This Land is Your Land
Bruce Springsteen & Pete Seeger Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

This land is your land, this land is my land
From the 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 went walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway
And saw below me that golden valley
This land was made for you and me

I roamed and rambled and I 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

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

This land is your land and this land is my land
From the California to the New York island
From the Redwood Forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me

When the sun comes shining, then I was strolling
In wheat fields waving and dust clouds rolling




The voice come chanting as the fog was lifting
This land was made for you and me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bruce Springsteen & Pete Seeger's song "This Land is Your Land" convey a message of unity, inclusivity, and the shared ownership of the vast and diverse landscapes of America. It expresses a sense of belonging and the belief that this land is meant for everyone, regardless of their background or social standing.


The song begins by emphasizing the vast expanse of the land in America, from the east coast (New York island) to the west coast (California). It mentions specific natural landmarks like the Redwood Forest and the gulf stream waters, highlighting the beauty and majesty of the country. The repetition of the phrase "This land was made for you and me" serves as a reminder that the land belongs to all individuals and should be enjoyed by everyone.


As the singer continues walking, they observe the endless skyway and the golden valley beneath them. This further reinforces the idea that the land is vast and open to exploration. The lyrics also mention the diamond deserts, emphasizing the hidden treasures and unique aspects of America's landscape. Along their journey, the singer hears a voice that echoes the sentiment that this land was made for everyone.


The song captures the joy of walking in the sunshine, particularly in the wheat fields with dust clouds rolling. It creates a sense of freedom and a connection to the natural world. The voice mentioned in the lyrics represents a collective voice, chanting and reminding us that this land is meant for everyone.


Overall, "This Land is Your Land" is an anthem of unity and patriotism, emphasizing the shared ownership of America's land and the inclusive spirit that should guide the nation.


Line by Line Meaning

This land is your land, this land is my land
This country belongs to all of us, you and me


From the California to the New York island
From the West Coast to the East Coast


From the Redwood Forest, to the gulf stream waters
From the tall trees of the forest to the flowing waters of the ocean


This land was made for you and me
This country was created for all its inhabitants, not just a select few


As I went walking that ribbon of highway
While I was taking a stroll along the open road


I saw above me that endless skyway
I observed the vast expanse of the sky above me


And saw below me that golden valley
And noticed the beautiful, fruitful valley below me


This land was made for you and me
This country was intended for everyone, not just a privileged few


I roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps
I wandered and explored, tracing my own path


To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
To the shining and precious deserts she possesses


And all around me, a voice was sounding
And everywhere I went, I heard a voice


This land was made for you and me
This country was created for every citizen, not just a privileged few


When the sun comes shining, then I was strolling
When the sun shines brightly, I enjoy taking a leisurely walk


In the wheat fields waving and dust clouds rolling
In the fields of wheat swaying in the wind and dust clouds swirling


The voice was chanting as the fog was lifting
The voice was singing out loud as the fog lifted


This land was made for you and me
This country was specifically designed to be inclusive and belong to all of us


This land is your land and this land is my land
This country belongs to every citizen, including you and me


From the California to the New York island
From the West Coast to the East Coast


From the Redwood Forest, to the gulf stream waters
From the tall trees of the forest to the flowing waters of the ocean


This land was made for you and me
This country was created for every individual, not just a select few


When the sun comes shining, then I was strolling
When the sun shines brightly, I enjoy taking a leisurely walk


In wheat fields waving and dust clouds rolling
In the fields of wheat swaying in the wind and dust clouds swirling


The voice come chanting as the fog was lifting
The voice came singing aloud as the fog lifted


This land was made for you and me
This country was specifically designed to be inclusive and belong to all of us




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Woody Guthrie

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@nedludd7622

"A big high wall there tried to stop me, a sign was painted, said "private property". On the back side it didn't say nothing. This land was made for you and me." There is a message that more than ever needs to be repeated.

@jeremypalmer6167

Also the verse about the relief office was originally “In the squares of the city, In the shadow of a steeple;
By the relief office, I'd seen my people.
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking,
Is this land made for you and me?” It’s really a much deeper song that is somewhat critical of America at points. One of the greatest pieces of folk music ever written.

@mitragenius2437

@Kyler M US is collapsing, good luck hanging on to power ya fascist. GFY.

- a proud commie.

@oddsdenver9673

@@mitragenius2437 what did they say?

@robertlepper5460

The camera should have gone to Obama when he was singing the 2 communist verses

@nedludd7622

@@robertlepper5460 What's wrong with singing communist verses?

6 More Replies...

@waynestuart7796

I was there that day and came out of a Smithsonian door to hear this song, standing behind me and a friend were 3 marines in dress blues....singing and crying. It was one of the most emotional times of my life. The inauguration was splendid and about 2 below zero..no one cared!

@Nilessterner

The most decent day in American history. Bless you my fellow countrymen. Happy holidays to you!

@kingcat3477

I am an Aussie and I love this, a great moment in history.

@carlosdelpozo1886

Truly a great moment! The need to revive Pete’s music is absolutely necessary, god bless his soul!!!!

More Comments

More Versions