In the early 1980's I saw Arlo at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. He played "This Land is Your Land". He included a verse that I had never heard before, nor have I heard since. He talked about the story behind the verse, but I don't remember much about what he said. I recall it was a very moving verse.

Does anyone have an idea as to the verse I am referring to? The story behind it? The lyrics? Has Arlo recorded it? Has anyone else?

I am very grateful to anyone who can help.

Peace and love.

Gary55305

Hi Gary, glad you joined.
I think the verse you referring to is the one Arlo learned from his father in the backyard. Goes like that:
Nobody living can ever stop me as I go walking my freedom highway, nobody living can make me turn back, this land was made for you and me.
You can find a version of "This land is your land" including this part on the "Live in Sydney" double CD album. If you click on the left the "Get Stuff" button it will lead you to rising son records, where you can order it. It's worth every penny, you can't avoid smiling when you listen to these CDs.
Peace
Brigitte

Well, the way I heard it was Kate Smith had just had a big hit with America The Beautiful and Woody thought that song was ok as far as it went but it doesn't tell the whole story. Yes, there are pretty things about America and there are sad things about America and you need to keep everything in mind. So This Land Is Your Land is Woody's response. It starts out just as pretty and then it goes on to the less pretty parts. The first three pretty verses made it into school song books so those verses got spread around but all the verses can be found at woodyguthrie.org which is a good source for lyrics and the store has sheet music for those so inclined.

kurt...

Not to sound flippant or anything, but Kate Smith had a hit with America the Beautiful? Bring a child in the 70s in Philadelphia we ALL had to love her singing God Bless America. And if you didn't you just had to suffer. That would've been like so UnAmerican, so unpatriotic so unHOCKEY of you.

Bridget,
Thanks for the help, but I am not sure that's what Arlo sang in Minneapolis. The words seemed far stronger than those...clearly words that had a moving message about change....
But I WILL get the Live in Sydney album. Thanks again.
Gary

...there's another that goes something like...

"Saw a sign there...
Said 'No Trespassin'..
on the other side
it said nothin'...
that side was made for you and me...

kj

And the verse that goes:

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

Judy,
I believe that's the verse Arlo sang that night....
What do you know about it?
Thanks

I've heard Arlo sing it, but also mostly Pete Seeger.

There is of course the smart ass(or dumb ass) version somebody other than Woody made up that we would sing in grade school back in the 60's. I think Bush and Cheney would like this verse.

This land is my land
and only my land
if you don't get off
I'll blow your head off
I've got a shotgun
and you ain't got one
this land was made for only me.

I've got no idea where this came from, but I remember it clearly!

And then there's the verse Arlo said he heard from a Native American :

This land is your land
But it once was my land
Until we sold you
Manhattan island
You pushed our nations
To the reservations
This land was stole by you from me.

Thanks for this! Ah, to have moxie to voice that insight...