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