This Land is Your Land

Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco California

New York today, The Freedom Tower can be seen on the left. never forget

 An American owned company has recently used this song in their ad campaign and it got me thinking about how long its been since I’d heard it last. I thought it might bring back memories for you so I’m posting the lyrics, its origin, and of course images of our beautiful country. Enjoy!

Woody Guthrie wrote the song in 1940 and recorded it in 1944. The song was not published until 1945, when it was included in a mimeographed booklet of ten songs with typed lyrics and hand drawings. The booklet was sold for twenty-five cents, and was copyrighted in 1951. wikipedia.com

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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

The Battle Cry of Freedom

Lookout Mountain, 1864

As performed by the 8th Regiment Band

Written by George F. Root, “The Battle Cry of Freedom” was an immediate success in the North after its first public performance on April 24, 1862.  Considered a “rally” song, it was played and sung with gusto by virtually every Federal regimental brass band and many others throughout the remainder of the war.  Its tune also became popular in the South, which composed its own lyrics.