Late American singer-songwriter Woody Guthrie's family is calling out Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) for "co-opting" his famous song "This Land is Your Land" in his new bill.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's daughter Nora Guthrie told the Kansas City Star, “In this particular case, the co-opting or parodying of the lyric by those not aligned with Woody’s lyrics — i.e. misrepresentation by autocrats, racists, white nationalists, anti-labor, insurrectionists, etc. — is not condoned.”
“We do not consider Josh Hawley in any way a representative of Woody’s values therefore we would never endorse or approve of his reference to Woody’s lyrics," she said.
According to her, the tune "is more of a vision of democracy.”
“The song simply reiterates the concept, ‘By the people, for the people,’” she explained.
Guthrie said she isn't opposed to its use for political purposes but only by those whose views align with the values of the song.
(AP Photo, file)
Despite dying in 1967, Guthrie has continued to receive accolades for his achievements. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Neil Young in 1988 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys in 2000. He also was awarded a Grammy for best folk recording in 1965.
Hawley press secretary Abigail Marone referred the Washington Examiner to her comment to the Kansas City Star.
“The Kansas City Star is where journalism goes to die,” Marone said. “Josh’s bill protects America’s food chain, farmers, and national security — that’s the real story the Star should cover.”
Hawley's bill, introduced last week, aims to prohibit Chinese companies and people with ties to the Chinese Communist Party from purchasing farmland in the United States.
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The measure would make doing so illegal, with penalties including daily fines and imprisonment for up to five years.
“No Chinese corporation or individual associated with the CCP should be permitted to own American farmland. It undermines the integrity of our nation’s food supply chain, it presents national security threats when the land is in close proximity to military installations, and it hurts American farmers,” the senator said in a press release.