This Land is Your Land

Another essay assignment…

Jeremiah Hall Palmer
Professor Mendel
ENGL200
June 29, 2012

Dear Prof. Mendel:

For this essay I chose to pick on Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land.” In this essay I’ve tried to stay focused on the topic of the differences between the written, poetic form that we are presented with in the text and the vocalized version of which the majority of us are accustomed. For a brief moment I touched on the topic of how the addition of music to verse can have an effect on interpretation and meaning—how could I not, as the two topics do cross over with this piece?

As always, thank you for your time and criticisms; I look forward to seeing what marks I’ve earned with this work.

Sincerely,
Jeremiah Hall Palmer

Jeremiah Hall Palmer
Professor Mendel
ENGL200
June 29, 2012

It can be very difficult—next to impossible, even, for this author—to read the lyrics of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land” without experiencing the melodic accompaniment echoing through the mind. “This Land…” has been implanted in many of our minds over the course of years, starting for many of us in elementary school, as one of the first songs taught in music education. Singing along internally comes fairly easily—almost annoyingly—while letting the eyes follow the printed text of the poem; that is, until the mentally pictured bouncing ball that followed the words hits the brick wall that is the additional “unknown” stanzas. Not only does the melodic flow of the words disrupted by the discovery that more of the poem exists—but perspective is changed, once these “new” passages are read, and discovery is made that there is additional meaning that has been stricken from the more “patriotic” version.

At the start of the poem, Guthrie illustrates a man’s nomadic wandering across the earthen face of the nation; visions of the vast and bountiful picturesque landscape are shared, with the exclamation that all of this is here for us to enjoy—this land was made for you and me (Guthrie, 5-8). Guthrie continues on in painting this picture; underlining that from Pacific to Atlantic, our eyes can see—and if we open them up further, our ears can even “hear” a resounding voice telling us that the majestic is ours to have and share freely (Guthrie, 11-12). Pressing further in his writing, however, Guthrie shows us that—sadly—the wonderful and sentimental truth he has shared is anything but; nature’s beauty and freedoms aren’t available to us all, after all.

A sign is seen ahead, and when approached, it is seen emblazoned with the words, “No Trespassing”; as with most signs which we see making such a declaration, our wandering minstrel notices that the opposite side is blank—suggestion is then made that perhaps we belong on the other side of the sign (Guthrie, 17-20). An interesting point of discussion arises from these simple few lines—is this some sort of symbolic representation? Has this simple poem that was taught to us as school-age children turned into political commentary? Continuing on, our lyrical guide takes us to a small inner-city scene, where poor and down-trodden seek out assistance (Guthrie, 22-23); following this, Guthrie poses the question, “Is this land made for you and me?” (Guthrie, 24)

We have gone from hearing, and singing what had been a rather calm, mellow, and upbeat song, to reading a somewhat depressing poem that makes us question the direction with which our nation is heading and the troubles that we—as a nation—are facing. In a land of wondrous beauty and opportunity, poverty is ever-present; varied laws and regulations withhold some from achieving the dream. There is still hope available, however, as Guthrie continues; he tells us in his words that he has the ability to defy the “No Trespassing” signs and be master of his own destiny and enjoy the elements written/ sung about earlier, and that “nobody living can ever make me turn back.” (Guthrie, 27)

In reviewing the original writing of “This Land…” and comparing it to the version most commonly known in song, we can see a difference in the interpretative meanings. Simply taking the traditional lyrics alone without musical accompaniment, we can see that the words can be slightly melancholy; yet when we apply the music, the words gain some “bounce” and are brought to a more comfortable and cheery level of relaxing and hopeful reflection of what the dreams of the nation are. Stripping the music away, however, and examining the entire written work exposes a writing of saddened concern for humanity and political system in America. It would be difficult to imagine what the traditional song would sound like with the addition of these stanzas; would the melody be capable of carrying these darker lyrics? And, had the additional verses been included, would the song have ever been published and risen to being such a commonly known song, given it would have been political commentary? I doubt it.

It is for this reason that I believe that the additional lyrics have been excluded from the song’s performance by nearly every performer—with exception to Woody’s son, Arlo Guthrie. The song has grown to be known by so many, that the discovery or inclusion of the additional verses would cause upset to persons who have grown so accustomed to the vision of a man, journeying the nation in solitude, breathing in the beauty, and finding peace. Any change would destroy this image and simply be unacceptable to the collective majority.

Works Cited
Guthrie, W. “This Land is Your Land” ENGL200: Composition and Literature. American Public University System. 2011. McGraw-Hill. PDF/Web. Retrieved from: http://ebooks.apus.edu.ezproxy1.apus.edu/ENGL200/Perkins_2011_unit2.pdf