mixed-up monday: this land {thank you}

Susana & Justin Abbey
November 11, 2012
Yesterday, I was lucky enough to witness two soldiers tie the knot in a community-sponsored wedding. The day was like a sweet song – – pitch perfect with a steady back beat of gratitude.
Today, as I watched the flag at the end of my street flap against a dappled sky, the wind coaxed a song out of me — one I sang so softly that the waves had to roll in closer just to hear it.
I treasured each verse with the unbridled joy I’d felt as a child, before I learned of alternate versions and political trappings. My voice still cheers when I sing “New York Island” {Yay, that’s us!}, and the melody remains strong enough to lift me into an endless skyway so I can swoop down to gaze at diamond deserts and wheat fields waving.
Today, I made it a song of gratitude. For all those you serve and protect this land that’s our land. . . . thank you.
This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie
- This land is your land, this land is my land
- From California to the New York Island
- From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters
- This land was made for you and me.
- As I went 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 roamed and I rambled and I followed my footsteps
- To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
- While 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
- A voice was chanting, as the fog was lifting,
- This land was made for you and me.
- This land is your land, this land is my land
- From California to the New York Island
- From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters
- This land was made for you and me.
Woody Guthrie – This Land is Your Land
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – This Land is Your Land – Live
Neil Young & Crazy Horse – This Land Is Your Land
Everclear – This Land Is Your Land
Jessi Colter / Waylon Jennings – This Land Is Your Land
Little Feat – This Land Is Your Land
John Mellencamp – This Land Is Your Land
Counting Crows – This Land Is Your Land – Acoustic Demo
The Waterboys – This Land Is Your Land – 2006 Digital Remaster
Bob Dylan – This Land Is Your Land – Live Version
Billy Bragg – This Land Is Your Land (Bonus Track)
Arlo Guthrie & Pete Seeger – This Land is Your Land
Johnny Cash – This Land Is Your Land – Live