"This Land is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie

performed by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
(acoustic, at the top, and with full band, above) 

"This Land is Your Land" Project from PBS American Masters

The Story Of Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" from NPR

performed by Woody Guthrie

This Land is Your Land

words and music by Woody Guthrie

©1956 (renewed 1984), 1958 (renewed 1986) and 1970 TRO-Ludlow Music, Inc. (BMI)

Guthrie recorded several versions of his song. Here is an early version:

This land is your land This land is my land

From California to the New York island;

From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters

This land was made for you and me.

As I was 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.

I've roamed and rambled and I 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.

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,

And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,

As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting:

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.

In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,

By the relief office I seen my people;

As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking

Is this land made for you and me?

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.

performed by Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen and more

at President Barack Obama's January 19, 2009 inauguration,

on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial