Life in the Vocal Music Room

Join our 2nd grade students singing one of our favorites, Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land”.

This Land Is Your Land

This land is your land This land is my land
From California to the New York island;
From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and Me.

As I was 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’ve roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts;
And 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,
As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting:
This land was made for you and me.

As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said “No Trespassing.”
But on the other side it didn’t say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.

In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,
By the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking
Is this land made for you and me?

Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.

Ms. Dimick and I went backpacking for a week along the CT portion of the Appalachian Trail. It was AWESOME. Where was the music on this trip? In my head. For much of the time, I just enjoyed the quiet of the woods, but often I found myself singing to myself as we were hiking – although not when the hiking was hard. This was right after Michael Jackson passed away, so I found myself humming his songs often – especially “You Are Not Alone”. I think that one was stuck in my head because Ms. Dimick and I said to each other at the beginning of our hike that no matter what happens along the trail, we each had each other to help and that we wouldn’t feel alone.

the first day before every part of our bodies was aching.