This land is your land, this land is my land

From California, to the New York Island

From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters

This land was made for you and me

 

As I was walking a ribbon of highway

I saw above me an endless skyway

I saw below me a golden valley

This land was made for you and me

 

I've roamed and rambled and I've followed my footsteps

To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts

And all around me a voice was sounding

This land was made for you and me

 

The sun comes shining as I was strolling

The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling

The fog was lifting a voice come chanting

This land was made for you and me

 

 

As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there

And that sign said - no tress passin'

But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin!

Now that side was made for you and me!

 

In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple

Near the relief office - I see my people

And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'

If this land's still made for you and me.

 

The bolded is not well known by many and almost never sung. But the first couple of verses are often sang to "show" patriotism. What many do not realize is that Woody Guthrie was often associated with several communists groups. Now, after stating this, go back and re-read the lyrics for a possible different meaning behind the song.

 

I post this just for everyone to keep things in perspective before making generalized statements in regards to performers and their intentions.

 

As you can see by the posted lyrics, everything is subject to impersonation and interpretation.

What language used in what songs? I need the name of songs that Common has used ill advised lyrics in because of of the top of my head I can't think of any. His lyrics are thoughtful and insightful. I can't think of one song of his that anyone would hear for the first time and find offensive. Not their taste? Sure. Offensive? Not hardly. But I could be wrong. I'd just like to know of some songs by Common that people would find offensive.

 

Don't know, you'll have to ask the White House what they found offensive.

I enjoyed reading through this thread. It amazes me how shortsighted and culturally ignorant people can be while continuing to take themselves so seriously.

This land is your land, this land is my land

From California, to the New York Island

From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters

This land was made for you and me

 

As I was walking a ribbon of highway

I saw above me an endless skyway

I saw below me a golden valley

This land was made for you and me

 

I've roamed and rambled and I've followed my footsteps

To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts

And all around me a voice was sounding

This land was made for you and me

 

The sun comes shining as I was strolling

The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling

The fog was lifting a voice come chanting

This land was made for you and me

 

 

As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there

And that sign said - no tress passin'

But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin!

Now that side was made for you and me!

 

In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple

Near the relief office - I see my people

And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'

If this land's still made for you and me.

 

The bolded is not well known by many and almost never sung. But the first couple of verses are often sang to "show" patriotism. What many do not realize is that Woody Guthrie was often associated with several communists groups. Now, after stating this, go back and re-read the lyrics for a possible different meaning behind the song.

 

I post this just for everyone to keep things in perspective before making generalized statements in regards to performers and their intentions.

 

As you can see by the posted lyrics, everything is subject to impersonation and interpretation.

 

It's no surprise that Guthrie was an inspiration to Bruce Springsteen who also had a song that was help up as "patriotic" but really wasn't.

It's no surprise that Guthrie was an inspiration to Bruce Springsteen who also had a song that was help up as "patriotic" but really wasn't.

 

 

Exactly.

Born down in a dead man's town

The first kick I took was when I hit the ground

You end up like a dog that's been beat too much

'Til you spend half your life just covering up

 

[chorus:]

Born in the U.S.A.

Born in the U.S.A.

Born in the U.S.A.

Born in the U.S.A.

 

I got in a little hometown jam

And so they put a rifle in my hands

Sent me off to Vietnam

To go and kill the yellow man

 

[chorus]

 

Come back home to the refinery

Hiring man says "Son if it was up to me"

I go down to see the V.A. man

He said "Son don't you understand"

 

[chorus]

 

I had a buddy at Khe Sahn

Fighting off the Viet Cong

They're still there, he's all gone

He had a little girl in Saigon

I got a picture of him in her arms

 

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary

Out by the gas fires of the refinery

I'm ten years down the road

Nowhere to run, ain't got nowhere to go

 

I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A.

Born in the U.S.A.

I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the U.S.A.

Born in the U.S.A.

 

I guess he should never go near the white house either.

Born down in a dead man's town

The first kick I took was when I hit the ground

You end up like a dog that's been beat too much

'Til you spend half your life just covering up

 

[chorus:]

Born in the U.S.A.

Born in the U.S.A.

Born in the U.S.A.

Born in the U.S.A.

 

I got in a little hometown jam

And so they put a rifle in my hands

Sent me off to Vietnam

To go and kill the yellow man

 

[chorus]

 

Come back home to the refinery

Hiring man says "Son if it was up to me"

I go down to see the V.A. man

He said "Son don't you understand"

 

[chorus]

 

I had a buddy at Khe Sahn

Fighting off the Viet Cong

They're still there, he's all gone

He had a little girl in Saigon

I got a picture of him in her arms

 

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary

Out by the gas fires of the refinery

I'm ten years down the road

Nowhere to run, ain't got nowhere to go

 

I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A.

Born in the U.S.A.

I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the U.S.A.

Born in the U.S.A.

 

I guess he should never go near the white house either.

 

Hey, did you check with Ronald Reagan to use his song?

The real issue that deserves debate revolves around a song by Common called "A Song for Assata" which is about Assata Shakur who was convicted of murder of a NJ police officer in the 70s. She says she was shot by the two officers while her hands were in the air and that she did not have a gun. I'm not sure if that's disputed. I read a few different sites and I think she was convicted despite not shooting. She seems to have an extensive background in crime or being "around" crime as a member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army.

 

I can certainly see where people would question Common on this.

The real issue that deserves debate revolves around a song by Common called "A Song for Assata" which is about Assata Shakur who was convicted of murder of a NJ police officer in the 70s. She says she was shot by the two officers while her hands were in the air and that she did not have a gun. I'm not sure if that's disputed. I read a few different sites and I think she was convicted despite not shooting. She seems to have an extensive background in crime or being "around" crime as a member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army.

 

I can certainly see where people would question Common on this.

 

Assata was broken out of incarceration by fellow BLA members in 1979 and is now in Cuba. The BLA and the WUO were committed to the murder of those that represented 'the establishment'. The BLA was more aggressively prosecuted. The final major BLA/WUO crime was the 1981 Brinks Armored Car Robbery where a guard and 2 police officers were killed. Some involved escaped and were never identified.

 

 

http://policelink.monster.com/topics/69459-the-black-liberation-army-campaign-vsnypd-year-1973/posts

 

https://romanticpoet.wordpress.com/tag/maxine-waterschesimard-aka-assata-shakur-connection/

Are you mad at his lyrics or the fact that he (a rapper/Artist/ Poet ) got invited to the white house? Artist with more violent lyrics has been to the white house.

 

http://worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhswCH5Ee87YLo1xte

Are you mad at his lyrics or the fact that he (a rapper/Artist/ Poet ) got invited to the white house? Artist with more violent lyrics has been to the white house.

 

http://worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhswCH5Ee87YLo1xte

 

Your thoughts on his pro-Assata stance?

Your thoughts on his pro-Assata stance?

 

Very moving song... one of Common's best songs. You can feel all of the emotion he put into this song.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_hop

 

Some can relate some cant...

O'Reilly and Stewart debate the topic.

 

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/05/17/earlyshow/leisure/celebspot/main20063525.shtml

O'Reilly and Stewart debate the topic.

 

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/05/17/earlyshow/leisure/celebspot/main20063525.shtml

 

Good debate. Stewart obviously was prepared.

 

Anyone see the Bono/Dylan examples as being different than Common?