Vermillion Cliffs National Monument Located on the Colorado Plateau in Northern Arizona — Image by kenne
THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND words and music 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 was walking a ribbon of highway I saw above me an endless skyway I saw below me a golden valley This land was made for you and me
I’ve roamed and rambled and I’ve 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
The sun comes shining as I was strolling The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling The fog was lifting a voice come chanting This land was made for you and me
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!
In the squares of the city – In the shadow of the steeple Near the relief office – I see my people And some are grumblin’ and some are wonderin’ If this land’s still made for you and me.
Music is the language of the world, by which we are all connected, and the self is formed. The series, “Playing for Change,” is a modern example of how peoples of different languages and cultures are all moved by music. One of my favorite songs is Bob Marley’s“Redemption Song,” and is one of the “Playing for Change” series.
At this time of reflection and resolution, I share so we may all resolve to seek freedom through peace.
kenne
Redemption Song — Bob Marley
Old pirates, yes, they rob I;
Sold I to the merchant ships,
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit.
But my hand was made strong
By the hand of the Almighty.
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly.
Won’t you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
‘Cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs,
Redemption songs.
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our minds.
Have no fear for atomic energy,
‘Cause none of them can stop the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look? Ooh!
Some say it’s just a part of it:
We’ve got to fulfill the Book.
Won’t you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
‘Cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs,
Redemption songs,
Redemption songs.
—
/Guitar break/
—
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our mind.
Wo! Have no fear for atomic energy,
‘Cause none of them-a can-a stop-a the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look?
Yes, some say it’s just a part of it:
We’ve got to fulfill the book.
Won’t you have to sing
These songs of freedom? –
‘Cause all I ever had:
Redemption songs –
All I ever had:
Redemption songs:
These songs of freedom, Songs of freedom.
Vermillion Cliffs National Monument Located on the Colorado Plateau in Northern Arizona — Image by kenne
