While my parody-writing began with those tributes to Michael Rosenbaum, it wasn't until the evening of the next day that I began this project in earnest, with a particular long-term goal in mind. That was when I happened to see Ain't Got No Home, a documentary about Woody Guthrie.
It was a very well-done program overall, but the one thing that really stuck with me was the fact that during one particularly productive month, he wrote 26 songs in 28 days. "Wow," I thought. "If I could do that, I'd really be able to say I accomplished something this summer." So I decided I would, and I soon determined that since Guthrie had most likely composed original melodies for many, if not all, of those songs, I would write twice as many parodies to try to even the score a little. I'm no Woody Guthrie, but I must say that I do feel I've had a rather productive month...
Anyway, probably no single song in Guthrie's catalog quite captured America's imagination like This Land is Your Land, so I latched onto that one for the grand finale, and I'm dedicating it to Peter, Paul and Mary, who have sung that song to such great effect for so many years and followed in Guthrie's footsteps as folk singers dedicated to social change. Cheers!
This Band is Your Band
This band is your band, this band is my band,
And their blended voices ring out to the sky and
They've inspired the nation's many sons and daughters.
This band was made for you and me.
They're roving ramblers, and they formed in the sixties
When they saw some problems that needed fixing.
They've tried to heal the world with their singing.
This band was made for you and me!
This band is your band, this band is my band,
And their blended voices ring out to the sky and
They've inspired the nation's many sons and daughters.
This band was made for you and me.
Well, when they started, they channeled their singing
To echo Dr. Martin Luther King, but
They have since taken on 'most everything.
This band was made for you and me!
This band is your band, this band is my band,
And their blended voices ring out to the sky and
They've inspired the nation's many sons and daughters.
This band was made for you and me.
There's witty Paul and passionate Peter.
Oh, and soulful Mary... Sure would like to meet her.
Sure would like to thank them for being leaders.
This band was made for you and me!
This band is your band, this band is my band,
And their blended voices ring out to the sky and
They've inspired the nation's many sons and daughters.
This band was made for you and me.
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