Michael Kazin points out that Pete Seeger's and Bruce Springsteen's performance of Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land," closing out the concert at the Lincoln Memorial, was probably its most political moment, for including the "two 'radical' verses of This Land Is Your Land that almost always get cut when the song is sung in public, or in countless elementary schools across the nation."Barack ObamaThe verses didn't come out quite as written, but here they are in the original version:
Howie P.S.: After my father died, my mother remarried and her second husband (Earl Robinson, a native of West Seattle) wrote the music to the song "Joe Hill," the legendary organizer for the IWW. I could feel them all there yesterday.“As I was walkin’ – I saw a sign there
And that sign said – no tress passin’
But on the other side …. it didn’t say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!
Chorus
In the squares of the city – In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office – I see my people
And some are grumblin’ and some are wonderin’
If this land’s still made for you and me.”
I started posting on HowieinSeattle in 11/04, following progressive American politics in the spirit of Howard Dean's effort to "Take Our Country Back." I decided to follow my heart and posted on seattleforbarackobama from 2/07 to 11/08.--"Howie Martin is the Abe Linkin' of progressive Seattle."--Michael Hood.
Monday, January 19, 2009
"Seeger's version"
Ben Smith:
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1 comment:
The Three Chord Progressives do all the verses all the time. The verse about the sign is my favorite.
Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue
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