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“This Land Is Your Land”: The Story Behind America’s Best-Known Protest Song(pfffttttt)
getpocket.com ^ | 6/30/2019 | Kenneth Partridge

Posted on 05/01/2020 10:50:48 AM PDT by rktman

Few songs are more ingrained in the American psyche than "This Land Is Your Land," the greatest and best-known work by folk icon Woody Guthrie. For decades, it's been a staple of kindergarten classrooms "from California to the New York island," as the lyrics go. It's the musical equivalent of apple pie, though the flavor varies wildly depending on who's doing the singing.

On its most basic level, "This Land Is Your Land" is a song about inclusion and equality—the American ideal broken down into simple, eloquent language and set to a melody you memorize on first listen. The underlying message, repeated throughout the song, makes the heart swell: "This land was made for you and me."

But there's more to "This Land Is Your Land" than many people realize—two verses more, in fact. Guthrie's original 1940 draft of the song contains six verses, two of which carry progressive political messages that add nuance to the song's overt patriotism. These controversial verses are generally omitted from children's songbooks and the like, but they speak volumes about Guthrie's mindset when he put pen to paper 80 years ago.

(Excerpt) Read more at getpocket.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: dumbasses; fellowtraveler; protestors; woodyguthrie
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To: rktman

Guthrie wrote new words to a gospel song called “When the World’s on Fire”.

He used AP Carter’s arrangement and Maybelle Carter’s guitar playing.

Have a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxo-zayI6tE

Guthrie called it a Church House Lick.


41 posted on 05/01/2020 11:43:28 AM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: DoodleBob

Or as the great band “Cracker” sang in “Teen Angst”

What the world needs now
Is another....Folk Singer

Like I need a hole in my head!


42 posted on 05/01/2020 11:46:20 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Leaning Right

Great video!


43 posted on 05/01/2020 11:46:29 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Fishtalk

When I was growing up in Cali, it was taught in public schools, brainwashed in the 70’s. But I fondly remember this song. I don’t agree with the sentiment of Woody.


44 posted on 05/01/2020 11:47:38 AM PDT by ThisLittleLightofMine
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To: rktman

So basically “Signs” lyrically was a ripoff...

And the sign said anybody caught trespassin’ would be shot on sight
So I jumped on the fence and-a yelled at the house
“Hey! What gives you the right?”
“To put up a fence to keep me out or to keep mother nature in”
“If God was here he’d tell you to your face, man, you’re some kinda sinner”


45 posted on 05/01/2020 11:47:59 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: dfwgator

Love Cracker!


46 posted on 05/01/2020 11:48:48 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: 11th_VA

I agree with you.


47 posted on 05/01/2020 11:49:00 AM PDT by ThisLittleLightofMine
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To: dfwgator

Yup. Hated that one as well. Perfect song for envirowankers.


48 posted on 05/01/2020 11:55:35 AM PDT by rktman ( #My2ndAmend! ----- Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
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To: ifinnegan

Interesting This is an early version of Hey Joe by Billy Roberts.Also, checkout Niela Miller’s Baby don’t go downtown, which she said Roberts stole. https://youtu.be/OmrGOXJMQj0


49 posted on 05/01/2020 12:00:13 PM PDT by Dr. Ursus
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To: Fishtalk

They believe they will be the elites then, with no food lines and second mansions and numerous perks? Or, they hate their parents and want to destroy this country?


50 posted on 05/01/2020 12:00:24 PM PDT by PghBaldy (12/14 - 930am -rampage begins... 12/15 - 1030am - Obama's advance team scouts photo-op locations.)
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To: rktman

That song is one of the first things that illegal alien children learn in California public schools.


51 posted on 05/01/2020 12:02:06 PM PDT by forgotten man
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To: Dan in Wichita
I sang that song back in my 5th grade music class in 1970. Just goes to show you how far back the Left's brainwashing attempts go.

I was in kindergarten the same year and I also remember that tune. That, and "Puff the Magic Dragon" were the first songs I remember learning. That was in California, btw.
52 posted on 05/01/2020 12:11:44 PM PDT by Carpe Cerevisi
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To: rktman
But there's more to "This Land Is Your Land" than many people realize—two verses more, in fact. Guthrie's original 1940 draft of the song contains six verses, two of which carry progressive political messages that add nuance to the song's overt patriotism. These controversial verses are generally omitted from children's songbooks and the like, but they speak volumes about Guthrie's mindset when he put pen to paper 80 years ago.


I always looked upon Guthrie, at least in my more aware years, as a hygienically challenged irresponsible type who did not treat women well. I would be open to reading a biography, if I could find an unbiased one, and maybe my opinion might be changed.
53 posted on 05/01/2020 12:13:34 PM PDT by The_Media_never_lie ( Stop the fearmongering! Post flu statistics along side COVID-19 statistics!)
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To: Secret Agent Man
I started singing that when I saw the title.
54 posted on 05/01/2020 12:16:46 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (Parachutes are only anecdotally effective due to the lack of significant double blind testing.)
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To: mylife
I never was to sure about Captain Kangaroo


Capt. Kangaroo turned out war effort cartoons for Uncle Sam in WW2. Saw some of his drafts in a Smithsonian display in the Museum of American History.
55 posted on 05/01/2020 12:19:00 PM PDT by The_Media_never_lie ( Stop the fearmongering! Post flu statistics along side COVID-19 statistics!)
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To: rktman

I loved this song sung by Peter, Paul, and Mary!!!


56 posted on 05/01/2020 12:24:24 PM PDT by tallyhoe
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To: The_Media_never_lie

Good for him.


57 posted on 05/01/2020 12:24:33 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: The_Media_never_lie

Good for him.


58 posted on 05/01/2020 12:24:33 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Leaning Right

IIRC, the inscription “This Machine Kills Fascists” was seen during the Spanish Civil War on aircraft provided by the Soviet Union to fly supplies to the “Republican” (read: communist) side.

The Spanish Reds were the darlings of the literary & artistic set in this country (Ernest Hemingway, Dorothy Parker, etc.) even as they were murdering their way through areas of Spain under their control. They were a natural fit for folkies like Guthrey because they “said all the right things”.

However, it was Gen. Francisco Franco who finally prevailed, leading to the ironic saying that “although he may have won all the battles, we had all the good songs”.

Plug for Franco: kept Spain out of WWII, kept it from going communist, bequeathed a restored monarchy & democratic government upon his death, and now the socialists in Madrid are digging up his remains for relocation elsewhere. The Spanish Civil War is far from over.


59 posted on 05/01/2020 12:29:03 PM PDT by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam.")
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To: tallyhoe

One of the men in Peter Paul and Mary was convicted of sexually molesting a child; and their hit recording of “If I Had a Hammer (and Sickle)” is a communist anthem.


60 posted on 05/01/2020 12:31:06 PM PDT by forgotten man
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