Pete Seeger: This Land Is Your Land
You can't imaging my delight at seeing the great Pete Seeger lead the singing of Woody Guthrie's This Land is Your Land at the 2009 Inauguration Concert for President Barack Obama.
Yes, I know Pete's nephew Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, and Bruce Springsteen were on stage as well, but for me it was all about Pete and Woody and the millions of people they represent.
Pete Seeger has paid his dues, not once, but many times over. To see him up there on stage in front of a live audience of at least one million people, and a world wide audience of who knows how many millions, was a tribute to the man and his music, his politics and beliefs, and to his great staying power. Now approaching 90 years of age, Pete has lost the best part of his singing voice, but he doesn't let that stop him from doing what he does best. And that is leading an audience in song, with full voiced, open hearted singing.
Pete looked like he was having a great time during the performance, and his enthusiasm and joy were contagious. This is the 'political' version of the song. Here Pete leads the singing on several verses that don't often get sung today.
In the squares of the city, by the shadow of the steeple,
By the relief office, I saw my people.
As they stood there hungry, I stood there whistling,
This land was made for you and me.
A great high wall there, tried to stop me,
A great big sign there, said private property.
But on the other side, it didn't say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.
Nobody living, can ever to stop me,
As I go walking, that freedom highway.
Nobody living, can make me turn back,
This land was made for you and me.
Just in case you missed it, here is the performance again. Make sure you watch it in high quality.
If this video has been removed from YouTube at the behest of HBO, the station which broadcast the concert, just search YouTube for other clips of the same performance. There are already dozens of versions online, but the above seems to be one of the best quality clips I have seen.
By they way, at the two minute, 15 second mark (2:15), the camera cuts to the film director George Lucas, who is clearly having a great time singing along with Pete, Tao, Bruce, and literally, a cast of millions.
So start the video, turn the sound up loud, and join in with one voice.
Yes, I know Pete's nephew Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, and Bruce Springsteen were on stage as well, but for me it was all about Pete and Woody and the millions of people they represent.
Pete Seeger has paid his dues, not once, but many times over. To see him up there on stage in front of a live audience of at least one million people, and a world wide audience of who knows how many millions, was a tribute to the man and his music, his politics and beliefs, and to his great staying power. Now approaching 90 years of age, Pete has lost the best part of his singing voice, but he doesn't let that stop him from doing what he does best. And that is leading an audience in song, with full voiced, open hearted singing.
Pete looked like he was having a great time during the performance, and his enthusiasm and joy were contagious. This is the 'political' version of the song. Here Pete leads the singing on several verses that don't often get sung today.
In the squares of the city, by the shadow of the steeple,
By the relief office, I saw my people.
As they stood there hungry, I stood there whistling,
This land was made for you and me.
A great high wall there, tried to stop me,
A great big sign there, said private property.
But on the other side, it didn't say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.
Nobody living, can ever to stop me,
As I go walking, that freedom highway.
Nobody living, can make me turn back,
This land was made for you and me.
Just in case you missed it, here is the performance again. Make sure you watch it in high quality.
If this video has been removed from YouTube at the behest of HBO, the station which broadcast the concert, just search YouTube for other clips of the same performance. There are already dozens of versions online, but the above seems to be one of the best quality clips I have seen.
By they way, at the two minute, 15 second mark (2:15), the camera cuts to the film director George Lucas, who is clearly having a great time singing along with Pete, Tao, Bruce, and literally, a cast of millions.
So start the video, turn the sound up loud, and join in with one voice.
Labels: 2009 Inauguration Concert, Barack Obama, Bruce Springsteen, Folk Music, Pete Seeger, Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, Woody Guthrie
posted by Jim Lesses at
11:09 AM
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