The land is your land

1. The land is your land Woodie Guthrie

2. all about Woody Guthrie • He is known as an American singer and songwriter and folk musician. His legacies includes hundreds of song addressing political issues, traditional songs and children’s song • From his experiences in his home town, Woody formed a unique wry outlook on life as well as his abiding interest in talking about the country

3. all about Woody Guthrie • His father was a cowboy, speculator and a local politician which able him to teach Woody about the real world. He is also the one that taught him about Western and Indian Songs and Scottish folk tunes. • The song ‘This Land is your Land’ is created in response to a song which he think was unrealistic and complacent

4. Deeper than surface level • The song describes United States of America as a golden land full of natural beauties and opportunities to grow. Even though man have seen many, there still would be more to expect as some of it is hiding. • That the land of USA is for everyone to enjoy and it belonged to everyone. Similar to how the Aboriginals sees a land, that it cannot be owned because it belonged to everyone. • The song is a protest song against the government saying that the land is full of opportunity yet we are struggling in depression? It even describe the government as great but is has a dark side. This includes the song’s context, meaning and its purpose.

5. Deeper than surface level • Historical Context – World War II has ended in 1945 which means that Guthrie was influenced by the war to write this song, maybe to encourage and motivate everyone to work as it was the great depression. • Ideological Context – The land of USA belonged to everyone and cannot be owned by one. • Cultural Context – This song is endorsing equality amongst people as it told that EVERYONE was entitled to the land, not just the native Americans or the whites, but everyone. This includes the song’s context, meaning and its purpose.

6. Lyrics got ANNOTATED! Finally, there is something to read between the lines!

7. Repetition A technique used for audience to remember the song better, or to get it in their head Repetitions are often used to signify that something occurs over and over again. In this case, the beauty of the country 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 high way I saw above me that endless sky way I saw below me that golden valley This land was made for you and me. Iroamed and I rambled and I followed my footsteps To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts While all around me a voice was sounding This land was made for you and me. The song made references to places that are located in United States of America, it suggests that it is talking about it and that USA belongs to everyone An imagery of USA, that tells the audience that USA is unique and golden land A technique that forms mental images of a scene using descriptive words, especially making use of human senses Personification A technique used that applies human traits to non-human objects Guthrie purposely used this to show his views on the land, being USA, being alive and a woman that need caring

8. Rhyme A technique that makes the words at the ends of the lines to have a similar sound A technique that forms mental images of a scene using descriptive words, especially making use of human senses This techniques helps the audience to aid store the song into their memory, a trick song writters used to get their song liked and remembered An imagery of USA, that tells the audience that USA offers not just beauty of nature but the opportunity for wealth, as this opportunity is to be found behind the fogs. 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. There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me; Sign was painted, it said private property; But on the back side it didn't say nothing; This land was made for you and me As I went walking I saw a sign there And on the sign it said "No Trespassing.“ But on the other side it didn't say nothing, That side was made for you and me A technique that are iconic representations that carry particular conventional meaning Symbol This techniques helps establishes that there might be hurdles in life that challenges a person and intimidate them from continuing This passage is all about the freedom of USA and that the land is free for everyone, even though parts of it has been bought already

9. A technique used for audience to remember the song better, or to get it in their head Repetition A repetition to suggest that no matter what the ‘living’ does, it will have no effect on his journey A technique that are iconic representations that carry particular conventional meaning Nobody living can ever stop me, As I go walking that freedom highway; Nobody living can ever make me turn back This land was made for you and me. In the squares of the city, In the shadow of a steeple; By the relief office, I'd seen my people. As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking, Is this land made for you and me? Symbol This techniques helps establishes that there might be hurdles in life that challenges a person and intimidate them from continuing Oxymoron (indirect form) A technique that is a term made of two or more words that deliberately or coincidentally imply each others’ opposite This means that even if the human race build something great, like a steeple which is tall and great, there are dark sides to it, shadow side of the building

10. My resources • http://www.woodyguthrie.org/biography/biography1.htm • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woody_Guthrie • http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_was_life_in_America_like_in_the_1940s • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Land_Is_Your_Land Prior on where I got the lyrics and information of his life. NOTE: there are more but these are some of them