lyrics needed: this land is my land
Nicholas A. Tinker
"This land is my land, this land is your land"......
Does anyone have/know lyrics to this popular Canadian folk song?
Thanks very much, if you can help!
MIKE REGENSTREIF
Despite the Toronto Blue Jays video, "This Land Is Your Land" is not
really a Canadian folk song. It is a Woody Guthrie song for which The
Travellers, a 1960s Toronto group substituted some Canadian references for
the American ones. I understand that many other countries now have their own
versions of the song.
Thus:
This land is your land becomes This land is your land
This land is my land This land is my land
From California to the New York island From Bona Vista to Vancouver
island
From the redwood forests From the Arctic Circle
To the Gulf Stream waters To the Great Lake Waters
This land was made for you and me This land was made for you and
me
Mike Regenstreif
"Folk Roots/Folk Branches" on CKUT in Montreal
mre...@vax2.concordia.ca
Frank R. Giglio
"Nicholas A. Tinker" <tink...@em.agr.ca> wrote:
>"This land is my land, this land is your land"......
>Does anyone have/know lyrics to this popular Canadian folk song?
>
>Thanks very much, if you can help!
I would like to know the lyrics too, in both american and canadian
version.
Frank
Neill Smith
In article <31E104...@em.agr.ca>, tink...@em.agr.ca (Nicholas A.
Tinker) writes:
>
>
> "This land is my land, this land is your land"......
> Does anyone have/know lyrics to this popular Canadian folk song?
>
> Thanks very much, if you can help!
Nicholas,
I too am a proud Canadian and there is a Canadian version to this
song but I think (although I may be wrong) that the original words were
written by Woodie Guthrie, a rather famous, noteworthy, and
highly-deserving-of-honor (that's American honor, specifically, not
Canadian (or British) honour). Unfortunately, I don't remember all the
words to the "Canadian" version but it started:
This land is your land, this land is my land
From the Bay of Fundy to Vancouver Island
From the Northern rivers
To the Great Lakes' waters
This land was made for you and me.
Hope this helps.
Neill
--
-_-_-_|||-_-_-_|||-_-_-_|||-_-_-_|||-_-_-_|||-_-_-_|||-_-_-_|||-_-_-_|||-_-_
| |"The woods do that to you, they always look familiar, long lost, like a |
| piece of forgotten song drifting across the water, most of all like |
| golden eternities of past childhood or past manhood...." Jack Kerouac |
| Neill...@mindlink.bc.ca |
_-_-_-|||_
elin edwards f
On Canada Day (July 1st), I heard a bit of an interesting interview on
the C.B.C. in Toronto with a member of the Travellers about "This Land is
Your Land."
This song was, of course, originally written by Woodie Guthrie (U.S.
words). In the 50's, however, Guthrie was blacklisted by McCarthy and
friends, and the song received, basically, no air time at all in the
states. Somewhere along about then, the Travellers recorded the Canadian
words (both French and English), and their version was quite popular on
stations in Canada. The royalties from their recording, apparently, were
given to the Guthrie family, to an education fund for Arlo.
That's all I heard of the interview -- interesting bits.
elin edwards
english department/wilfrid laurier university
waterloo, ontario
Robert Miller
During the 70's, my high school teacher had a contest at an elementary
school. The object was to continue the Folk Song spirit and add a verse
to this song. The "winner" would have his/her verse passed along and
hopefully become part of the song.
I did not write this, and the name of the author was never shared. But I
like it.
Nobody living
Can ever stop me
As I go walking
That freedom highway
No body living
Can make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.
<chorus>
If you like it, please add.
Corey Cole
Nicholas A. Tinker wrote:
>
> "This land is my land, this land is your land"......
> Does anyone have/know lyrics to this popular Canadian folk song?
>
> Thanks very much, if you can help!
"Canadian folk song?" Unless you're talking about a variant with
Canadian verses, "This Land Is Your Land" is perhaps the most famous
song by Woodie Guthrie. Words appear in various collections of his
songs. I think they're also in my Pete Seeger book. I'm 99.999% sure
they're copyrighted, so I won't post them here.
-- Corey Cole
(co...@sierratel.com)
Chase
On Wed, 10 Jul 1996 09:36:12 -0700, Robert Miller <rmmi...@loop.com>
wrote:
>During the 70's, my high school teacher had a contest at an elementary
>school. The object was to continue the Folk Song spirit and add a verse
>to this song.
The songs originally sprang from the time of riding the rails, and
folk singers...I cannot say who wrote it but Woodie Guthrie comes to
mind ?? Leadbelly ? It was certainly part of the folk generation and
featured whenever Bob Dylan and Arlo and all the others got together
for a songfest..
It was This land is your land
This land is my land
From Buena Vista
to New York Island,
from (somewhere else)
to the Great Lake Waters
This land was made for you and me//
A Canadian version asserted
.........from the Artic Circle
to Vancouver Island
and other such changes to the American version....
The one I always got a kick out of was the one in which the line
went...
"I have walked far along
the Grand Bakes of Newfoundland,
Slept on the shores
of the Miramichi......."
You can sleep on the shores of the Mirimichi River in New Brunswick
all you want, but the Grand Banks are a couple hundred miles out into
the North Atlantic !!!!
Fogbound Child
At an Arlo concert, he told a funny story about how he went to
preschool, and when it came to music time, they sang the first few
verses of the song. Everybody knew the words but Arlo.
He went home crying to Woody, who made up some new verses on the
spot.
It's interesting that the song is often sung in a jingoistic manner.
The first two verses may fit in with the whole Manifest Destiny
thing, but the song's about the Great Depression. It's just that
nobody remembers the lyrics up to the point where it starts talking
about the soup lines. Incidently, if you haven't read "Bound for
Glory," Woody Guthrie's autobiography, you're missing a great,
great work.
The song has also spawned a whole "industry" of new verses, ranging
from the "this Land is your land, it used to be [our/the/my] Land"
of the Native American singers, to the various Boyscout spoofs.
One of my favorites was by Trudeau (in Doonesbury) where James Watt
sang:
"This land ain't your land, this land ain't my land, from offshore oil
rigs to stripmined mountains, from the redwood sawmills to the toxic
landfills, this land belongs to Industry."
Take it easy (but I mean take it),
___Samuel___
--
------------------------<lib...@webbwerks.com>-------------------------
The Winds & Sands of Time: http://webbwerks.com/~libelle
Samuel's Porno Links[tm]: http://webbwerks.com/~libelle/spl.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Actually, I'm extremely dissatisfied with being who I am. It's nothing
to do with my looks or abilities or status or any of that. It simply
has to do with being me. The situation strikes me as grossly unfair." HM
David Warren
The Travellers, a very popular folk group of the early 60's, wrote a
separately copyrighted Canadian version. Digi-cal should have both sets
of lyrics. For more info, try the Northern Journey (Canadian folk music)
website.
David Warren
Yatesian
Somebody mentioned this particular verse of This Land Is Your Land:
<Nobody living
Can ever stop me
As I go walking
That freedom highway
No body living
Can make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.>
It was written (like the rest of the song) by Woody Guthrie.
You might be interested to know that the original, or working, title of
this song was God Blessed America. Guthrie wrote it in reaction to Irving
Berlin's God Bless America, which ticked him off for a number of reasons.
These and other amazing bits of info can be found in the biography, WOODY
GUTHRIE: AMERICAN BALLADEER, published by Ward Hill Press (and written by
me, so excuse me while I shamelessly promote myself). It's a young adult
biography (targeted to teenagers), but a lot of adults have enjoyed it,
and Kirkus Reviews gave it a starred review. It also includes the complete
lyrics to This Land Is Your Land. I would include them here but I'm late
for dinner and have to run....
Barrie McCombs
Chase (cha...@mis.nb.ca) wrote:
: The one I always got a kick out of was the one in which the line
: went...
: "I have walked far along
: the Grand Bakes of Newfoundland,
: Slept on the shores
: of the Miramichi......."
Oops! Those lines are from "Something To Sing About" by Oscar Brand
- Barrie
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Barrie McCombs, MD, CCFP | Family Physician by day |
| bmcc...@acs.ucalgary.ca | Folk Musician during full moons |
| Calgary Folk Music URL: http://www.ucalgary.ca/~bmccombs/calfolk.html |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harold Atkinson
I can't hold back any longer. My kids used to sing this "redneck" version
years ago:
This land is my land, it is not your land,
If you don't get off, I'll shoot your head off.
I've got a shotgun, and you ain't got one,
This land was made for me, not you.
(Sorry, Woody)
Harold
Frank Hamilton
Here's a verse Woody would have liked about the envirnoment, written
by a friend of mine, Ellen McQueen:
This land is your land
To love and cherish
If we ignore it
Then we will perish
So if you love it
Take good care of it
This land can be saved
By you and me
Frank Hamilton
Greg Bullough
Genererally, I think Woody would have prefererred somethinging which fit the
meterer propoperly in the second-to-last line.
(Axiom: if you're going to screwew with a song's tag-lineine, at least
respecect the writer of a classassic enough to
make sure it scans corrorrectly.)
Greg
William Wagman
OR...
This land was your land, it wasn't my land
Until you sold us Manhattan Island
We pushed your nation, to the reservation
THis land was stole from you by me
Harold Atkinson (hr...@server.uwindsor.ca) wrote:
: I can't hold back any longer. My kids used to sing this "redneck" version
--
Bill Wagman
U.C. Davis
(916) 757-8786
Frank Hamilton
gr...@netcom.com (Greg Bullough) wrote:
>Genererally, I think Woody would have prefererred somethinging which fit the
>meterer propoperly in the second-to-last line.
>(Axiom: if you're going to screwew with a song's tag-lineine, at least
> respecect the writer of a classassic enough to
> make sure it scans corrorrectly.)
>Greg
Try singing it THIS Land CAN be SAVED by YOU and ME. BTW, I knew
Woody personally. I know he would have liked it. I personally like
screwing with lyrics of classic folk songs. It's called the "folk
process".
Frank
Jinxblues
Try singing it THIS Land CAN be SAVED by YOU and ME. BTW, I knew
Woody personally. I know he would have liked it. I personally like
screwing with lyrics of classic folk songs. It's called the "folk
process".
Frank
****************************
I have the same July 14th birthday as Woody. Does this mean that I can
alter his creativity to suit my own moods?
You are some piece of work, Frankie. You don't have to worry about any of
US liking you . . you are so egotistical it would not matter.
Dick Waterman
You know, I didn't have
But four women in my life.
There was my mother and my sister
My good gal and my wife.
-Son House
MIKE REGENSTREIF
In article <4t0hlq$8...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, jinx...@aol.com (Jinxblues) writes:
>Try singing it THIS Land CAN be SAVED by YOU and ME. BTW, I knew
>Woody personally. I know he would have liked it. I personally like
>screwing with lyrics of classic folk songs. It's called the "folk
>process".
>
>Frank
> ****************************
>
>I have the same July 14th birthday as Woody. Does this mean that I can
>alter his creativity to suit my own moods?
>
>You are some piece of work, Frankie. You don't have to worry about any of
>US liking you . . you are so egotistical it would not matter.
>
>
>Dick Waterman
Dick,
FRom what I know of Woody Guthrie, and I have read just about all of
his *published* writings, I don't think he'd have a problem with your changing
and adapting his lyrics and melodies. After all, he did it himself with his
own songs, with traditional songs and with others' songs.
Asked to comment on someone who once used some of Woody's material in
their own way, he said some thing to the effect of "maybe he stole from me but I
steal from everybody.
I must say I'm a little surprised at your personal attack on Frank
Hamilton. His contributions to the world of folk music over the past 40
years, while different that your's, have been extremely significant. He's
probably one of the least "egotistical" musicians I know.
For the edification of others reading these posts: Frank is/was an
important figure in the folk revival. He spent several years as a member of
The Weavers after Pete Seeger left the group. Ramblin' Jack Elliott learned
"South Coast" from him and the popularly known arrangement of "The Water Is
Wide" was adapted by Frank and Pete Seeger.
For his part, Dick is/was largely responsible for the rediscovery and
promotion of many legendary blues artists. He was also the manager of Bonnie
Raitt for a number of years at the beginning of her career.
Tfriendcpa
The words to "This Land is Your Land" are in the MacMillan "Music and You"
book for the 5th grade.
DWhit9490
I missed the initial post. Hope this is what was requested.
As Pete Seeger has it in "American Favorite Ballads," the song goes:
CHORUS:
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 that golden valley
This land was made for you and me.
(CHORUS)
I roamed and I rambled, and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts,
All around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me.
(CHORUS)
When the sun come shining, then I was strolling,
And the wheat fields waving, and the dust clouds rolling,
A voice was chanting, as the fog was lifting,
This land was made for you and me.
(CHORUS)
In the squares of the city by the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office, I saw my people,
And some were stumbling, and some were wondering if
This land was made for you and me.
(CHORUS)
As I went rambling that dusty highway
I saw a sign that said private property.
But on the other side, it didn't say nothing,
This land was made for you and me.
(CHORUS)
Nobody living can ever stop me
As I go walking my freedom highway
Nobody living can make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.
(CHORUS)
Note: Others have used slightly different words and verses.
Douglas R. Whitney
SLHinton17
Like Frank, I knew Woody pretty well (and he was a great amirer of Frank!)
, and know he'd be delighted to think his song was used for various
purposes, so long as he agreed with the purposes... But we shouildn't
forget that "This Land" is a copyrighted song, with all royalties going to
the support of Woody's descendants, and it would be courteous at least to
notify the copyright company of your new verses; reach 'em at TRO, 11 W.
19th St., New York, NY 10011-4298.
Sam Hinton
La Jolla, CA
Frank Hamilton
jinx...@aol.com (Jinxblues) wrote:
>Try singing it THIS Land CAN be SAVED by YOU and ME. BTW, I knew
>Woody personally. I know he would have liked it. I personally like
>screwing with lyrics of classic folk songs. It's called the "folk
>process".
>Frank
> ****************************
>I have the same July 14th birthday as Woody. Does this mean that I can
>alter his creativity to suit my own moods?
>You are some piece of work, Frankie. You don't have to worry about any of
>US liking you . . you are so egotistical it would not matter.
Dick, this is pretty mean-spirited. Very un-Woody-like even on his
most sarcastic days.
You must be the guy who said way back when that "Jazz is for the
purpose of creating euphoria." This you said in reference to the
development of modern jazz.
I guess you haven't changed. Still the same old you.
Frank Hamilton
George Tsopanoglou
Hello there,
Could anyone tell me the people who have performed Hardin's "How can we hang on to a dream" during the 60s
or 70s ?
Thanks,
George
Leonard J.Los
I have this song on CD performed by GANDALF on thier first and only
album from the late 60's
L.L.
MIKE REGENSTREIF
Some versions that come to mind include Ian & Sylvia on LOVIN'
SOUND (MGM) from the late-60s, Ellen McIlwaine on EVERBODY NEEDS IT/THE REAL
(Stony Plain), originally released in 1982/re-released in 1995 and Mimi Farina
on SOLO (Philo) from 1985.
Of course, there are studio and (what are euphemistically referred to
as) live recordings from the 1960s of Tim Hardin himself performing the song.
HotPlatter
"Hang on to a dream" was also recorded by the group
"The Nice" (featuring Keith Emerson) Mercury lbl
a couple of times with a great long stretched out piano
solo by Keith.
Ed O.
=========================================
Hot Pla...@aol.com
O N L I N E M U S I C M E N U :
http://websites.earthlink.net/~oversight/HotPlatters.html
=========================================
Jinxblues
>>>I guess you haven't changed. Still the same old you.
Take nothing for granted, Frank.
We have never met.
I meant you no intentional rudeness. I simply feel that - in 1996 - it is
presumptuous to tell music fans what a long-deseased man might have
thought.
If Hormel or Armour had an ad of "This ham is your ham / This ham is your
ham . . ." . . is this also part of the allowable folk process?
Would you be qualified to tell us that Woody would have been offended?
Think it was all in good spirit? Look for the check in the mail?
Your own musical accomplishments are legendary and deeply appreciated.
However, clairvoyance is not among them.
Frank Hamilton
jinx...@aol.com (Jinxblues) wrote:
>We have never met.
I have read your papers and admire your work. Your reputation in the
field of ethnomusicology is great and deservedly so.
>I meant you no intentional rudeness. I simply feel that - in 1996 - it is
>presumptuous to tell music fans what a long-deseased man might have
>thought.
I agree that no one can know what another person really thinks. I
knew Woody at a time before his disease took over. This was in the
early fifties. When we sing the words in the public school system
which were written to communicate to school children, "This land can
be saved by you and me" I really think I knew Woody well enough to
think he would have approved of this use. I don't think it's
presumtuous to say that he loved children and would see the value in
the verse as a part of a program for the public schools called "Earth
Songs."
>If Hormel or Armour had an ad of "This ham is your ham / This ham is your
>ham . . ." . . is this also part of the allowable folk process?
Of course that might not qualify as a folk process. I see your point.
But in the case of adding to a song to communicate a message that is
important, and not for commercial purposes, I think is acceptable.
Pete Seeger does it all the time and would you censure him for it? For
example, he has changed Ed McCurdy's song "Strangest Dream" by adding
new lines. The Weavers rewrote "Goodnight Irene" and many other songs
they recorded.
Woody added to and rewrote folk music all the time with his ideas.
>Would you be qualified to tell us that Woody would have been offended?
Woody was a complex human being and of course no one is qualified to
say what he really would have or not have thought. But I believe that
there are certain things one can know about people by their attitudes
and behavior. Woody loved kids and saw the need to communicate values
to them. I really believe he would have approved of this verse from
what I knew of him.
>Think it was all in good spirit? Look for the check in the mail?
I think that my intentions to sing this verse was in a good spirit. I
meant to show some of the important values that Woody stood for. I
can reasonably say from my association with him at that time that he
would want children to take care of the earth and not succumb to the
flagrant denial of many corporate interests in their pursuit of the
bottom line. Woody's spirit lives in the 1990's.
>Your own musical accomplishments are legendary and deeply appreciated.
>However, clairvoyance is not among them.
You are right of course, my crystal ball is in the cleaners. :)
Thank you for your nice comment. I admire your work as well.
Frank Hamilton
Jinxblues
I have read your papers and admire your work. Your reputation in the
field of ethnomusicology is great and deservedly so.
***********************
I 'thought' there was a problem here and I am right.
I am not who you think I am.
There was an ethnomusicologist by the name of Richard A. Waterman who
taught at Wayne State University and later Southern Florida University (in
Tampa) and wrote extensively for the Library of Congress.
He died about 10 years ago . . .
My name is ALSO Richard A. Waterman - we are both Richard ALLEN Waterman
- and I started in folk music in Cambridge about 1962 or so and then
started a career of managing old blues men such as Son House, John Hurt,
Skip James and others.
The 'other' Richard A> Waterman and I were often confused while he was
alive. It has been so many years since we were last mixed up that it did
not occur to me that you thought I was the other one.
Confusion now explained . . .
Dick Waterman
Ton Maas
In article <4t9peb$4...@helios.intranet.gr>,
gt...@helios-dpd.ntua.gr (George Tsopanoglou) wrote:
>Hello there,
>Could anyone tell me the people who have performed Hardin's "How can we hang on
>to a dream" during the 60s
>or 70s ?
Here's one reference you may not get otherwise: a Dutch singer named Rudy
Bennett (probably an assumed name) covered the song as his first
solo-release after leaving The Hague-based "beat" band named The Motions.
This was early seventies.
Ton Maas, Amsterdam NL
Ton Maas
In article <009A5E58...@vax2.concordia.ca>,
mre...@vax2.concordia.ca (MIKE REGENSTREIF) wrote:
> Of course, there are studio and (what are euphemistically referred to
>as) live recordings from the 1960s of Tim Hardin himself performing the song.
Could you please be more specific? The only "live" recording of Tim dating
from that period - that I'm aware of - is "Tim Hardin 3" (recently reissued
as Tim Hardin Live). IMHO that's the best recording he's ever made and I've
always regretted the fact that Hang on to a Dream is not on it.
I finally "discovered" Tim at Woodstock (since his footage was included in
the three part TV documentary that was shown around Europe last year. Great
performance!
Ton Maas, Amsterdam NL
Frank Hamilton
Frank Hamilton
mre...@vax2.concordia.ca (MIKE REGENSTREIF) wrote:
****************************
> FRom what I know of Woody Guthrie, and I have read just about all of
>his *published* writings, I don't think he'd have a problem with your changing
>and adapting his lyrics and melodies. After all, he did it himself with his
>own songs, with traditional songs and with others' songs.
> Asked to comment on someone who once used some of Woody's material in
>their own way, he said some thing to the effect of "maybe he stole from me but I
>steal from everybody.
> I must say I'm a little surprised at your personal attack on Frank
>Hamilton. His contributions to the world of folk music over the past 40
>years, while different that your's, have been extremely significant. He's
>probably one of the least "egotistical" musicians I know.
> For the edification of others reading these posts: Frank is/was an
>important figure in the folk revival. He spent several years as a member of
>The Weavers after Pete Seeger left the group. Ramblin' Jack Elliott learned
>"South Coast" from him and the popularly known arrangement of "The Water Is
>Wide" was adapted by Frank and Pete Seeger.
> For his part, Dick is/was largely responsible for the rediscovery and
>promotion of many legendary blues artists. He was also the manager of Bonnie
>Raitt for a number of years at the beginning of her career.
> Mike Regenstreif
> "Folk Roots/Folk Branches" on CKUT in Montreal
> mre...@vax2.concordia.ca
Mike, thank you so much for clearing the air. I am grateful for your
kind words and your information.
Frank
Mike Goldsman
By the way, I purchased a Carter Family CD recently (the 3'rd volume of
Rounder's Reissue Series) and noticed that the song "When the World's
on Fire" has the same tune as "This Land Is My Land." Woody must have
borrowed the tune from this song.
I should try to make up a list of all of the geneologies of tunes
from Woody's songs... Listening to the Carter Family and Jimmie Rogers
reveals tons of them!
-Mike
Frank Hudson
Also in the unlikely cover version camp: Jeremy Spencer of the original
blues-based Fleetwood Mac sings it with an uncanny Tim Hardin imitation vocal
on the recently released Fleetwood Mac Live at the BBS CD.
Al Grierson
Too totally true! Tunesmithing was really not his thing. After years
of listening to and singing "Oklahoma Hills" I found myself one day
singing "Brown's Ferry Blues" and unconsciously filling in "Way down
yonder in the Indian nation..."
For the roses,
Al
Taed Nelson
> By the way, I purchased a Carter Family CD recently (the 3'rd volume of
> Rounder's Reissue Series) and noticed that the song "When the World's
> on Fire" has the same tune as "This Land Is My Land." Woody must have
> borrowed the tune from this song.
It also has the same tune as what I assume is a traditional song:
You are my sunshine,
my only sunshine,
you make me happy,
when skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear,
how much I love you.
Please don't take
my sunshine away...
You may know this song from it being used on Sunbeam bread commercials about
15 years ago or so.
Corey Cole
Taed Nelson wrote [snipped here and there]:
>
> > ... noticed that the song "When the World's on Fire" has the same
> > borrowed the tune from this song.
>
> It also has the same tune as what I assume is a traditional song:
>
> You are my sunshine,
> my only sunshine,
Actually, I wouldn't at all say the "This Land..." and "You are..." have
the same tune. They have the same scansion (syllabic meter), so you
could sing either to the other tune, but the tunes themselves are
different. They're also generally performed differently -- "Sunshine"
is generally done with a syncopated, jazzy rhythm, while "Land" is
typically done in a much smoother, folky style.
Taking songs or poems and setting them to another tune that scans the
same is an ancient (and rather fun!) tradition. It's also the basis for
many of the "filk songs" (science fiction and fantasy folk songs) out
there. So even if the tunes really aren't the same (as in my humble
opinion they aren't), no reason you can't go ahead and sing one to the
other; that's one form of the Folk Tradition, after all. :-)
-- Corey Cole
SLHinton17
You Are My Sunshine has probably become traditional, but it waritten in
1940 by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell. Davis played and sang his
(and others') songs on campaigns, and was ele=ct ed to the Governorship of
Louisiana in 1944.
Woody Guthrie, by teh way, often said that he had never made up a tune
in his life.
.............................................
"If it wasn't for time, we'd have to do everything all at once."
Stephen L Suffet
On Mon, 5 Aug 1996, Taed Nelson wrote:
> > By the way, I purchased a Carter Family CD recently (the 3'rd volume of
> > Rounder's Reissue Series) and noticed that the song "When the World's
> > on Fire" has the same tune as "This Land Is My Land." Woody must have
> > borrowed the tune from this song.
>
> It also has the same tune as what I assume is a traditional song:
>
> You are my sunshine,
> my only sunshine,
> you make me happy,
> when skies are grey.
> You'll never know, dear,
> how much I love you.
> Please don't take
> my sunshine away...
>
> You may know this song from it being used on Sunbeam bread commercials about
> 15 years ago or so.
>
>
Greetings---
Woody Guthrie wrote "This Land Is Your Land" in New York City in
1940 as a response to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America." In fact the
original manuscript, in Woody's handwriting, is in the Guthrie archives,
and it shows the refrain to be "God blessed America for me," instead of
"This land was made for you and me."
No tune is indicated, but when Woody finally recorded the song, he
did in fact use an adaptation of a Carter Family song, "Pal of Mine."
While "Pal of Mine" and "This Land Is Your Land" are both similar to "You
Are My Sunshine," they are not identical to it. They both differ from "You
Are My Sunshine" much more than they differ from each other.
Woody, by the way, used the "Pal of Mine" melody for his "Trouble
at Redondo," a now-obscure song he wrote in L.A. circa 1938-1939. In it, a
local flood becomes an omen of greater troubles ahead:
If the rich and poor man, can't share things gladly,
If the workers and the boss man don't shake hands friendly,
The trouble at Redondo, is going to look so little,
To the trouble that's a-rumbling around this world.
Hope this is of some help.
Take it easy but take it!
Steve Suffet
New York City
Mike Goldsman
In article <4u6no1$3...@tweety.sna.com>,
Corey Cole <"co...@sierratel.com"@sierratel.com> wrote:
>Taed Nelson wrote [snipped here and there]:
>>
>> > borrowed the tune from this song.
>>
>the same tune. They have the same scansion (syllabic meter), so you
>could sing either to the other tune, but the tunes themselves are
>different. They're also generally performed differently -- "Sunshine"
>is generally done with a syncopated, jazzy rhythm, while "Land" is
>typically done in a much smoother, folky style.
>
But believe you me, "When the World's on Fire" DOES have the same tune.
It's almost identical.
-Mike
John Price
I don't think anyone has pointed out that "You are my sunshine" is
not a traditional song. Words and music by Jimmie Davis and Charles
Mitchel. Copyright 1911. The tune is different from "This Land is My
Land" - which is just as well since copyright is involved <grin>.
john....@zetnet.co.uk a.k.a. jOHN of St Albans
===============
In message <Pine.SUN.3.95L.96080...@aloha.cc.columbia.edu>
Stephen L Suffet <sl...@columbia.edu> writes:
> On Mon, 5 Aug 1996, Taed Nelson wrote:
> > > By the way, I purchased a Carter Family CD recently (the 3'rd volume of
> > > Rounder's Reissue Series) and noticed that the song "When the World's
> > > on Fire" has the same tune as "This Land Is My Land." Woody must have
> > > borrowed the tune from this song.
> >
> > It also has the same tune as what I assume is a traditional song:
> >
> > You are my sunshine,
> > my only sunshine,
> > you make me happy,
> > when skies are grey.
> > You'll never know, dear,
> > how much I love you.
> > Please don't take
> > my sunshine away...
> >
<snipped>
vmoore
Taed Nelson wrote:
>
> > By the way, I purchased a Carter Family CD recently (the 3'rd volume of
> > Rounder's Reissue Series) and noticed that the song "When the World's
> > on Fire" has the same tune as "This Land Is My Land." Woody must have
> > borrowed the tune from this song.
>
> It also has the same tune as what I assume is a traditional song:
>
> You are my sunshine,
> my only sunshine,
>
"This Land is Your Land" only has the same tune as the first two lines of "You Are My Sunshine", not the whole
thing, don't you think?
Something to sing to yourself while your sitting at your computer.
I'm sitting in a class right now but my real e-mail address is ir...@nyo.com
