who wrote this land is your land

Woody Guthrie wrote “This Land Is Your Land.”

Quick Scoop

• The song was written by American folk singer-songwriter Woody Guthrie in 1940 while he was in New York City.

• He originally titled it “God Blessed America for Me” as a critical response to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America,” which he felt was too complacent.

• Over time, it became one of the most famous U.S. folk songs, often used as a populist or protest anthem highlighting ordinary people and social equality.

A Bit More Story

Woody Guthrie grew up in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, and those experiences shaped the social themes in his songwriting, including “This Land Is Your Land.” The song’s lesser-sung verses include sharper social commentary about poverty, private property, and inclusion, which is why it is frequently described as a protest song as much as a patriotic one.

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