This Land Is Your Land, Woody Guthrie

Folk singer Woody Guthrie experienced the great depression first hand. His family went from middle class to dire poverty in the 1920’s and 1930’s. He wrote this song after traveling the world and witnessing the awful effects of the Great Depression. Originally called “God Bless America” this song was a response to Irving Berlin’s song also called “God Bless America”, he believed that this song was unrealistic and smug. The tone of this song one could say is very sarcastic, because if god really did bless America things like the great depression would not be happening. For example, at the end of his song when he, “saw my people, As they stood hungry, I stood there wondering if [God blessed America for me.]”

With every aspect of our lives we are making a point, arguing a belief, or refuting some other aspect of our existence. Aesthetic pieces, most avidly poems and songs, argue a message both in the lyrics and in the meaning posed between the lines. “American Pie,” in a multitude of ways, argues that American lives and memories are closely intertwined with the music of the time period. Not only does “American Pie” argue a message it also pulls many generations together. Today, thirty years after the initial release, “American Pie” still has an effect in our music and continues to be popular with all age groups. Don McLean accomplishes this task through using the context of the time period, placement of words, the words

In contrasting or comparing literary works it is crucial that the reader analyze the author's voice to gain a better understanding of the theme they are implying. In the contrast between the poems “I, too, sing America” by Langston Hughes, and “I hear America singing” by Walt Whitman it is clear that the two poets have very different point of views regarding American patriotism. Walt Whitman’s views on America’s joy and peace in his poems are very straightforward, while Langston Hughes poem--a response to Whitman’s--wants the reader to acknowledge what America should be like for everyone, including people of color such as himself. The authors of these poems prove to have conflicting judgements on matters in America including a theme of

When songwriters begin to pen the lyrics of a song, I believe their ultimate goal is to transcend time in hopes of reaching listeners for generations to come. J.R. Cash, professionally known as Johnny Cash, wrote a song that did just that. “Ragged Old Flag” is a patriotic song that speaks to every generation. Written in 1974, “Ragged Old Flag” was meant to tell the story of our country. Johnny Cash recorded “Ragged Old Flag” live at the House of Cash. Cash wanted the song to be recorded live because it was raw, untouched, and unapologetically real. The basis of this analysis is to show how patriotism spans generations, but also why a song such as, “Ragged Old Flag” is an important part of patriotism in the United States of America.

Set in America, the poem follows a man, potentially Walt Whitman, as he celebrates the pride found in an American citizen. Several careers are described throughout the poem in an effort to accentuate the amount of effort Americans put into their labor each day. Aside from no apparent significance to the structure and syntax of the poem, the author’s profound diction, such as blithe, melodious, delicious, and robust, emphasizes the honor the author feels towards Americans and their efforts. Whitman’s use of figurative language in his poem, “I Hear America Singing”, can be found through the individuals who are “singing”. Although the singing stated within the poem may be literal, it also demonstrates the passion and pride that the workers held

Langston Hughes spoke and captivated the general struggles of an African American’s life during the 1900s through his poem, “I, Too.” Hughes’ points out the injustice of bigotry or one’s beliefs in America, and his overall message is saying that an African American’s hard work is just as noteworthy as any other American. In contrast, Walt Whitman, author of “I Hear America Singing,” speaks about the employed citizens of America. He gives honor to those who are living their lives and working to make America a better place. Despite the fact that both poems are similar, they also have a vast amount of differences. Whitman’s poem is perplexed, while Hughes’ is straightforward. These authors’ poems focus on different themes and give the readers different perspectives. These poems are inspiring and demonstrate a new vision for society, however, the themes vary as Whitman focuses on a unified nation, and Hughes demonstrates his writing through an individual.

Woody Guthrie was the most famous singers in the USA in the 1900s. His most famous song is This Land is Your Land. He sang this song all across America to encourage hundreds of poor people. Also, his quotes say that he hates songs that make people feel bad. The quotes and song are similar and different.

Woody’s words and songs are alike in millions of ways. To start, they both are saying that this land is made for everyone. For example, in the song, “This Land is Your Land” it says, “ As I went walking I saw a sign and it said,”no trespassing.” But on the other side it said nothing and that side was made for you and me.” He means all of that land was made for you and me and we’re not even allowed to go there? How can one person own all of that land? And the side that says nothing was made for you and me. Secondly, they are alike because they are both saying

The attitude in society was focused on the Vietnam War and civil rights for african americans, and that was what was important in that time. Since that was important that is what most people sang about. Today what is important is the War on Terror and the whole argument about LGBT. However, most artists today don’t sing about that issue, so there is a difference in uses of

The first six stanzas are broken up into lines of four and lines of one. The first stanza begins with four lines: “Let America be America again/ Let it be the dream it used to be/ Let it be the pioneer on the plain/Seeking a home where he himself is free.” This stanza alone sets the tone for the rest of the poem.

As American citizens, we have the lyrics of the Star-Spangled Banner at our fingertips. However, most of us never think about what these words stand for. Usually, we generalize the entire song to symbolize American patriotism with the often-positive sounding accompaniment. Nevertheless, Jimi Hendrix’s recreation of the Star-Spangled Banner, is pressuring his audiences to closely examine the lyrics of the Star-Spangled Banner.

Woody Guthrie once said, “ I’m out to fight those songs to my very last breath of air and my last drop of blood. Woody Guthrie was a folk singer who sang songs all over the usa “ What Woody Guthrie trying to say is that he will never give up singing songs about building people up . That is what the song “ This Land is Your Land “ that is written 1940 wrote is about .The song and the quote are similar and different in many ways.

One May day in 1956, police in New Jersey stopped a skinny 43-year-old man wandering along the highway (Dobrzynski, 2014). At first glance he appeared to be homeless, they thought his mumblings of being famous were the result being either high or drunk. He proceeded to give them a phone number to reach his manager and realized he wasn’t just famous; he was a folk singing legend. He wrote over 3,000 folk songs, but is most famous for “This Land Is Your Land.” Woody Guthrie was suffering from Huntington's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder, that in the mid 1950’s, the general population knew nothing about. He was soon hospitalized at Greystone Park State Hospital in Morris Plains, New Jersey. His family and friends were there frequently

Langston Hughes’s “Let America Be America Again” is a poem that could be endlessly applied to where America stands today. This poem illustrates the morals, ideas, and visions set forth by those who found this country and how America has begun straying from those principles. The poem expresses that America is made up of all walks of people and that no man should be crushed by those above him, but rather be given the same opportunity as those above him. Hughes desire to make America great again can be shared in some way or another by most Americans making this poem everlasting. “Let America Be America Again” has the personalization, the language, the connection shared by every American, and the rhyme to allow readers of every race, gender, or religious belief to be brought together as not only people but as Americans.

“Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” by Pete Seeger became a popular anti-war protest song during the 1960s. This song did not only protest against the Vietnam War but also made their generation more aware about the global problems. Songs like “Not Ready to Make Nice” by Dixie chicks about freedom of speech was written after they received death threats for singing against the Iraq war, protests against the violation of human rights. But music is not only used to protest, it is also used to give hope and optimism. “We Shall Overcome”, a song sung by Guy Carawan together with the Montgomery Gospel Trio and the Nashville Quartet, is perhaps the best known example of civil rights song. Instead of blaming the government, this song registered a feeling of hope and faith among African-Americans during the civil rights movement.