Adam Miller - Folksinger, Storyteller, and Autoharp Virtuoso. Folksinging.org In February of 1940, Woody Guthrie (1912-1967) wrote what is now one of the most well-known and widespread English language folksongs. Here's how it happened.
Wow, this was a great presentation of Woody Guthrie's song! Every school kid in America heard this song, every American ought to know the story behind it.
admittedly, i almost cry whenever i watch this. the folksy storytelling through timeless music reminds me so much of my childhood. woodie guthrie is an absolute legend, and you've served him well by telling his story in exactly the spirit it should be told.
This is an outstanding version of this song and it's history. Since I first heard it sung by Pete Seeger back in the '50s, I've thought of it as my national anthem. A friend who sees things differently recently sent me an early video of Kate Smith singing 'God Bless America.' I replied that I would send my anthem. Their are 600 versions of this on UTube, and I'm glad I found this one first. Re: fredbuck's comment, I find it hard to believe that Woody used a typewriter - a pencil it is!
I taught my 7th grade civics class the history behind the Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America, and This Land is Your Land and included this video. It's a great resource.
Woody had wanderlust he deserted his family to ride the rails. He seldom bathed and most his fellow musicians didn't like him but he was probably America's greatest songwriter. For anyone that says no that was Dylan well Bob Dylan idolized Woody.
This song is for every man and woman has ever step in this land regardless on they nationality and for those Indians that loose their life defending their land. This land was made for you and I despite the color or ethnicity.
I have to add something that has plagued our family from my mother's side. Huntington's disease!!. Out of her brothers and sisters, total 5, only my mom and one uncle were blessed not having the disease. The sad thing is it runs down the genetic line. Since my mom never got it us 5 kids will never have it. But the scenario for my cousins has been disastrous. Remember 3 of their 5 could now pass this on to their offspring. And this was in the 60's thru 90's where we truely were informed of the genetic transferal possibilities. All my brothers and sisters are truely blessed and cousins Mike and Julie. God bless all our kids that have this horrifying disease that runs in their blood line.I said my piece!!! Peace and prosperity to you all!! Montana Rick.
interesting that an immigrant sees the good side of America, while a citizen sees the a bad side. Still goes on today. I still say Woodie was the greatest folk/country song writer in American history.
Mom talks about Woody Guthrie quite a bit. Oh, my darlin' brother, when the world's on fire. . . I grew up listening to her tell me over and over again "I was born during the Great Depression and raised during the Second World War II. We didn't have much of anything!" Dad is Slavic and German. Came from Ag and Ag Industry families. They're 85 now . . . I'm not Socialist, Fascist or Marxist. Too Czech and German for those. I think America the Beautiful should be the national anthem. It's a prayer for what this nation should have been. Kathrine Lee Bates was reported to have a "Boston" marriage. I don't care. It's a great prayer. God has blessed America. This Land was made for you and me, but did it ever become what the founding fathers intended it to be? You start where you're at . . . unfortunately . . . we pretty much stayed there, except for industrialization. Thank you for sharing this 11 years ago. I'm 60 this year. Still live in Nebraska.
Bob Dylan was asked to write 25 words on what he thought about Woody Guthrie He wrote 5 pages !!! You might enjoy watching "An Ode To Woody Guthrie " on you tube
Thanks for this background. Last week I was in Afton, Okla., looking for "the Ribbon Road" that went to Miami, Okla., and preceded Route 66, and thought of the line from this song. Maybe that road section gave him the "ribbon of highway" line. Interesting he took the music from the Baptist hymn. Certainly is nice that we can all feel we belong in any part of the U.S., as long as we can find an affordable hotel or pay the rent to the landowner.
Just found this and it is really wonderful, in the tradition of Pete Seeger and Bruce Phillips a great true story about a great song. I esp. appreciate you singing the origin of the tune. Thanks!
I am so happy I found this video. I wanted to hear the alternate verses. In addition to that I got a great story about Woody Guthrie. I also got to hear Adam sing the song with conviction and passion.. A real treat!
At the start I thought this was going to be...something else. Then he goes to Huntington's...so I know he knows what he's doing. I have told many people that I would play the melody if the students sang all the verses.
Poor woody had a disease past from his mother called Huntingtonskorea. His sister was ironing in a cotton dress and a candle caught her dress and she died from the burns the next day after losing his mom and sister he was never the same, some say the sister committed suicde after her mother went mad! It’s a terrible disease that attacks the nervous system
thank you for your music and your untold stories. we will thank god for our gifts and life challenges. i like your style of true story telling very similar to newscaster paul harvey and his stories and a commercial break and the rest of the story. adam your stories have beautiful music in the background and you are making the music and telling the story. hey that is multi tasking at its finest. thanks for sharing your stories. and you already know everyone has a story. it just depends if the story is ever told. keep up the good work my friend.
How do you know this and how come we have never heard this off Arlo Guthrie? Woody Guthrie R.I.P Pete Seegers R.I.P Pete and Woody. Thank you for the music and this land is your land from the artic circle to the snow at the yellow. This land is your land this land was made for you and me. Next verse Iain. Am always forget words and I can not play a musical instrument 🎸 wish I could.
Arlo regularly performs this song and tells the story. He even tells a wonderful story about how Woody taught him the song when he was a boy. It was the only song Woody taught Arlo.
Nothing wrong with 'borrowing' a tune. If Johann Pachelbel had received royalties from the multiple hits which plagiarised his Canon in D, he'd be wealthier than that Bezos fellow. A pity that Johann died in 1706. A while back. Bob Marley, Maroon 5, a load of deceased crooners and countless other artists. No problem, it's the perfect arrangement! As for this song, you have to remember that no musician lives in a bubble; everyone has influences, that's how music and art move on. However, love this version of Woody's classic, along with its true history! Nice one. Woody was called a 'communist' in the USA, that term has since become a derogatory and weaponised word in modern-day America. Actually, he just stood up for the low-paid, exploited workers and racially segregated (and abused) citizens of America during the Depression and Dust Bowl era. Lots of musicians claim Woody as an influence on their future success. Bob Dylan for one. (Bob also borrowed a few tunes). I reckon Woody's 'This Land..' influenced Bob Dylan's ' 'Ballad of Emmett Till'. At least spiritually and with the notion of conveying a message of truth. As always, love and peace.
