Phil Ochs 1963
While composing the song, Ochs told his sister Sonny that he was writing "the greatest song I'll ever write". Notably, anti-gay activist Anita Bryant was among those who covered the song, about which Ochs was amused.
Come and take a walk with me through this green and growing land
Walk through the meadows and the mountains and the sand
Walk through the valleys and the rivers and the plains
Walk through the sun and walk through the rain
Chorus:
Here is a land full of power and glory
Beauty that words cannot recall
Oh our power shall rest on the strength of our freedom
Glory shall rest on us all, on us all
From Colorado, Kansas, and the Carolinas too
Virginia and Alaska, from the old to the new
Texas and Ohio and the California shore
Tell me who could ask for more?
But we’re only as rich as the poorest of the poor
Only as free as a padlocked prison door
Only as strong as our love for this land
Only as tall as we stand
Now again our land is troubled by men who have to hate
They twist away our freedom and they twist away our fate
Fear is their weapon and “treason” is their cry
We can stop ’em if we try!