As all Americans prepare to celebrate the 233rd anniversary of our great nation with eating contests, barbeques, baseball, parades, and extravagant fireworks (sounds filling to me) a good music soundtrack is necessary to enjoy the day. A few songs to let us look past the economic problems, unbearable fighting, and threatening circumstances for a single day. A day where we, as free Americans, can relax with our families and soak up the rare ability to celebrate dreams and opportunities. And, what is a better song then a song that was written sixty nine years ago to celebrate our country, “This Land is Your Land,” by the famous folk artist Woody Guthrie.
Now, yes, there is legitimate questioning with this song. While it indeed comes off as a holistic tribute the beauties of America, it also has a questionable verse (which appears in the other two verses not included in the best known recording) which mentions the hungry lining the streets and Woody Guthrie questioning whether this is a land made for you and me. But, let us look past this possible add-on and focus more on the original, well-known, version of the song which has some of the most uplifting American messages. I understand this is a song of a day but because of the special holiday and the fact that the fourth of July weekend will see Josh and I taking a brief blogcation (Just made that up, catchy right?) until Monday, I want to give you what, in my opinion, is the best verse of the simple folk tune.
When the sun came shining, and 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.
If this is not America I do not know what is. The wheat fields waving, the sun shining. The great plains of this great country. American beauty on the road taking a stroll from California to the New York Island. From west to east and north to south, the fog is lifting and a voice is chanting. “This land was made for you and me.” In my opinion this creates such beautiful imagery of this country. Just think about this scene. A farmer with a straw hat to block the sun tending to wheat fields watching the sun come down overhead over the west along with dust clouds spinning off into the horizon. A person who may not have it all. May not have the expensive car or the big house or the giant television and whatever other luxuries one may have. Could he have it, yes possibly. But, instead he lives the humble lifestyle like those before him who also tended the fields. Those who had the ability to live out their lives with choices and freedoms. So, whatever you may have planned for your festivities on the fourth of July, take a second and listen to this timeless song and remember where you live.
Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaI5IRuS2aE (Woody Guthrie awesomeness)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5KnYADCSms (Bruce Springsteen and Pete Seeger performing the song at Obama’s Inauguration, with added verses)
The Music Court 