This Land Is Your Land
Watching on TV the extravaganza centered around Ft. McHenry in Baltimore as we have reached the bicentennial of the Star Spangled Banner. Clearly there was lots of inspiring, patriotic speechifying and a whole lot of great, patriotic music.
I must say, there are more than a few songs that I think would make better National Anthems than the Star Spangled Banner, but that's for another time.
Watching the show, watching the fireworks, listening to the US Navy Sea Chanters sing, I found myself pulled way, way back in time to when I was a little kid with my mother and father at the local 4th of July fireworks. The festivities were not unlike the spectacular tonite, although far more low budget. My memory was of the songs and of me singing them at the top of my lungs. This Is My Country. God Bless America. America the Beautiful. Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Those songs affect me pretty much the same way today. My chest gets filled with pride and I want to sing out loud, with pride and patriotism.
I still put my hand on my heart when I hear the Star Spangled Banner.
One song that becomes ever more special to me is Woody Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land. It may well be the newest of the songs in a typical apolitical patriotic program. Its message is so purely American. Written by a liberal stalwart. Singing of inclusion. Inclusion of everyone. No exceptions.
Words and Music by Woody Guthrie
This land is your land This land is my land
From California to the New York island;
From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and Me.
As I was walking that 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.
I've roamed and rambled and I 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.
When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,
As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting:
This land was made for you and me.
As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said "No Trespassing."
But on the other side it didn't say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.
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 asking
Is this land made for you and me?
Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.
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