What is the historical context of This Land Is Your Land?
In February 1940, Guthrie wrote “This Land is Your Land” in reaction to Irving Berlin’s song “God Bless America.” Guthrie heard Berlin’s song repeatedly while he traveled cross-country and became increasingly annoyed that it glossed over the lop-sided distribution of land and wealth that he was observing and had …
Where did the song This Land Is Your Land originate?
New York City
Original Lyrics “This Land Is Your Land” wasn’t released by Folkways until 1951, but the song was originally written in February 1940, when Woody Guthrie first arrived in New York City from Oklahoma.
Who originally wrote This Land Is Your Land?
Woody Guthrie
This Land is Your Land/Lyricists
Was This Land Is Your Land written by a Communist?
Woody Guthrie met the Communist Party in Los Angeles in 1939, while working at Radio Station KFVD. Guthrie, in other words, was already incorporating the political line of the Communist Party into his lyrics when he sat down at actor Will Geer’s house in New York to write what would become “This Land is Your Land.”
Was Woody Guthrie a socialist?
New York City, U.S. Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (/ˈɡʌθri/; July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer-songwriter and one of the most significant figures in American folk music. His work focused on themes of American socialism and anti-fascism.
Who is the intended audience for This Land Is Your Land?
Intended Audience: The intended audience of this song were those living during The Great Depression. However, the song hadn’t been published till 1944, and was directed towards the working American middle class.
When was PBS This Land Is Your Land recorded?
In 1940, folk icon Woody Guthrie wrote the lyrics to This Land Is Your Land as a sarcastic response to Irving Berlin’s God Bless America. The song has been covered hundreds of times, but often without several controversial verses found in Guthrie’s original lyrics.
What did John and Alan Lomax do?
Born in 1867, John A. Lomax is the person who put the Archive of American Folk Song on the map with his field recording trips. Under adverse circumstances he, and later his son Alan, were responsible for a singular achievement in preserving roots music.
What is the message of This Land Is Your Land?
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.”
Is this land is your land a folk song?
“. This Land Is Your Land ” is one of the United States’ most famous folk songs. Its lyrics were written by American folk singer Woody Guthrie in 1940, based on an existing melody, a Carter Family tune called “When the World’s on Fire”, in critical response to Irving Berlin ‘s ” God Bless America .”…
Why did Woody Guthrie write “this land is your land”?
“This Land Is Your Land,” which Guthrie wrote while living in New York City, reflected not only Guthrie’s support for the common folk, but also his deep love for his country.
Where did the song this land come from?
Guthrie likely stole the melody from the Carter Family’s 1935 tune ” Little Darling, Pal of Mine,” which itself was patterned after an old gospel hymn titled ” When the World’s On Fire” (sometimes called ” Oh, My Loving Brother “). “This Land” was a perfect fit for classrooms and campsites, where the song would take on new life.
Who is the author of this land is your land?
Guthrie writes “This Land is Your Land”. Born in Okemah, Oklahoma, in 1912, Guthrie lived and wrote of the real West, a place of hard-working people and harsh environments rather than romantic cowboys and explorers. Though he was a son of a successful politician and businessman, during his early teens his mother fell ill and the family split apart.