This Land Is Your Land (the true story)

Adam Miller - Folksinger, Storyteller, and Autoharp Virtuoso. Folksinging.org
In February of 1940, Woody Guthrie (1912-1967) wrote what is now one of the most well-known and widespread English language folksongs. Here's how it happened.

[@snailevangelist]

admittedly, i almost cry whenever i watch this. the folksy storytelling through timeless music reminds me so much of my childhood. woodie guthrie is an absolute legend, and you've served him well by telling his story in exactly the spirit it should be told.

[@jeffthebluesinem2280]

Wow, this was a great presentation of Woody Guthrie's song! Every school kid in America heard this song, every American ought to know the story behind it.

[@susanocrowley6852]

Thanks for sharing this story. I am a elementary music school teacher. What a great story to tell the kids about where this song came from.

[@LazyIRanch]

Susan, you made my heart fill with joy! I had assumed that public schools would have banned this wonderful song nowadays. I was born in 1961, and went to public school in a suburb of Dallas, TX. I loved our music teacher in elementary school. She taught us this song, and others that promoted love of country without the jingoism. The year was 1969 (crazy times, "Summer of Love"), and she created our yearly class stage presentation that we performed for our parents. I am so proud of her, looking back now. She was brave and went above and beyond to teach us little brats WHY these songs were so important, and the roles they played in history, and she was not going to let this opportunity to teach love, equity, and tolerance to her children pass by. She clearly loved us, and we loved her. I know your students are precious to you and I'm happy that you are in their lives! They won't forget you.😍 At age eight, I didn't understand anything about "politics", and I sure as heck didn't understand why a very few parents got angry about her choices of songs. We also sang "negro" spirituals like "The Wayfaring Stranger", and old songs like "We Shall Overcome" (gorgeous melody), and "This Little Light of Mine" which most of us already knew from Sunday School.

[@OjackFiddy]

I do appreciate that history we used to sing that in grade school and every state song in music class sitting on the floor indian style.

[@Pluscount]

I taught my 7th grade civics class the history behind the Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America, and This Land is Your Land and included this video. It's a great resource.

[@anthonyfoutch3152]

Woody had wanderlust he deserted his family to ride the rails. He seldom bathed and most his fellow musicians didn't like him but he was probably America's greatest songwriter. For anyone that says no that was Dylan well Bob Dylan idolized Woody.

[@raverave4667]

This song is for every man and woman has ever step in this land regardless on they nationality and for those Indians that loose their life defending their land. This land was made for you and I despite the color or ethnicity.

[@jamesridoni]

I wish everyone knew this song And that THIS LAND WAS MADE FOR YOU AND ME.

[@leslieanne447]

It was supposed to be as God intended....right to have land

[@karencampos621]

God bless Woody

[@lynnlobliner3933]

I went through school in the 50s, graduating from high school in '65 and I didn't hear this song before the show Hootenanny (which aired 4/63-9/64 and was pre-recorded broadcast from colleges and universities around the country). I can't recall hearing it there but since the show was all folk music, I probably did. No verses of it were taught to us in any of my classes.

[@johnnyboysteele599]

A great story teller.😮

[@trythinkingnow]

Great video with a story everyone should know yet almost no one does....including me, until now.

[@noahtemple5911]

This song just makes me want to cry now.

[@WildlifeEthics]

Bet it makes you cry even harder today !!!

[@noahtemple5911]

@ why’s that?

[@jamesmalveira4983]

America needs to hear this story, especially the no trespassing part. Knowing us, it’s probably why it’s not the anthem 😕

[@Adamkovangbandi]

it can't be the anthem by the fault of the politician

[@SteveCarras]

That part is avoided and with goiod reason..

[@Juliemorgana]

Love hearing all that history! Thank you.

[@rickfreeman9530]

I have to add something that has plagued our family from my mother's side. Huntington's disease!!. Out of her brothers and sisters, total 5, only my mom and one uncle were blessed not having the disease. The sad thing is it runs down the genetic line. Since my mom never got it us 5 kids will never have it. But the scenario for my cousins has been disastrous. Remember 3 of their 5 could now pass this on to their offspring. And this was in the 60's thru 90's where we truely were informed of the genetic transferal possibilities. All my brothers and sisters are truely blessed and cousins Mike and Julie. God bless all our kids that have this horrifying disease that runs in their blood line.I said my piece!!! Peace and prosperity to you all!! Montana Rick.

[@sethwashburne]

Thanks for this background. Last week I was in Afton, Okla., looking for "the Ribbon Road" that went to Miami, Okla., and preceded Route 66, and thought of the line from this song. Maybe that road section gave him the "ribbon of highway" line. Interesting he took the music from the Baptist hymn. Certainly is nice that we can all feel we belong in any part of the U.S., as long as we can find an affordable hotel or pay the rent to the landowner.

[@Pernicion]

This is beautifully told. Thank you.

[@gabemirkin1]

Magnificent presentation. Real meaning. Well done. The best. Gabe Mirkin

[@dlbstl]

I am so happy I found this video. I wanted to hear the alternate verses. In addition to that I got a great story about Woody Guthrie. I also got to hear Adam sing the song with conviction and passion.. A real treat!

[@turtlelucy]

This is an outstanding version of this song and it's history. Since I first heard it sung by Pete Seeger back in the '50s, I've thought of it as my national anthem. A friend who sees things differently recently sent me an early video of Kate Smith singing 'God Bless America.' I replied that I would send my anthem. Their are 600 versions of this on UTube, and I'm glad I found this one first. Re: fredbuck's comment, I find it hard to believe that Woody used a typewriter - a pencil it is!

[@ripley2743]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing!

[@dawnleary869]

I have never heard this before, yes sure the song i have but , this has been put together so well by an amazing story teller. Amazing.

[@petrosthegoober]

I appreciate you telling this story, I'll be sure to tell it too.

[@joelwittenberg8295]

Never heard this story before! Love it! One of my favorite songs.

[@jamesridoni]

Your voice is great. I could listen to you for hrs

[@kimmagnuson6834]

Wonderful job.

[@juliedesnick7401]

Thank you for the lovely performance and the education!

[@rondamullins8831]

Love this! Thank you for sharing.

[@MifaMila58]

Just found this and it is really wonderful, in the tradition of Pete Seeger and Bruce Phillips a great true story about a great song. I esp. appreciate you singing the origin of the tune. Thanks!

[@robertriver786]

Beautiful.

[@kevinbunny2]

I loved it - the story and the singing. Thank you.

[@winstonenglish285]

Bob Dylan's "Song to Woody" says it all!!! Greetings from the southern tip of Africa

[@robinhood480]

“Hey hey Woody Guthrie, I wrote you a song “ Hi, I know that one. Thanks

[@winstonenglish285]

Bob Dylan was asked to write 25 words on what he thought about Woody Guthrie He wrote 5 pages !!! You might enjoy watching "An Ode To Woody Guthrie " on you tube

[@markdouglasbudka1116]

Mom talks about Woody Guthrie quite a bit. Oh, my darlin' brother, when the world's on fire. . . I grew up listening to her tell me over and over again "I was born during the Great Depression and raised during the Second World War II. We didn't have much of anything!" Dad is Slavic and German. Came from Ag and Ag Industry families. They're 85 now . . . I'm not Socialist, Fascist or Marxist. Too Czech and German for those. I think America the Beautiful should be the national anthem. It's a prayer for what this nation should have been. Kathrine Lee Bates was reported to have a "Boston" marriage. I don't care. It's a great prayer. God has blessed America. This Land was made for you and me, but did it ever become what the founding fathers intended it to be? You start where you're at . . . unfortunately . . . we pretty much stayed there, except for industrialization. Thank you for sharing this 11 years ago. I'm 60 this year. Still live in Nebraska.

[@HunterMann]

What a great find these videos are! Adam is truly a great storyteller/songster/knowledgeable musicologist.

[@breatharian2009]

I loved it. Well done Sir!

[@tonyarnold9784]

This is excellent.

[@mrlaw711]

Really cool presentation of the background to this song.

[@pieemme]

Wonderful interpretation

[@anelladambrosio2513]

Amo questa canzone!bellissima esibizione!😊😍😘🎶🎸🎶💘💓💕💯💋🌅🍀

[@rolandmousaa3110]

Adam.. I worked for Pete Seeger for 50 years and he told me that he sent Woody's song to our US Gov. Publishing Dept. for all school children to learn and sing. That's how his song "This Land Your Land" became famous. Good understanding how he wrote the song. Thanks! Roland Mousaa

[@kauhajoenadventtiseurakunt4949]

Beautiful of course Woody wasn´t only national treasure of USA but also my hero

[@howze2ID]

This guy is pretty cool

[@estydinur9216]

Interesting. Thanks for the info!

[@Fontleroy]

Amazing

[@blaisemarcc1648]

I remember Will Geer

[@rcc2741]

Poor woody had a disease past from his mother called Huntingtonskorea. His sister was ironing in a cotton dress and a candle caught her dress and she died from the burns the next day after losing his mom and sister he was never the same, some say the sister committed suicde after her mother went mad! It’s a terrible disease that attacks the nervous system

[@mrwaterschoot5617]

thank you for your music and your untold stories. we will thank god for our gifts and life challenges. i like your style of true story telling very similar to newscaster paul harvey and his stories and a commercial break and the rest of the story. adam your stories have beautiful music in the background and you are making the music and telling the story. hey that is multi tasking at its finest. thanks for sharing your stories. and you already know everyone has a story. it just depends if the story is ever told. keep up the good work my friend.

[@suedsouza1412]

Thank you Adam for explaining Woody G true story. made a headline by J Lo at President Biden swearing in.

[@chrisprice705]

Sharing

[@blaisemarcc1648]

At the start I thought this was going to be...something else. Then he goes to Huntington's...so I know he knows what he's doing. I have told many people that I would play the melody if the students sang all the verses.

[@cynthiachase1576]

bravo. Thanks.

[@MrIain73]

How do you know this and how come we have never heard this off Arlo Guthrie? Woody Guthrie R.I.P Pete Seegers R.I.P Pete and Woody. Thank you for the music and this land is your land from the artic circle to the snow at the yellow. This land is your land this land was made for you and me. Next verse Iain. Am always forget words and I can not play a musical instrument 🎸 wish I could.

[@autoharper]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJ7Yq4l5d9xqoqc

[@mikelabomusic7782]

Arlo regularly performs this song and tells the story. He even tells a wonderful story about how Woody taught him the song when he was a boy. It was the only song Woody taught Arlo.

[@kellikocha7733]

I just really that today in 2023 Woody would be sued for “stealing” a song from some random unknown person.

[@stealthDC]

THANK YOU

[@ciudadanodelmundo4404]

good explication

[@georgmiller8575]

Now i know too how that harps being played.

[@Henrik1968]

It should be named: this land was your land but we stole it!

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

This land is their land, they took it from us, corporations, and Musk and Bezos

[@stevosd60]

Great to hear the choruses most singers leave out.. they're missing the point of the song.

[@LuckyBastardCandleCo]

I would kill to hear him sing those lyrics

[@elainebowles9203]

interesting that an immigrant sees the good side of America, while a citizen sees the a bad side. Still goes on today. I still say Woodie was the greatest folk/country song writer in American history.

[@allyanna1994]

T Your the man.!

[@user-lw9yz]

This man looks like the slovenian former prime minister Janez Janša.

[@Swampfish100]

❤️❤️❤️

[@StanfordFan-jn1dp]

Read or listen to "Chronicles Part One" by Bob Dylan to get the story of how Woody impacted Bob and how Bob impacted the world.

[@reenyny9502]

Well that was dark😢

[@winros]

I believe he died of Huntington's disease correct me if I'm wrong...

[@elfritts9895]

Caution this video will make you tear up

[@autoharper]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmK6naytd5eIjLs

[@mexfolroa]

I think he got the words "with the light from above" wrong. It should be "with a light from above". Many singers make that mistake.

[@jakeet999]

The tradition of folk music worldwide is based on borrowing other people's melodies without giving due credit. There are talented ppl, yet they are few and far between

[@daweshorizon]

Nothing wrong with 'borrowing' a tune. If Johann Pachelbel had received royalties from the multiple hits which plagiarised his Canon in D, he'd be wealthier than that Bezos fellow. A pity that Johann died in 1706. A while back. Bob Marley, Maroon 5, a load of deceased crooners and countless other artists. No problem, it's the perfect arrangement! As for this song, you have to remember that no musician lives in a bubble; everyone has influences, that's how music and art move on. However, love this version of Woody's classic, along with its true history! Nice one. Woody was called a 'communist' in the USA, that term has since become a derogatory and weaponised word in modern-day America. Actually, he just stood up for the low-paid, exploited workers and racially segregated (and abused) citizens of America during the Depression and Dust Bowl era. Lots of musicians claim Woody as an influence on their future success. Bob Dylan for one. (Bob also borrowed a few tunes). I reckon Woody's 'This Land..' influenced Bob Dylan's ' 'Ballad of Emmett Till'. At least spiritually and with the notion of conveying a message of truth. As always, love and peace.

[@leslieanne447]

Wait.....isn't it this land is my land THEN this land is your land? Did I sing it backward for years, Mandela effect lol....😆

[@winros]

I spoke too soon did anyone else have that in his family because that's very hereditary 50/50 chance?

[@missouribattleflag328]

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@brad1368]

You are like half Pete Seeger and half Quentin Tarantino.

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

The sign didn't say No Trespassing. It said Private Property, which being a communist, Woody was against. God bless Woodrow Wilson Guthrie

[@sirrobinofloxley7156]

"F yo couch!" Rick James

[@rosslynemrys5829]

I've always intensely disliked God Bless America and Kate Smuth's over the top singing, This Land Is Your Land on the other hand is beautiful.

[@blaisemarcc1648]

Dulcimer. Bravo

[@allyanna1994]

You got a email address?

[@higgme1ster]

We get it, Woodie Guthrie was a Comminist with a Capitol "C", but as much as I hate Communism and Fascism, I still like the song. It's sort of like "The Big Rock Candy Mountains" by Harry McClintock (1928).

[@SandfordSmythe]

He was a communist with a small "C". He believed in its principles and hung with them, but he was considered too erratic for party discipline. Someone said he was given a chance by the Greenwich Village group but was kicked out for not schlepping his quota of Daily Workers on the streets and being inattentive during educational meetings.

[@WildlifeEthics]

Ummmm....I love this, BUT: Tell that to our Indigenous people.

[@MC-up9nx]

forest not forasst

[@fishinmagician1969]

I prefer god bless America