THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND

Manuscript Version, 1940

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
And saw above me that endless skyway
And saw below me the golden valley, I said:
  This land was made for you and me

I roamed and rambled, and followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me, a voice was sounding:
  This land was made for you and me

Was a big high wall there that tried to stop me
A sign was painted said: Private Property
But on the back side it didn't say nothing
  This land was made for you and me

When the sun came shining, then I was strolling
In wheat fields waving, and dust clouds rolling
The voice was chanting as the fog was lifting
  This land was made for you and me

One bright sunny morning in the shadow of the steeple
By the Relief office I saw my people--
As they stood hungry, I stood there wondering if
  This land was made for you and me

Later Changed to:

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.

As I went rumbling 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.

Later Added:

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.


Alternate Lyrics (1952)

     This land is your land, this land is my land
     From the redwood forest to the New York island.
     From the snow-capped mountains to the Gulf Stream waters
     This land is made for you and me.

     As I go walkin' my ribbon of highway
     I see all around me my blue blue skyway
     Everywhere around me the wind keeps a-whistlin'
     This land is made for you and me.

     I'm a-chasin' my shadow out across this roadmap
     To my wheat fields waving, to my cornfield dancing
     As I go walkin' this wind keeps talkin'
     This land is made for you and me.

     I can see your mailbox, I can see your doorstep
     I can feel my wind rock your tip-top treetop
     All around your house there my sunbeam whispers
     This land is made for you and me.




typed and submitted by Emma McCreary