Music: This Land is Your Land

Woody Gurthrie, from the United State's Library of Congress, found on Wikipedia Commons.

Finding a New Meaning in an Old Song

This song, like You Are My Sunshine, is the kind of song I heard so many times throughout my childhood, that the words lost meaning.  It wasn't until I began teaching that I listened to some of the original recordings performed by Woody Guthrie, and read some of the alternate lyrics.  

This song is often sung by school children, and is performed at national US events.  But this song is unlike other patriotic songs, like the United States National Anthem, or America, The Beautiful.  It's not about winning wars.  It's not about the American flag.  To me, this song is about the people that can make America great, and the natural beauty of the land.

I started using this song in ESOL classes, because I thought I could use it to teach students something about American geography, or history, or... something.  But, I don't think I truly appreciated this song, until I heard my students, all of them immigrants, singing these words and truly believing in the messages there.

They reminded me that it is important to believe in your country.  There are many things I want to change about America, and I am grateful I live in a country where I can make positive changes.

-Eric, NYC

Below you will find:

• a video with an early performance of the song, by Woody Guthrie
• the lyrics in text, with images
• and a video of Neil Young & Crazy Horse performing a rock & roll version.

A note about the lyrics
I have listened to many recording by Woody Guthrie and many other artists.  The verses seem to change every time.  The song is simple though, and you can sing all of the verses and the chorus with the same melody.

Video: This Land Is Your Land, by Woody Guthrie 
This version was recorded in 1944, but was not released until it was found again in1997.

Lyrics: This Land is Your Land, by Woody Guthrie
Words and music by Woody Guthrie 

Chorus: 

This land is your land, and this land is my land 

From California, to the New York Island 

From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters 

This land was made for you and me

Redwood Trees, Santa Cruz Mountains, California., by  John Ross Key (1832-1920).   This is a US Public Domain image from Wikipedia Commons.

Verse 1:

As I went walking a ribbon of highway 

I saw above me that endless skyway 

I saw below me that golden valley 

This land was made for you and me 

Aerial view of complex of Long Island highways that provide access to New York City, ca. 1946, NARA.  Found on Wikipedia Commons.

Chorus: 

This land is your land, and this land is my land 

From California, to the New York Island 

From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters 

This land was made for you and me

Verse 2:
I've roamed and rambled and I've followed my footsteps 

To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts 

And all around me a voice was sounding 

This land was made for you and me 

Colorado Plateau, by Wolfgang Staudt. 

Verse 3:
There was a big high wall there, that tried to stop me

The sign was painted, it said "Private Property"

But on the back side, it didn't say nothin'! 

This land was made for you and me

No Trespassing Sign at Empty Lot in February, by Rutabega.

Verse 4:

When the sun comes shining as I was strolling 

The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling 

A voice was chanting, as the fog was lifting

This land was made for you and me 

Boise Vally Wheat Field, photographer unknown. Source: waterarchives.

Chorus: 

This land is your land, this land is my land 

From California, to the New York Island 

From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters 

This land was made for you and me 

Woody Guthrie, from United State's Library of Congress, found on Wikipedia Commons.

Video; This Land Is Your Land, Performed by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Note: If you look for other performances of this song (and there are many) you will notice that the lyrics change.  Woody Guthrie's original lyrics included 5 verses, although he never recorded them all together.  Every musician who performs this song "remixes" the lyrics, to express their feelings about America: from frustration to hope, to praise or protest.

The lyrics for Neil Young's performance are below.  

Chorus: 

This land is your land, this land is my land 

From California, to the New York Island 

From the redwood forest, to the Gulf stream waters 

This land was made for you and me


Verse 1:
As I went walkin', I saw a sign there

And on the sign, it said "No Trespassin'"

But on the other side, it didn't say nothin'! 

That side was made for you and me

Chorus: 

This land is your land, this land is my land 

From California, to the New York Island 

From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters 

This land was made for you and me

Verse 2:

In the shadow of the steeple, I saw my people

By the relief office -  I seen my people

As they stood there hungry, I stood there askin' 

Is this land made for you and me? 

Chorus: 

This land is your land, this land is my land 

From California, to the New York Island 

From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters 

This land was made for you and me

Verse 3:
Nobody livin' can ever stop me
As I go walkin' that freedom highway
Nobody livin' can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me

Chorus: 

This land is your land, this land is my land 

From California, to the New York Island 

From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters 

This land was made for you and me


Verse 1:
As I went walkin', I saw a sign there

And on the sign, it said "No Trespassin'"

But on the other side, it didn't say nothin'! 

That side was made for you and me

Chorus: 

This land is your land, this land is my land 

From California, to the New York Island 

From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters 

This land was made for you and me