[rktman]

Just a rehash article about a song I have always hated. Progressive messages adding nuance to patriotism? Guess it depends on your daffynition of patriotism or progressive messages or nuanced................

[tallyhoe]

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

[arkfreepdom]

Growing up in Oklahoma and knowing the history of the desperate poverty and terrible treatment of Okies on the road and especially in California adds a different perspective to this song, but I never liked his communist leanings. I am not defending that at all.
My mother is one of 14 and half her siblings left for California during the dust bowl days. I didn’t know Okie was a bad term until I visited my family there.

[silent_jonny]

It was the "Imagine" of its time.

Hate 'em both for the same reason.

[lightman]

The original words concluding each stanza were “God blessed America for me” but the publisher wanted them changed.

Another omitted stanza:

One bright Sunday morning
In the shadow of the steeple
By the Relief Office
I saw my people —
As they stood hungry,
I stood there wondering if
God blessed America for me.

[shalom aleichem]

Get down in the latter verses and it is pure Marx and Engels