Woody Guthrie's Song 'This Land Is Your Land'

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.]”

Determination is a key necessity to being an American. Within Langston Hughes’ poem “I, Too, Sing America” he states, “Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table when company comes” while telling a story about an African American man who even after continuously being discriminated against still remained hopeful and determined that one day things would change for him. Also in Hughes’ poem he writes, “Nobody’ll dare say to me, “eat in the kitchen”” by that statement he once again shows the character's determination and courage that once he gets what he wants nobody will take it from him. Langston Hughes’ “I, Too, Sing America” further exemplifies the ways that in America, in order to get what you desire you must the determination to fight for it.

Change can be difficult for nurturing individuals. Alan Paton examines this problem in Cry, the Beloved Country. Throughout the story, Paton adds specific personalities to his characters to contribute to change. Characters in Cry, the Beloved Country went through hardships that changed them to realize reality and its outcomes. Paton accordingly creates a picture throughout his story to explain the problems in South Africa.

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

Woody Guthrie’s famous song and famous quote similarities are in both they state he will keep fighting all of the bad song people songs and say this land is your land this is my land from California to the New York Island (all around

Since America has been America there have been many authors through the years that praise America. One of these authors would be Walt Whitman. Walt Whitman wrote a poem named “I Hear America Singing”. Another author would be Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes wrote “I, Too, Sing America”.

Arguably the most inspirational musician of the twentieth century, Woody Guthrie earned nation-wide success and popularity. His music proved honest and full of hope, which greatly encouraged America as she struggled through war, the Great Depression, and devastating dust bowls. Music transports us to happier places, and Guthrie’s music did just that for everyone across the nation. Writing about anything and everything, Guthrie translated his experiences and encounters into poetry. Reflections of the time period, in the language of his day, give Guthrie’s music an unblemished charm. He wrote music in a time popularity was based off of how many people were whistling your music as they worked, not the number of ITunes downloads you acquired. Woody Guthrie truly embodied the essence of the American poet and used his experiences and personality to deepen the content of his art.

American’s looked to Music and entertainment during the great depression as one of the few outlets that would give people hope of a better future. Woody Guthrie’s music was a means for the Americans to escape what was the harsh realities of life. Woody Guthrie would write about his experience and what he saw in his travels across the country. It was by the

The structuralism found in the poem, “ This land is your land” by Woody Guthrie is worth noting as a important critical approach; although the Historical Criticism used for this poem was vital to understand what Guthrie was trying to convey with his simple structure. The structuralism used by Guthrie made this poem simple and easy to understand and repeat but it was also pulled from his childhood listening to the Mississippi Delta blues. As the historical time periods changed so did the meaning of Guthrie’s song to listeners change. The Structure in “This land is your Land,” is simplistic in nature; an example of this is the way the song is played on the guitar. On the guitar the first four notes Woody Guthrie was born into a musically inclined family and though out his childhood he experienced lost.

“This land is made for you and me.” That famous song was brought into the world by folk singer Woody Guthrie on day in 1944. He is famous also for being poor when he was young and having both parents leave him at 14 with no money or home. He became a hobo traveling town to town and that’s when he picked up his first guitar. He taught himself to play and eventually was a songwriter inspiring people everywhere. He has also voiced a famous quote that says “I hate a song that makes you think you are not any good. I hate a song that makes you think that you are just born to lose. Bound to lose. No good to nobody. No good for nothing. Because you are too old or too young or too fat or too slim. Too ugly or too this or too that. I'm out to fight those songs to my very last breath of air and my last drop of blood. I am out to sing songs that will prove to you that this is your world and that if it has hit you pretty hard and knocked you for a dozen loops, no matter what color, what size you are, how you are built, I am out to

Woody Guthrie wrote lots of songs. One of his most famous songs by far is this Land is Your Land. He wrote this sometime in the 1940s, he played it all over the USA. He wrote this song because he wanted to tell people that the land belonged to everybody not just one single person. In this essay I will compare two famous songs/quotes by Woody Guthrie.

This Land Is Your Land is similar to the inspirational quote in a couple different ways. First off, They were both written by woody guthrie. Second, they both mean that this land is your land and no matter what you look like you deserve to take pride in what you work on and what you do. Third, the lyrics are similar. For example, in the quote, it says “I’m out to fight those songs with my last breath of air and my very last drop of blood.” And in the lyrics of this land is your land, it says that nobody living can ever stop me, nobody living can make me turn back. Plus, they were both said and written in the dust bowl.And,they both Encourage people to be the best they can be and take pride in their work. Some other similarities are in the

After the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner describing America as “land of the free” (Morley). Francis wrote those famous words in 1814. If that statement was true, why was it that only certain people meaning only a small group of individual males in America were free but most importantly what was done about it to make it a true statement for all men and women?

In South Africa, the plight of apartheid tore apart communities, families, and individuals. It was a social concern that came under increasing attack and response as apartheid reached its zenith in the middle of the 20th century. It was not unlike segregation and the Jim Crow mentality that prevailed in the United States; with its ancient roots and adverse effects. Indeed, one is curiously reminded of Harper Lee’s well known novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, and its role in trying to formulate an escape from that system. An escape with various routes, but an escape that interestingly calls back to the nature of innocence and child-like questions. It is in this way that Alan Paton’s enduring novel, Cry, The Beloved Country, takes on a unique and refreshing approach to a basic question: that of the equality and dignity of all people. Throughout Cry, The Beloved Country, Paton exudes frequent references to childhood, a devout religiosity, and of course, a return to simple questions; all of which contribute the idea of innocence and a certain naiveté that contribute significantly to Paton’s message.

“This land is your land” is one of the most famous song ever made. It was written and performed by Woody Guthrie in 1940. It has become a very iconic American song that is learned in school and performed by many famous artists. What is not known is, the true meaning of the song and what Woody Guthrie message he was trying to portray in his song. To most Americans they think of the song as a patriotic song , or the song that almost became our national anthem, but there is a deeper meaning to the patriotic lyrics we all know. Guthrie wrote the song as a protest song to protest the working class should have same rights as the rich, and america's lack of empathy for those in poverty, and there should be more done for those struggling in the working class and poverty. He believes America would thrive under a communist regime, where everyone is equal and make the same amount of money no matter how hard they work or how much they produce. All business and lands would be owned by the government and not the people as well. In other words, it's about how America should follow a communist regime cause to Guthrie, things were not going well under a democracy. The song is not about communism, rather tell about all the struggles for those in poverty and the working class and a communist way can solve it. It can be viewed from a non-communists point of view but Guthrie intentions for the song was to support communism so everyone is equal.