I thought this was interesting because some of the lyrics were changed at the inaugural concert! http://open.salon.com/blog/folkmuse/2009/01/30/this_land_is_you_land_a_history_on_the_origains_of_the_song
The songwriter, Woodie Guthrie, was actually a community and personally wanted a slightly socialist US government. As a young adult, he endured the Great Depression and abhorred the concept of money because he believed that it turned people into savages; he avoided property/business ownership. Despite having a wife and children, he wanted to be among the people. In his migration to the West Coast, he expected to find a land ripe with opportunities, but he was horrified to find thousands of unemployed people starving out on the streets (many of whom were migrant farm workers) and even starving/dying children. During this time, his view of politics really began to transform with extreme contempt for big businesses who were suppressing worker resistance and maintained low wages in the time of dire economic instability; he loved the American landscape, but loathed politics. He, then, adopted the doctrine of the Wobblies (who wanted to overthrow capitalist system) of communitarian possession of the nation's land (the basis of "This Land is Your Land")meaning "this land belongs to you and me." Source: Shmoop
First of I have to say I don't really like country music so please excuse any Sass or negativity in this comment:: I think this song is very backward word wise, but hey it is catchy. But I do believe that it's meaning is very homey, like you feel like the world or your land is something that you own and share with many others. Like Pocahontas said in the movie "Pocahontas", "You can own the Earth and still All you'll own is Earth until You can paint with all the colors of the wind" Wise word from one of my many heroes/heroines. The Earth is what you make it and like Hannah Montana once said "Life is what you make it" Well. Yes. That is All.
Um...to me this song is really about how America was "made" to allow all of its citizens to find his or her version of the American dream... America is essentially a mush pot where people can dream a dream and work towards said dream... without falling into that gross grey area we call the law. But that's just me... AWKWARD COMMENT OUT!
I think the song is trying to show how America emphasizes both on individuality and togetherness at the same time. OUR can easily replace MY and YOUR in the lyrics, but it would fail to represent how in American society, we value uniqueness and do not strive for uniformity in masses (that and the song would be less catchy as well.) However, by emphasizing how different each region of the country is, the song also clearly demonstrates how America can function with citizens that have an array of backgrounds and that these citizens are willing to put aside these differences to embrace a common identity as Americans. Another awkward comment out...
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ReplyDeleteI thought this was interesting because some of the lyrics were changed at the inaugural concert! http://open.salon.com/blog/folkmuse/2009/01/30/this_land_is_you_land_a_history_on_the_origains_of_the_song
ReplyDeleteThe songwriter, Woodie Guthrie, was actually a community and personally wanted a slightly socialist US government. As a young adult, he endured the Great Depression and abhorred the concept of money because he believed that it turned people into savages; he avoided property/business ownership. Despite having a wife and children, he wanted to be among the people. In his migration to the West Coast, he expected to find a land ripe with opportunities, but he was horrified to find thousands of unemployed people starving out on the streets (many of whom were migrant farm workers) and even starving/dying children. During this time, his view of politics really began to transform with extreme contempt for big businesses who were suppressing worker resistance and maintained low wages in the time of dire economic instability; he loved the American landscape, but loathed politics. He, then, adopted the doctrine of the Wobblies (who wanted to overthrow capitalist system) of communitarian possession of the nation's land (the basis of "This Land is Your Land")meaning "this land belongs to you and me."
ReplyDeleteSource: Shmoop
communist*
ReplyDeleteFirst of I have to say I don't really like country music so please excuse any Sass or negativity in this comment:: I think this song is very backward word wise, but hey it is catchy. But I do believe that it's meaning is very homey, like you feel like the world or your land is something that you own and share with many others. Like Pocahontas said in the movie "Pocahontas", "You can own the Earth and still
ReplyDeleteAll you'll own is Earth until
You can paint with all the colors of the wind" Wise word from one of my many heroes/heroines. The Earth is what you make it and like Hannah Montana once said "Life is what you make it" Well. Yes. That is All.
THIS MUSIC THO.
ReplyDeleteI WANA SING.
I WANA DANCE.
I WANA EAATTTTT.
no i think im just hungry. meh.
Um...to me this song is really about how America was "made" to allow all of its citizens to find his or her version of the American dream... America is essentially a mush pot where people can dream a dream and work towards said dream... without falling into that gross grey area we call the law. But that's just me... AWKWARD COMMENT OUT!
ReplyDeleteI think the song is trying to show how America emphasizes both on individuality and togetherness at the same time. OUR can easily replace MY and YOUR in the lyrics, but it would fail to represent how in American society, we value uniqueness and do not strive for uniformity in masses (that and the song would be less catchy as well.) However, by emphasizing how different each region of the country is, the song also clearly demonstrates how America can function with citizens that have an array of backgrounds and that these citizens are willing to put aside these differences to embrace a common identity as Americans. Another awkward comment out...
ReplyDelete