By Woody Guthrie
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 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
Note: “As I was walking a ribbon of highway
I saw above me an endless skyway” and
“ribbon of highway” are two separate hyperlinks.
Chorus:
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
Chorus:
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
Chorus:
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!
Chorus:
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.
Chorus (2x)
Note: The title “Woody
Guthrie” is a hyperlink.


Born on July 14, 1912, Guthrie came into our world.
His family faced many economic hardships when he
was a young boy, so growing up was quite difficult for
Guthrie. Little did he know that he would become a
significant individual in history. At age 15, he
became more independent and went to live in the
world on his own. He had several unusual but
interesting jobs, most of which involved music, such
as playing the harmonica for audiences.
Guthrie is one of the most renowned spokesmen who
ever lived. He is famous for his music during the
time period between World War I and World War II.
As he roamed the world, he saw several poor people
in poverty. This gave him the inspiration to write
books and songs. He is most famous for the songs
“This Land is Your Land,” “Pastures of Plenty,” and
several others. (“Woody Guthrie”)
Back
 The
significance of this line in the song is
basically that Woody is trying to
communicate that America is our land where
we belong. Socialism inspired nationalism
during the Cold War, inspiring Guthrie. He
wrote “This Land is Your Land” after hearing
the song “God Bless America,” which gave
him inspiration. This line appears several
times throughout the song, so it is an
anaphora. An anaphora is the repetition of a
line or word throughout a song or poem.
This is also the theme of the song. (Spivey)
Back
(Ruehl) (“Anaphora”) (Nordquist)
 This
particular rhyme scheme shows up
several times throughout “This Land is Your
Land.” It usually starts with two lines that
rhyme and then the other two or three lines
don’t rhyme. The rhyme scheme goes like
this: A, A, B, C. Having a rhyme scheme
makes the song somewhat catchy and
attracts the people’s attention. (“Rhyme
Schemes”)
Back
 This
phrase is known as a metaphor. A
metaphor is stating that something is another
thing, without using like or as. It is the
exact opposite of a simile. Walking a “ribbon
of highway” would mean walking along a thin
road. This road went to California, where
Woody traveled. It could also be referring to
the US Highway 281. There are three
ribbons.
(Wilkinson),(Golden),
(Livingston) (“The
U.S. Highway 281
Ribbon”)
Back
 When
used in the first stanza, diamond
deserts is a metaphor, but also an
alliteration. An alliteration is when two
words start with the same letter or the same
sound. “Diamond deserts” is a perfect
example because the letter “D” is used
twice. It could be a metaphor as well
because deserts aren’t really diamonds. The
real meaning of diamond deserts is that the
deserts were beautiful in California. “Rich,
red roses” would be another good example.
(“Alliteration”)
Back
 “Wheat
fields waving” captures the attention
because it is both a metaphor and
personification. Personification involves
saying that an object is performing humanlike actions. It is a metaphor because wheat
can’t wave, but it can blow. (“Metaphors”)
Back


There are two important reasons why California is
significant in this song. The first reason is that California
is at the edge of the United States, and Guthrie is talking
about where this land is his land and our land. California
is one of the boundaries.
The second reason why California is important is because
of the Dust Bowl. As a result of the Dust Bowl in
Oklahoma, several farmers and their families migrated to
California in search of jobs and employment. Several
people were in poverty in California, and Guthrie visited
California during his travels around the United States.
California also inspired Guthrie to write “The Grapes of
Wrath,” because people in California would seek jobs
involving fruit and gas industries. (Fanslow) (Spivey)
Back


The New York Island refers to Ellis Island, where
immigration into the United States took place. An
immigration station was opened, but it was burned down
in an attempt to prevent immigration. This plan was a
failure. It caused even more immigration into Boston, New
Orleans, and several other ports. During World War I, the
percentage of immigration decreased.
During World War II in 1984, Ellis Island closed and shut
down for good. Guthrie saw the New York Island as a poor
area during the time when he wrote his songs. Ellis Island
immigration was one of his inspirations during his travels.
(“Ellis Island – History”) (“The History of Ellis Island”)
Back


The Redwood Forest is located in California, one of the
impoverished sites where Woody traveled for inspiration.
California is famous for redwoods. However, before World
War II, floods occurred, damaging the North Coast. The
poverty in this area today is still a high percentage.
California’s Redwood Coast is an excellent place for
vacations and fun activities. There are several hotels. It
is known for absolutely gorgeous scenery and nature.
Hiking is a popular activity in that area. There is also a
Redwood National Park. (Borad, Thiele, and Gienger)
(“California’s Redwood Coast”)
Back
 The
Gulf Stream refers to the stream of
water that distributes fresh water. Guthrie is
talking about one of the borders of the
United States, our land. The Gulf Stream
moves water quickly and efficiently. It only
consists of the part that flows from the
Caribbean Islands to the mid-Atlantic. It is
only a segment many parts. It goes all
around the world, including around Europe
and Africa. Benjamin Franklin has a lot to do
with the history of the Gulf Stream.
Back
(Wilkinson) (Hobbs)


The Dust Bowl – This period occurred in the 1930’s when
there was huge drought on lands and agriculture
throughout the United States. The Dust Bowl occurred
during the Great Depression, when everyone was going
through difficult economical dilemmas.
The phrase “dust clouds rolling” was something Guthrie
picked up from his travels around the United States. When
he saw the poverty stricken peoples, he came across the
Dust Bowl as well. During the Dust Bowl, there were
blizzards, storms, tornados, floods, and other extremes.
The Dust Bowl had good results, though. Farmers learned
better farming methods and processed them in future
agriculture. The Dust Bowl taught them how to take
extremely good care of their crops because of the harsh
weather. (“About the Dust Bowl”) (Bonnifield)
Back
 When
Woody mentions the “relief office,” he
is talking about the soup bowl ads during the
Great Depression. This was before President
Roosevelt set up the New Deal and the Social
Security Act. This relief office was for
impoverished people, people whom Woody
studied and supported. Woody would always
feel the most sympathetic for them, so he
included them in his songs. The Great
Depression was a time of serious economic
crisis. (Stevenson) (Nelson)
Back
 The
fact that Woody was referring to many
impoverished places shows that we are
fortunate to have a land as great as America.
This is the main connection of each section
of the lyrics.
******Read this page on “This Land Is Your Land”
for further reading and information on the
lyrics of “This Land is Your Land.” At the
bottom, there are references for even more
information.

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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