One of the tools that Woody used was to take a song that was already familiar to audiences. He picked "Darlin Pal of Mine" as the tune for "This Land".   The Carter Family sold a few 78's of "Darlin Pal of Mine" in their day. I don't think Woody used a single original tune in any of his songs.

It seems sort of ironic that "his" song is now being used in this fashion.   While I am guessing Woody would not be happy about it, but I think he was smart enough to understand how things work and he would not complain about something he was equally guilty of!

At any rate, the "protest" lyrics are probably more recognizable these days then they were when Woody was alive.   Moses Asch sold the song to schools, which is how it became popular. Those lyrics were not part of the recordings that Asch sold.

Ron