This Land Is Your Land
Peter feat. Paul & Mary Lyrics


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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.

I roamed and rambled, and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was singing
This land was made for you and me!

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 went walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway
I saw below me those golden valleys
This land was made for you and me!

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 the sun was shining, and I was strolling,
And the wheat fields waving, and the dust clouds rolling,
As the fog was lifting, a voice was saying
"This land was made for you and me!"

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.

Overall Meaning

The song "This Land Is Your Land" by Peter, Paul and Mary is a powerful anthem that celebrates the diverse beauty of the United States and speaks to the idea that all people have a rightful claim to this land. The opening verse of the song suggests that this land is a shared gift from the nation's Southern to Northern borders, from the Pacific to the Atlantic coasts. The imagery of the "Redwood Forest" and "Gulf Stream Waters" serves to paint a picture of a country whose natural beauty has no equal.


The second verse of the song takes on a more personal tone as the singer talks about their own experience of roaming and following their footsteps across the land. Whether wandering across the "diamond deserts" or following "that ribbon of highway", the singer is struck by the overwhelming feeling that this land was made just for them. The song repeats the opening verse several times, underscoring the idea that this land belongs to all of us, and is an inheritance that we all share.


The final verse reiterates the song's key message, that no matter where we go in this land, we are surrounded by beauty and wonder. Whether the sun is shining or the fog is lifting, the fields are waving or the dust is rolling, this land was made for us. The song invites us all to claim a share in this nation, regardless of our race, creed or background, and to revel in the beauty of this land that is ours to call home.


Line by Line Meaning

This land is your land, this land is my land,
Regardless of race, gender, or any other demographic, this land belongs to all of us.


From California, to the New York Island,
The entirety of the United States, from west to east coasts, is available for all to enjoy.


From the Redwood Forest, to the Gulf Stream Waters,
From the mighty, towering trees to the rolling ocean, all of nature in this country belongs to us.


This land was made for you and me.
The land was created to be shared by all and enjoyed by all.


I roamed and rambled, and I followed my footsteps
I wandered aimlessly, finding my way without a plan.


To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
I was drawn to the beauty and wonder of the shimmering, sandy deserts.


And all around me a voice was singing
I heard a melody and felt that the land itself was singing to me.


This land was made for you and me!
I felt a sense of belonging and connection to the land that everyone should feel when they set foot on it.


As I went walking that ribbon of highway
I meandered through the country, a lone traveler on a seemingly endless road.


I saw above me that endless skyway
I looked up and realized the horizon was limitless, like the possibilities of what this land held.


I saw below me those golden valleys
I took in the beauty of the sun-kissed valleys below me.


This land was made for you and me!
I realized how accessible and available this beauty was to all, and it filled me with pride and belonging.


As the sun was shining, and I was strolling,
With the sun on my face and the wind in my hair, I leisurely walked the land, feeling alive and free.


And the wheat fields waving, and the dust clouds rolling,
I was surrounded by the simple and natural beauty of the waving wheat and the rolling dust clouds.


As the fog was lifting, a voice was saying
As the mist lifted and cleared, I heard a voice faintly whispering in my ear.


"This land was made for you and me!"
The voice in my head was affirming that this magnificent land is accessible and available for everyone to explore and enjoy.




Writer(s): Woody Guthrie

Contributed by Wyatt B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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