See also John Williams & The Boston Pops.
This Land Is Your Land
John Williams & Boston Pops Orchestra Lyrics
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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 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.]
The song "This Land Is Your Land" is a patriotic folk ballad that celebrates the beauty and diversity of the United States of America. The opening line of the chorus, "This land is your land, this land is my land," suggests that the song is about the unity of the American people regardless of their differences. The verses describe a journey across America, from California to New York and from the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters. The singer walks along a "ribbon of highway" and observes the natural beauty of the country, expressing gratitude for God's blessings.
The refrain of "God blessed America for me" indicates a sense of pride in being an American and a belief that the country is special and deserving of divine favor. The final verse, however, introduces a note of social critique. The singer sees poor and hungry people gathered at a Relief Office, questioning whether God truly blessed America for everyone. This suggests that the song is not just a straightforward celebration of America but also a call to address the challenges and inequalities that exist within the country.
Line by Line Meaning
This land is your land, this land is my land
This piece of ground isn't exclusive to anyone, it belongs to all of us
From [the] California to the [Staten] New York Island
This particular part of the world stretches from one end of the continent to the other
From the Redwood Forest, to the Gulf stream waters
This land encompasses everything from majestic forests to abundant bodies of water that flow into the sea
[God blessed America for me.]
I believe that this great country has been blessed by the Almighty
As I went walking that ribbon of highway
While journeying down the path of life
And saw above me that endless skyway
I gazed up to take in the boundless beauty of the sky
And saw below me the golden valley, I said:
And below me, I beheld a stunning vista of valleys painted in gold, causing me to remark
[God blessed America for me.]
That this land has been blessed by the Almighty
I roamed and rambled and followed my footsteps
I wandered aimlessly, retracing my steps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
Until I found myself walking amidst the glistening sands of the desert, appearing to shimmer like diamonds
And all around me , a voice was sounding:
With a voice ringing in my ears that seemed to say
[God blessed America for me.]
This great land has been blessed by the Almighty
Was a high wall there that tried to stop me
I eventually encountered a tall and sturdy wall in my travels that made it difficult to proceed
A sign was painted said: Private Property,
A sign was posted that read: Do Not Enter; This Land Is Privately Owned
But on the back side it didn't say nothing
However, upon closer inspection of the other side, there was no additional wording to be found
[God blessed America for me.]
I still believe that this land has been blessed by the Almighty
When the sun come shining, then I was strolling
The next day when the sun began shining down, I was casually strolling along
In wheat fields waving and dust clouds rolling;
I observed the fields of wheat gently swaying in the breeze, giving rise to plumes of dust that swirled around me
The voice was chanting as the fog was lifting:
As the fog began to dissipate, I heard a voice chanting
[God blessed America for me.]
A belief that this great land has been blessed by the Almighty
One bright sunny morning in the shadow of the steeple
On one occasion, during a brilliant, sunny morning, I found myself standing in the shadow of a large church spire
By the Relief Office I saw my people
As I approached a nearby Relief Office, I saw many members of my community in line and was struck by the realization that they were "my people" - fellow citizens of this great land
As they stood hungry, I stood there wondering if
As I observed them standing in line, I was left to wonder if
[God blessed America for me.]
Despite the poverty and hunger in evidence, I maintained my belief that this land has been blessed by the Almighty
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Woody Guthrie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind