This Land is Your Land meaning

Slide 1: This Land Is Your Land By Sam Zimmerman

Slide 2: Society • Dust Bowl • New Marxist ideals • Great Depression

Slide 3: God Bless America For Me . This was originally made in a response to Irving Berlin’s God Bless America. • This land is your land, this land is my land • From the California to the Staten Island, • From the Redwood Forest, to the Gulf stream waters, • God blessed America for me. • As I went walking that ribbon of highway • And saw above me that endless skyway, • And saw below me the golden valley, I said: • God blessed America for me. • I roamed and rambled and followed my footsteps • To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts, • And all around me, a voice was sounding: • God blessed America for me. • Was a high wall there that tried to stop me • A sign was painted said: Private Property, • But on the back side it didn't say nothing - • God blessed America for me. • When the sun come shining, then I was strolling • In wheat fields waving and dust clouds rolling; • The voice was chanting as the fog was lifting: • God blessed America for me. • One bright sunny morning in the shadow of the steeple • By the Relief Office I saw my people - • As they stood hungry, I stood there wondering if

Slide 4: The Private Property verse • There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me; Sign was painted, it said private property; But on the back side it didn't say nothing; That side was made for you and me. • This says that capitalism is bad and not everyone is equal • Guthrie is a communist • May be reaction against not being allowed in LA with other migrants in 1936

Slide 5: The Relief Office Verse • Also criticizes capitalism and New Deal • Or maybe just recognizes injustice of migrants in this time One bright sunny morning in the shadow of the steeple By the Relief Office I saw my people-- As they stood hungry, I stood there wondering if This land was made for you and me

Slide 6: Meaning in the past • Used in labor strikes • Marxist ideas • More realistic version of America during the 1930s • Says the good and the bad

Slide 7: Current meaning • “about one of the most beautiful songs ever written” Bruce Springsteen • Singers like Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan brought this song back to life. • They wanted to spread Guthrie’s message • Ronald Reagan used This Land is Your Land in reelection campaign • Song to bring people together after 9/11 • Mostly used for nationalism now

Slide 8: Nationalism Canadian version of This Land is Your Land This land is your land, This land is my land, From Bonavista, to Vancouver Island From the Arctic Circle to the Great Lakes waters, This land was made for you and me.

Slide 9: American • This Land is more American then any other song • It is patriotic and rebellious at the same time • It talks about America’s flaws and how wonderful and beautiful it is •