This land is your land

[Myra Bronstein]

THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND
Sing-along led by BP CEO Tony Hayward at the most recent CFR company picnic

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 a ribbon of highway
I saw above me an endless skyway
I saw below me a golden valley
This land was made for you and me

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've roamed and rambled and I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me

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

The sun comes shining as I was strolling
The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me

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 that sign said - no tress passin'
But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!

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
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.

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

[Magda Hassan]

I wasn't lucky enough to see Woody but I did get to go to a concert many moons ago by his son Arlo. He sang that song and said his dad also meant it to go all around the world not just overland, if you know what I mean? That 'the land' is all lands.

[Myra Bronstein]

I wasn't lucky enough to see Woody but I did get to go to a concert many moons ago by his son Arlo. He sang that song and said his dad also meant it to go all around the world not just overland, if you know what I mean? That 'the land' is all lands.

Interesting. Thanks for sharing that Maggie. I'm envious that you saw Arlo. Yeah in a sane US it would be our national anthem. But since it don't have God in the lyrics, and sounds rather socialist, t'aint gonna happen.

To better understand and enjoy this legendary song let the great great Night Watchman, aka Tom Morello, explain it in a way only he can:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKSm-24P9t
This is my all time favorite version.

[Magda Hassan]

Oh this would make a fantastic anthem for the US! Has there ever been a campaign to achieve this?
Our anthem should have been Waltzing Matilda. Or at least the music with new words as the music is recognisable by any Australian. Though the description of the class struggle of a unemployed proletarian man who steals a sheep for food and his death by drowning by the state police authorities is a perfectly apt description of Australia's history and present. I don't even know the words to our anthem. My generation grew up with 'God Save the Queen' and the current one was foisted on us from almost nowhere. It is a dreadful dull dirge about Australians all ringing Joyce because she's young and free. Even those that know the anthem only know the first verse. And just as well because it is really racist and sexist and would make a White Supremacist proud.