The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #37506   Message #646637
Posted By: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
10-Feb-02 - 02:18 PM
Thread Name: Origins: This Land Is Your Land (Woody Guthrie)
Subject: ADD: God Blessed America (Woody Guthrie-original)
I doubt that the version used in the public schools was the one written by Woody Guthrie. His original 1940 MS has shown up on the internet. I reproduce it here because it is important to the folk song era. Website Here

[GOD BLESSED AMERICA]
This Land Was Made For You And Me

(Woody Guthrie 1940 manuscript)

This land is your land, this land is my land
From [the] California to the [Staten] New York 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 big 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
[God blessed America for me.]

* all you can write is what you see.

Woody G. N.Y., N. Y., N. Y.,
Feb. 23, 1940
43rd Street and 6th Avenue
Hanover House

Crossed out lyrics in [ ].

Website for Guthrie Ms. Here
Original 1940 manuscript (click)