This Land is Your Land by Eleri Grace

 

As the lyrics of folk singer Woody Guthrie's classic "This Land is Your Land" note, we all share in the joy and splendor of nature's bounty "from the redwood forests to the Gulf stream waters." I would go further and say that the song is a call to action, a reminder that we all share communal responsibility for preserving our land and resources.  

It's important to note the underlying history of what many view as an alternate national anthem and tribute to the varied and dramatic landscape we Americans call home. Guthrie was annoyed by how frequently Kate Smith's "God Bless America" played on the musical radio programs of the day -- he understood it was meant to stir up feelings of patriotism and nationalism in the face of a looming European war that many believed would surely involve America at some point. But Berlin's lyrics to "God Bless America" stood in sharp contrast to the America Guthrie had seen in his travels.  His original title "God Blessed America for Me" more than hints at his anger at the socio-economic disparities within America, the land of "plenty." Like so many others from the Dust Bowl states, Guthrie migrated west during the Depression years. He criss-crossed the country at a time before interstate highways existed and at a time when people didn't have money or time for leisure travel. What he saw of America then inspired the sharp social commentary that underpins his music and writings. His music influenced the folks songs of the 60s as well as more contemporary artists such as Bruce Springsteen. 

Guthrie served in the Merchant Marines in WWII, and he recorded the original version of "This Land is Your Land" in 1944 while on shore leave. The original recording included a verse that was later excised when the song was released in 1951, but it was the sixth and final verse that was never recorded that perhaps best illustrates what motivated him to write and record this enduring American classic folk anthem: 

“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 God blessed America for me.”

I fear I've gone far astray from my original point, but the more I researched the song's lyrics and origins, the more it fascinated me. While it can certainly be viewed as a tribute to the concept of a beautiful landscape that stretches from sea to shining sea, "This Land is Your Land" has quite a lot more to say about the social inequities in America that persist to this day. 

I originally intended to use the song title to springboard into a discussion of how much the Red Cross Girls who served in WWII appreciated the opportunity to see more of the world and appreciated the natural surroundings in which they served, so I'll share a few of the photos that I originally intended to include. 

Boat trip on the Nile (from Cairo)

Relaxing at a rest camp for Navy flyers - Gold Coast of Australia

May 1944 - Poggia, Italy

If you are interested in learning more about Woody Guthrie, and the history underlying "This Land is Your Land" in particular: this NPR piece, a Blackwing blog, and this Kennedy Center piece may be of interest.

You can find my Clubmobile Girls series on Amazon, and you can learn more about me and my writing on my website and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.