‘This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land’

In 1940 Woody Guthrie wrote the lyrics to ‘This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land.’

On this Fourth of July — especially on this Fourth of July — we feel it is important to recall this song and remind ourselves of — and commit ourselves to — its call for a diverse, welcoming community that embraces young and old, immigrant and resident, rich and poor, people of all faiths and ethnicities, with respect for the magnificent, inspring beauty of the living land we are lucky enough to have been given. This is the true spirit of America.

You can listen to a recording of Woody Guthrie singing his ‘This Land is Your Land’ by clicking on image above.

Below, is a more recent recording, with Woody’s son Arlo — a Berkshire resident — singing a rousing rendition with Pete Seeger. The lyrics follow:

This Land is Your Land

This land is your land, this land is my land

From California to the New York Island

From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters

This land was made for you and me.

As I was walking that ribbon of highway

I saw above me that endless skyway

I saw below me that golden valley

This land was made for you and me.

[Chorus]

This land is your land, this land is my land

From California to the New York Island

From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters

This land was made for you and me.

I roamed and I rambled and I followed my footsteps

To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts

While all around me a voice was sounding

This land was made for you and me.

[Chorus]

This land is your land, this land is my land

From California to the New York Island

From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters

This land was made for you and me.

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling

And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling

A voice was chanting, As the fog was lifting,

This land was made for you and me.

[Chorus]

This land is your land, this land is my land

From California to the New York Island

From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters

This land was made for you and me.

As I was walkin’ I saw a sign there

And on the sign it said ‘No Trespassing.’

But on the other side it didn’t say nothing.

That side was made for you and me.

[Chorus]

This land is your land, this land is my land

From California to the New York Island

From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters

This land was made for you and me.

In the squares of the city, in the shadow of the steeple,

By the Relief Office I’d seen my people —

As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking

Is this land was made for you and me.

[Chorus]

This land is your land, this land is my land

From California to the New York Island

From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters

This land was made for you and me.

Nobody living can ever stop me,

As I go walking that freedom highway;

Nobody living can ever make me turn back

This land was made for you and me. 

[Chorus]

This land is your land, this land is my land

From California to the New York Island

From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters

This land was made for you and me.