dollar. Thank you for your cover, Mike.
GratefulJWB 1 month ago
I've been watching it begin to unfold from this side of the pond. No country is an island anymore.. we need to cooperate in trust and mutual respect.. alas the higher callings are drown out by the noise of national self interest and protectionism..
ichingiching 1 month ago
Love the hat :0) and I appreciate that you use the original lyrics Mike. Maybe this song really should be the rally song of the 99% movement. We need a lot more people in this world singing about social justice. Thanks for singing it.
sejd51 3 months ago
When eyes closed, there is nothing wrong with it!
MultiBert07 3 months ago
That guitar sounds quite a lot like Arlo Guthrie - Alices Restaurant. I can see why, of course. Excellent rendition of this classic.
NickXDDX 3 months ago
Excellent Mike,I love Woody Guthrie.I also agree with your remarks ref the Occupy movements,Woody would have been on our side.
MrMark9781 3 months ago
I have to say Mike I agree with your sentiments expressed just before you began to play this song...its the essence of folk music to have a message that comes (usually) from all of us. This song captures some of the sentiments that many of us share regarding our so called 'democracy'. By the way as soon as I heard this I had to copy it and intend to remind MY listeners of the same political points that you expressed...you rebel..LOL Good luck and thanks for sharing your songs. Steve
NightingaleHMP 3 months ago
At first glance I thought you were wearing a Willie Nelson headband then I realised it was a wooly hat...the headband would have been quite appropriate thougth I think! Well done again Mike...love the style that you played this in although some pedantic people made some petty criticisms I thought it was a great rendition of a classic. Best wishes to you my friend thanks for sharing the songs that you do. Ever thought of some Richard Digance songs?
Steve
NightingaleHMP 3 months ago
I thought it was more like the Smurfs (or are you too young to remember them?). Thanks for all the pleasure you've given to me, and to so many Mike. And yes, listen with your ears and let your eyes take you somewhere beautiful.
chriswillcock 3 months ago
Guess the commentary reinforces my belief in the ever-evocative power of music. Encouraging introspection, stimulating thought processes, and raising respectful discussion...I am quite sure that's what Woody had in mind when he wrote it...he succeeded admirably.
And so did you, in singing the song. Smiles to you my friend...
aplacetohideaway 3 months ago
good to have you back here mike
sophronesis 3 months ago
A very appropriate choice of song to voice your support Mike. The financial sector is not entirely to blame however. The retail giants have done much to destroy our manufacturing base over many years, and have laid waste to many small communities.
Regards
Paul
Haycroft2 3 months ago
I'm very sorry to say it for the #time, it is out of sync.
But, it is your land. Not my land.
Though made for you and me.
MultiBert07 3 months ago
close your eyes and listen..
ichingiching 3 months ago
I was thinking of something clever to add but on reflection.... I think Nice hat and lovely song are the most appropriate! I was worried for a second when I thought you were wearing Christmas tree earrings though. :))
josiemccarthyable 3 months ago
lol.. I didn't dress for the part.. it all happened in the space of an hour whilst I was tinkering with my guitar, watching the news and staying warm.. (and who says men can't multitask..!)
ichingiching 3 months ago
Nice job Mike - well done mate
cjwaywell 3 months ago
Good comment about not wanting polarity.......but that is the way of the world....music can be a political weapon and you have a talent which I envy....i think the debate is a healthy one but that many people engage in the debate without any real thought just predjudice......lets disagree and make some more music
TheBeestoncowboy 3 months ago
couldn't agree more Les..as they say.. if anyone knows the answer, they haven't understood the question.. MORE MUSIC !!
ichingiching 3 months ago
Great job all round. Thumbs and regards.
raffaport 3 months ago
cheers.. M:)
ichingiching 3 months ago
Great version beautifully done.....don't agree with your thoughts on the middle class professional protesters but it was very well done. I don't think Woodie would have liked the changes in my view he would not recognise these people as his people. But we can't all have the same outlook on life.......I love your music so I'll agree to differ
TheBeestoncowboy 3 months ago
i don't have a particular stance, it was just an observation..didn't think they were middle class, in london they all looked under twenty, either ex students or unemployed (there are a lot in this country at the moment).. i remember protests in the seventies, everyone has a voice.. as someone wrote, 'you don't see divisions from space' .. regards M:)
ichingiching 3 months ago 2
using your thinking, i could take your audio/video performance, steal it without your permission, use it for my profitable gain, and you'd have to be happy with it. the squatters you support are doing just that. if a person or company does well, they are not entitled to profit from their talents, according to the squatters.
my friend, go back to waltzing matilda, that is the "anti-squatter" anthem. if you get that, he got the sheep through his own labor, and government wanted it's take.
mrbadx19 3 months ago
As I said earlier, I don't have a particular stance.. just an observation.. As for my performances.. I have never made a single penny (dime?) with music and have no intention to either.. some things transcend the material world.. I’ve grafted all my life, made my contribution and done the (very) hard yards.. steal away with importunity.
ichingiching 3 months ago
@ichingiching i'm not like that, i like your work, keep a-goin'! i made a couple bucks on one video on youtube and deleted it (it was my most popular one, i'll never monetize a video again, i have a friend that makes videos and wants to retire on his video monetization, more power to him)
happy holidays!
mrbadx19 3 months ago
no offence taken..we all have to make out way somehow.. i can't think of a better way than to make a living from music especially when it connects, enriches and gives joy.. happy days..
ichingiching 3 months ago
Wonderful lead in and beautiful playing and singing. Thanks for another great video.
suuzzee5 3 months ago
thank you very kindly..
ichingiching 3 months ago
This is a good song but has never appealed to me personally. Even as a child I thought this land was made for the natives and as a first generation American on one side, I was often told I didn't belong here. As for the colossal greed in our society, not just at the highest corporate levels (greed exists all along the societal spectrum) -----if but for what we desire and willingly pay for, these corporate monsters could not exist.
jhankri 3 months ago
the song has seemed to create some sense of polarity.. That was not my intention however there are always two sides to a coin.. In the last few hundred years there are many instances around the world of indigenous peoples loosing out to the dominance of ‘advanced’ societies.. as you said, North American Indians, Australian aborigines, Maoris in New Zealand, European Celtic tribes, if you could peal back the layers of time, the pattern would be repeated ad nauseun.. there seems to be a message..
ichingiching 3 months ago
And yes you’re right.. a damaging flood is made up of a myriad drops of water all proclaiming their innocence..
ichingiching 3 months ago
Great song Mike and good to see you back performing. Fabulous guitar work as always. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the system the greed factor of some got out of hand and naturally, fair-minded people are keen to point that out. Best wishes and thanks as always.
tony59able 3 months ago
Thanks Tony.. the song seemed to have brought cats and pigeons together (or is it hawks and doves) it was not my intention but something is bubbling away.. Woodie’s son seem to got away with it the song before..
ichingiching 3 months ago
This was one of my favorite early childhood songs we used to sing all the time when I was a kid. I am definitely not anti-capitalism, at least in its purest sense, but I do have a problem with what is called crony-capitalism where big business has too cozy a relationship with people in powerful government positions where they curry favor over their smaller competitors. That's what creates a lot of the perceived inequity. I think the protestors are a bit too broad in their criticism.
guitmartiman 3 months ago
this song has raised more debate that anything I have posted to date.. it has struck a chord, one way or other.. as I mentioned earlier, I've done the hard yards and paid my debts but I’m wandering what the youth of the world will inherit. Its a powerful song that asks questions.. that can't be a bad thing??
ichingiching 3 months ago
@ichingiching I don't like to think of music as a weapon, more of a unifier and in the protest sense to raise ethical questions, which to me is the way Woody used it despite my childhood lack of understanding. It is one of the most successful songs in the world in that sense. Mike, your wondering about what the youth will inherit is the most relevant comment .... and most definitely not a bad thing......as we are fast becoming the past of the future generations...
jhankri 3 months ago
@ichingiching Mike, I think you probably would not have got this kind of response if you had just sung the song without making any comment in reference to the "occupy" movement. Unfortunately, there are laws being broken @ these protest sites, and people are being harassed (sexually and otherwise). There is an element to this that seems to favor anarchy. I am all for free speech and and even peaceful protest, but I don't have much use for a mob mentality.
guitmartiman 3 months ago
@ichingiching To answer your question, though, there is absolutely nothing wrong with powerful songs that ask provocative questions, but I think one shouldn't be surprised if a few answers that don't necessarily agree with each other are proffered in response. As someone has already pointed out, the premise of Woody's song may be arguable from the perspective of the original native Americans. What it gets down to from my perspective is that we live in a world full of sinners who need a Savior.
guitmartiman 3 months ago
love this song!
lazylazyshark 3 months ago
Zimmerman would approve I'm sure ;)
thepumpdontwork 3 months ago
As usual (I always start with 'as usual'!) Mike stamps his own version on a song and it's soooooo politicaly relevant at this moment in time - is it odd or just a natural process that protest songs that were relevant 100, 50 , 25 or even 10 years ago will become ever so relevant in the current age. This land is..........., well it once was .................
MACHAWK123 3 months ago
Thanks for the support if the movement and sharing this special American anthem from your home to us!
MadDawg60 3 months ago
Good old Woody one of the best,once again thank you Mike 5 star performance.
bagup59 3 months ago
isn't it sort of wonderful?! We older Singer/Performers now are the Source of so many songs that the younger Song People have never heard: and they're enjoying them! This is fun for us!!!!!!....
kathyanneriver 3 months ago
I love you
xxXxBreakingxXxx 3 months ago 2