Скачать или смотреть This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie (cover with alt lyrics)

I remember learning This Land is Your Land as a grade schooler in Detroit in the mid-1950s and didn’t think anything about the politics of it when we sang it in school concerts. But looking back, I think our choir director might’ve been making a statement. Remember, Detroit was Motown and the auto industry and unions played a huge role in adding to the nation’s growing middle class. However, post war Anti-communism sentiment was riding high during that time period and the McCarthy hearings were in full swing. Many lives were ruined as “witnesses” testified before congressional committees accusing friends, family, co-workers, and acquaintances of being communist or communist sympathizers. The 1950s were a long time ago, but today’s politics reflect many of the things my choir director had misgivings about back then. As they say, Democracy is a fragile thing, so please handle with care… and remember to vote for democracy this fall.

This was a group effort by the following youtube friends who share a common concern for our nation’s future…

New lyrics: Nancy Leonard    / @nllleonard  , Linda Opyr    / @turtledrum7386  , Michael McGuane    / @reliablebow  , Bill Graham    / @btgraham8988  , Michael Hermiston    / @michaelhermiston  , and Mark Manrique.

Piano, bass and faux violins: Michael Hermiston
Guitar and vocal: Mark Manrique

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