An illustrated version of the classic Woody Guthrie folk song, perfect for a family singalongs! Since its debut in the 1940s, Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" has become one of the best-loved and most timely folk songs in America, inspiring activism and patriotism for all. This classic ballad is now brought to life in a richly illustrated edition for the whole family to share. Kathy Jakobsen's detailed paintings, which invite readers on a journey across the country, create an unforgettable portrait of our diverse land and the people who live it.

Prophet Singer: The Voice and Vision of Woody Guthrie examines the cultural and political significance of lyrics by beloved songwriter and activist Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Guthrie. The text traces how Guthrie documented the history of America's poor and disadvantaged through lyrics about topics as diverse as the Dust Bowl and the poll tax. Divided into chapters covering specific historical topics such as race relations and lynchings, famous outlaws, the Great Depression, and unions, the book takes an in-depth look at how Guthrie manipulated his lyrics to explore pressing issues and to bring greater political and economic awareness to the common people. Incorporating the best of both historical and literary perspectives, Mark Allan Jackson references primary sources including interviews, recordings, drawings, and writings. He includes a variety of materials from the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, and the Woody Guthrie Archives. Many of these have never before been widely available. The result provides new insights into one of America's most intriguing icons. Prophet Singer offers an analysis of the creative impulse behind and ideals expressed in Guthrie's song lyrics. Details from the artist's personal life as well as his interactions with political and artistic movements from the first half of the twentieth century afford readers the opportunity to understand how Guthrie's deepest beliefs influenced and found voice in the lyrics that are now known and loved by millions.

The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor, And the highwayman came riding- Riding-riding- The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door. In Alfred Noyes's thrilling poem, charged with drama and tension, we ride with the highwayman and recoil from the terrible fate that befalls him and his sweetheart Bess, the landlord's daughter. The vivid imagery of the writing is matched by Charles Keeping's haunting illustrations which won him the Kate Greenaway Medal. This new edition features rescanned artwork to capture the breath-taking detail of Keeping's illustrations and a striking new cover.

When a tornado destroys his Tulsa home, fifteen-year-old Carter Danforth is trapped in the pawnshop where his father hawked his custom, left-handed Martin guitar six years earlier before taking off, leaving him with nothing but a hankering to pluck strings and enough heartache to sing the blues. Carter’s mother, meanwhile, is injured during the storm and winds up in the hospital. She wants Carter to fly out to Reno and stay with her sister, but he’s already spent her hidden cash stash to buy his dad’s guitar. Rather than tell her the truth, he embarks on an epic road trip in search of his father in California. But Carter isn’t a runaway. He reckons he’s a “running to.” On the road, Carter picks up licks, chord changes, and performance techniques from a quirky cast of southwestern charmers: a rock star, a thief, a bluesman, a chanteuse-turned-chef, and the dream of a girl back home. By the time he reaches the end of old US Route 66, Carter has learned how to deep-fry yucca blossoms—and tell the truth of his life through music.

I loved this book! Rev. Edington writes with such great ease and holds your attention. I am not a bookworm and don't usually get tied down with a book; but it was hard for me to put down Bring Your Own God as I read about my brother Woody Guthrie's religion and his spiritual life. I read it through in one sitting. Bravo! Mary Jo Guthrie Edgmon. Shawnee, Oklahoma. Sister of Woody Guthrie. Bring Your Own God—The Spirituality of Woody Guthrie welcomes us to join Woody as he travels that ribbon of highway on his life's journey. Like Edington's classic The Beat Face of God, which details the spirituality of Jack Kerouac and other Beat Generation writers, this book opens up doors into the heart and soul of an extraordinary man who remains a voice for all people. Bring Your Own God provides us with a fresh look and deeper understanding of the enduring legacy of one of the twentieth century's iconic artists. David Amram. Mr. Amram is an acclaimed and multitalented musician, composer, and author. His many compositions include Symphonic Variations on a Song by Woody Guthrie. Woody Guthrie was and remains a creative writer against greed and against those who infl ict poverty and hardships on others. He has been and is an inspirational hero to those who fi ght poverty and pain. Through the years, Woody has been accused of many unpatriotic activities, and numerous writings have been levied against him. He has been the subject of books and articles both negative and positive about his life and about his creativity. However, until Rev. Stephen Edington became interested, very little has been written about his spiritual beliefs. This book shows why Woody was a man of love, compassion, and creativity in spite of sadness, hardships, tragedy, and other emotional blockages. Guy Logsdon. Mr. Logsdon is a noted Woody Guthrie Scholar from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Over 50 songs that stir the American spirit, grouped by historical era for easy reference, will make readers want to tap their feet, clap their hands, and sing along.

A biography of Woody Guthrie, a singer who wrote over 3,000 folk songs and ballads as he traveled around the United States, including "This Land is Your Land" and "So Long It's Been Good to Know Yuh."

A narrative history of the writing of This Land Is Your Land and God Bless America discusses the conflicts and common ground between the two classic anthems, revealing how Woody Guthrie composed one as a reflection of Great Depression realities as a rebuttal to Irving Berlin's equally complex song, written partly in response to the rise of Hitler.