This Land is Your Land

In 1940, American folk singer/songwriter Woody Guthrie penned what has become one of the most memorable and timeless American folk songs in the history of the craft.

As legend has it, Guthrie wrote the song in response to the hugely popular Irving Berlin song, "God Bless America." He was so tired of hearing the song on the radio and the blatant jingoism it promoted. Guthrie had seen much of America by this time, had experienced the Dust Bowl exodus of the 1930s and the racism and classism that followed emigrant workers and the blue collar working boys around, as they searched for work during the Great Depression.

With all of that in mind, Woody Guthrie wrote a new song of patriotism, with the refrain line, "God blessed America for me."

The song includes rather poignant lyrics that were considered subversive in their time. These lyrics hinted at an idea of socialism and Lyrics to the song tackle the definition of liberty, individual rights and property ownership.

Most recordings of this song omit these verses because of the controversy surrounding them; however, Today, Arlo Guthrie and Bruce Springsteen include all the verses as do many other artists.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Folk

[TheKito1001]

she plays guitar very well, but singing... not the same

[meetvyas1992]

@LadyOverground how can u h8 this song? its one of the most butiful songs ever written and idk iff its the song or her singing but they both are good and if u dn like it den go listen to some1 else...

[almanacofsleep]

@Idlehour4U you kinda just described socialism, except the war keeping us free.

[Idlehour4U]

Beautiful song and well done...and the song was never about socialism, it was about what this country started out being and should be today...instead of a country who citizens are lead around by the nose by Corporate America and powerful interest groups who control almost every aspect of their daily lives. It was about giving the little man half a chance to share in America's bounty...the little guy, you know, the fella that does most of the fighting and dying in America's wars keeping us free.

[LadyOverground]

i hate this song

[alouette87]

You are so beautiful!

[yazanalbaik]

Amazing ....!

[607soraya]

you are singing it on the wrong tune but still good but i am doing two stars

607soraya

[humminalong]

I appreciate the comments you include. The song is very socialist, which is just another word for democratic. If I hear someone say we live in a democracy one more time, I might just have to respond by writing a song... and I will let you sing it, Evie.

[leopardgeckolover3]

I like your voice