This Land Is Your Land This Land Is Your Land "This Land Is Your Land" is one of the United States' most famous folk songs. Its lyrics were written by American folk singer Woody Guthrie in 1940, based on an existing melody, a Carter Family tune called "When the World's on Fire", in critical response to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America." When Guthrie was tired of hearing Kate Smith sing "God Bless America" on the radio in the late 1930s, he sarcastically wrote "God Blessed America for Me" before renaming it "This Land Is Your Land." In 2002, "This Land Is Your Land" was one
Woody Guthrie Folk Festival Stephan Edington returned for the third year and presented "Woody: Seeking the Spirit in His Final Years". David Amram reminisced about meeting Woody Guthrie in 1956 and told the story behind his "This Land: Symphonic Variations on a Song by Woody Guthrie" at the History Center Museum. Barry Ollman presented "Collecting Woody 2015". Pat Stewart, the harmonica man, gave harmonica lessons to children. Miss Mary Jo Guthrie Edgmon once again was present for her annual Pancake Breakfast which was hosted this year by Lauren Lee. Terry “Buffalo” Ware once again coordinated the Sunday Hootennany to close the festival. Tim Easton