THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND

(MANUSCRIPT VERSION; ALTERNATE LYRICS) (WOODY GUTHRIE) (Feb 23, 1940)

Facsimile of original manuscript (234 KB) on David Arkush's Woody Guthrie pages (CLICK ON THUMBNAIL)

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Transcribed by Manfred Helfert.
Crossed-out original lyrics: in square brackets;
see also alternate lyrics (1952)

This land is your land, this land is my land
From [the] California to the [Staten] New York Island,
From the Redwood Forest, to the Gulf stream waters,
[God blessed America for 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:
[God blessed America for 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:
[God blessed America for me.]

Was a 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 --
[God blessed America for me.]

When the sun come shining, then I was strolling
In wheat fields waving and dust clouds rolling;
The voice was chanting as the fog was lifting:
[God blessed America for 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
[God blessed America for me.]

Original copy of this song

WOODY G.

N.Y., N.Y., N.Y.,
Feb 23, 1940
43rd Street & 6th Avenue
Hanover House

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