Ybor City - Casitas of Ybor, beautifully restored old houses

Ybor City - Centennial Park Plaza, statue of Nick Nuccio & immigrant tribute

Ybor City - Ybor State Museum & El Pasaje Building

ZOOFARI - Pictures of rock band "NIGHT RANGER" live

Tampapix theme song "This Land is Your Land" is one of the United States' most famous folk songs. Its lyrics were written by Woody Guthrie in 1940 on an existing melody, in response to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America," which Guthrie considered unrealistic and complacent. Tired of hearing Kate Smith sing it on the radio, he wrote a response originally called "God Blessed America for Me".  Guthrie varied the lyrics over time, sometimes including more overtly political verses than appear in recordings or publications. 

Partly inspired by his experiences during a cross-country trip and his distaste for God Bless America, Guthrie penned his most famous song, "This Land Is Your Land" in February 1940.  Though the song was written in 1940, it would be four years before Moses Asch recorded Guthrie in April 1944, and even longer until sheet music was produced and given to schools by Howie Richmond. 

Some say Guthrie lifted the melody of "This Land Is Your Land" essentially note-for-note from "When the World's on Fire," a Baptist hymn recorded by country legends the Carter Family ten years earlier. Others say the melody is based on the gospel song "Oh My Loving Brother", best known as "Little Darling, Pal of Mine", sung by the country group The Carter Family.  

Guthrie signed the manuscript with the comment "All you can write is what you see."  He protested class inequality in the final verses which are not widely known and never sung except in political protest.

Read the original lyrics

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