Two Patriotic Song-Poems

Paper Summary:

By comparing Irving Berlin's song, "God Bless America", to Woody Guthrie's song "This Land is Your Land", this paper attempts to determine if Guthrie's song was a patriotic song or was intended as a way to open our eyes to what America had become. The paper relates that while Berlin's "God Bless America" projects a sense of pride, joy and gratification for a land of freedom, Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land", in addition to beginning with the same delight and honor in America, also describes the heartache and devastation that America faces in her own land. The paper concludes that the two songs were not written to convey the same emotions even though both use the poetic sightings of imagery, symbolism, visual connotations to express their feelings and tone.

From the Paper:

"Although, there are different concepts that Guthrie and Berlin used for America are quite simply stated in reading both poems, they both place focus on love for America as well as an undying devotion to her. Berlin placed great focus on the superior side of America and what she has to offer. While Guthrie, started off in the same manner, he turned it to asking the question "was this land made for you and me"? And if so then why do we have people hurting here? Why do we have signs to keep people out when in deed the other side was made for you and me? "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Fowler, Ramsey H. and Jane E. Aaron. (February 8, 2006). The Little, Brown Handbook. Longman. 10th Edition.
• Lincoln, Abraham. The Gettysburg Address, delivered on November 19, 1863. September 2005. Retrieved on April 5, 2007. http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/gadd/gadrft.html
• Merriam-Webster Online. 2006. Retrieved on April 5, 2007. http://www.m-w.com/cgi- bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=patriotism

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