Today we offer a nod to the music of America by paying tribute to our past and to our future. First, Woody Guthrie reminds us: this land is your land, too.
By 2042, whites of European descent will no longer comprise a majority in the US. So let’s take a moment to celebrate the melting pot with Los Lobos and “One Time One Night.” Woody would have loved this band and this song.
Happy Independence Day, everyone.
Categories: Arts/Literature, Music/Popular Culture, Race/Gender, United States
Dangit–you beat me to it!
Here’s a great “This Land” mash-up: http://youtu.be/6dtYbl6E5xQ
We sang the “safe” verses in elementary school and I learned to love this song. It wasn’t until years later that I discovered the verses we weren’t allowed to sing:
THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND
words and music by Woody Guthrie
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
As I was walking a ribbon of highway
I saw above me an endless skyway
I saw below me a golden valley
This land was made for you and me
Chorus
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
Chorus
The sun comes shining as I was strolling
The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me
Chorus
As I was walkin’ – I saw a sign there
And that sign said – no tress passin’
But on the other side …. it didn’t say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!
Chorus
In the squares of the city – In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office – I see my people
And some are grumblin’ and some are wonderin’
If this land’s still made for you and me.
Chorus (2x)
(http://www.arlo.net/resources/lyrics/this-land.shtml)
Cat: awesome vid.