Pastures of plenty
Guthrie Woody Lyrics
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My poor feet have traveled a hot dusty road
Out of your Dust Bowl and westward we rolled
And your deserts were hot and your mountain was cold
I worked in your orchards of peaches and prunes
Slept on the ground in the light of your moon
On the edge of the city you'll see us and then
California and Arizona, I make all your crops
And its North up to Oregon to gather your hops
Dig the beets from your ground, cut the grapes from your vine
To set on your table your light sparkling wine
Green pastures of plenty from dry desert ground
From the Grand Coulee Dam where the waters run down
Every state in this Union us migrants have been
We'll work in this fight and we'll fight till we win
Well, it's always we rambled, that river and I
All along your green valley, I will work till I die
My land I'll defend with my life if it be
'Cause my pastures of plenty must always be free
Woody Guthrie's song "Pastures of Plenty" is a powerful ode to the migrant workers who left their homes and travelled to the western states of California, Arizona, and Oregon in search of work during the Great Depression. The song is full of vivid imagery and descriptions of the hard work and tough living conditions that these workers endured in order to support their families.
The first verse sets the scene for the rest of the song, with Guthrie singing about the difficulties of the work that he and his fellow workers are doing. The second verse describes the places that they are working and the crops that they are harvesting. The third verse celebrates the beauty of the land and the importance of fighting to keep it free.
The song's chorus, "Green pastures of plenty from dry desert ground," celebrates the fact that despite the dry, inhospitable conditions of the western states, there is still a bounty to be had for those who are willing to work hard for it. Ultimately, the song is a tribute to the resilience and determination of the migrant workers who kept on working despite the many challenges they faced, and who fought to make a better life for themselves and their families.
Overall, "Pastures of Plenty" is a tribute to the hardworking, resilient, and brave migrant workers who helped build the American West during one of the country's darkest periods.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a mighty hard row that my poor hands have hoed
Farming is back-breaking work
My poor feet have traveled a hot dusty road
Traveling to find work is difficult
Out of your Dust Bowl and westward we rolled
People moved westward to escape the Dust Bowl
And your deserts were hot and your mountain was cold
The west was harsh and unforgiving
I worked in your orchards of peaches and prunes
The artist has worked picking fruit
Slept on the ground in the light of your moon
The singer has had to sleep outside
On the edge of the city you'll see us and then
Migrant workers were often on the outskirts of towns
We come with the dust and we go with the wind
Migrant workers are transient, they come and go
California and Arizona, I make all your crops
The artist has worked in many states picking crops
And its North up to Oregon to gather your hops
The artist has even traveled as far as Oregon
Dig the beets from your ground, cut the grapes from your vine
The singer has worked with various crops
To set on your table your light sparkling wine
The fruit harvested by the artist becomes wine
Green pastures of plenty from dry desert ground
Lush fields can grow in even the driest areas
From the Grand Coulee Dam where the waters run down
The singer has seen the benefits of the New Deal's public works projects
Every state in this Union us migrants have been
Migrant workers have traveled all over the country
We'll work in this fight and we'll fight till we win
Migrant workers are determined to succeed despite adversity
Well, it's always we rambled, that river and I
The artist has traveled alongside a river
All along your green valley, I will work till I die
The singer will work until their dying day
My land I'll defend with my life if it be
The singer values their land and way of life immensely
'Cause my pastures of plenty must always be free
The artist believes that access to fertile land should be a universal right
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: WOODY GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@iansingsiansings2101
Started seasonal work 50 years ago,
a working holiday you might say.
Had a few jobs in towns,
they don't last long before I get bored
and start feeling hemmed in.
Only ever been to Australia since when I came here 69 yrs ago.
Sometimes flood, sometimes dry.
Good to be in the fields with nature.
"In the pastures of plenty I'll live till I die."
@hilarynoble7955
It's a mighty hard row that my poor hands have hoed
My poor feet have traveled a hot dusty road
Out of your Dust Bowl and westward we rolled
And your deserts were hot and your mountain was cold
I worked in your orchards of peaches and prunes
Slept on the ground in the light of your moon
On the edge of the city you'll see us and then
We come with the dust and we go with the wind
California and Arizona, I make all your crops
And its North up to Oregon to gather your hops
Dig the beets from your ground, cut the grapes from your vine
To set on your table your light sparkling wine
@Martinvdzzz
Been a migrant since I was a kid. Worked and continue to work every summer in the pacific northwest picking raspberries, blueberries, strawberries. It's hard work but its humbling and satisfying to see the migrants work so hard to provide for themselves but most importantly for their families. I've seen many people from several countries, and many whom do not speak a hint of English triumph. It's like the lyrics from the song plane wreck at los gatos :
"Some of us are illegal
And others not wanted
Our work contract's up
And we have to move on
Six hundred miles to that Mexican border
They chase us like outlaws
Like rustlers, like thieves"
@OrdinaryVids
The key is in "D", but the few tricks he plays are in "C." The only real embellishment
a hammer-on the d string. Below Guthrie's version are the chords it is most often played to.
Capo: 2nd Fret
C
It's a mighty hard row that my poor hands have hoed
My poor feet have traveled a hot dusty road
Out of your Dust Bowl and Westward we rolled
And your deserts were hot and your mountains were cold
I worked in your orchards of peaches and prunes
I slept on the ground in the light of the moon
On the edge of the city you'll see us and then
We come with the dust and we go with the wind
California, Arizona, I harvest your crops
Well its North up to Oregon to gather your hops
Dig the beets from your ground, cut the grapes from your vine
To set on your table your light sparkling wine
Green pastures of plenty from dry desert ground
From the Grand Coulee Dam where the waters run down
Every state in the Union us migrants have been
G C
We'll work in this fight and we'll fight till we win
It's always we rambled, that river and I
All along your green valley, I will work till I die
My land I'll defend with my life if need be
G
Cause my pastures of plenty must always be free
--------------------------------------
A nice idea here is to add a simple bass part: C /B Am /! C
C Am
It's a mighty hard row that my poor hands have hoed
C Am
My poor feet have traveled a hot dusty road
C Am
Out of your Dust Bowl and Westward we rolled
C Am
And your deserts were hot and your mountains were cold
@adrianmiller6641
I grew up in Okemah, Oklahoma, where this guy is from. They have a water tower that says its the home of Woody Guthrie and they have a Woody Guthrie festival every year
@NotBatman101
I bet they don’t even know that he was a socialist
@jonascaid5911
They also changed the festival from a free festival to a charge to camp, charge to listen festival. It started as something Woody would be proud of and has become something he'd be so disappointed in he'd write a song. I'm also from Okemah. Fuck everyone who went against his wishes.
@joshb8976
That fucking vocal melody is so incredible. He's just playing one chord most of the song. This is a very clever song. American music is so amazing.
@TheSilverNightingale
He actually appropriated that melody from the traditional song "Pretty Polly."
@hansvandermeulen5515
@@TheSilverNightingale and a reworked version by Peter Tevis with arrangement by Ennio Morricone became the basis for the main theme of A Fistful of Dollars.
@TheSilverNightingale
@@hansvandermeulen5515 oh very interesting! I will check that out! I love knowing how folk, traditional and classical music sometimes evolve into popular music.
@user-wi1de8mv8x
One of my favourite travelling songs when driving alone across the Australian outback
@lprice7247
Dudes one of the best poets ever.
@bundleaxe1922
The way the words mingle and build on each other. It's beautiful.