There is a nice little article about this song, Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger by Tommy Stevenson that has also been posted at truthout. As emotive as Obama’s oath giving was the next day, it was a far cry from hearing all the words of This Land is Your Land sung from the steps of the Lincoln memorial; the true moment of change?
To tell the truth I’m not even sure I was aware that there where censored verses, but today I’m glad that there are. That song always seemed a bit too nice to have been written by Woody but not anymore:
As I was walkin’ – I saw a sign there
And that sign said – no tress passin’
But on the other side …. it didn’t say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!
Without the controversial politically incorrect verses This Land is Your Land has made it’s way into the lives of just about every American, hooray for Pete to have unleashed it’s hidden content…
Pete Seeger should receive the Nobel prize!