PART 2 – Chapter 3 – The American Dream (p. 175)
The following songs and poems are some of the most famous ones about America. They convey different views of the American dream.
The first song is from the film version of the famous 1957 musical West Side Story. The second and the third poems were written by two famous American poets who both shared a deep love and trust in the nation, though representing different viewpoints.
The fourth is one of the most famous American folk songs. Bruce Springsteen released a live version of it on Live/1975-85 and called it 'one of the most beautiful songs ever written'. It was written in 1940 by Woody Guthrie in response to Irving Berlin God Bless America, which he considered unrealistic and complacent. Guthrie himself varied the lyrics over time. This is the version of the song that Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen sang at President Barack Obama’s Inauguration Opening Celebration (January 18, 2009).
1 READING
Since the 1950s the American way of life has been a dream and a goal to aim at for many people all over the world. In this song the girls (G) sing in favor of the United States, while the boys (B) respond criticizing the latent racism of American society, especially towards Puerto Ricans.
Highlight all the positive and negative aspects pointed out by the singers.
America
words by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein
G: OK by me in America
G: Everything free in America
B: For a small fee in America
G: Buying on credit is so nice
B: One look at us and they charge twice
G: I have a new washing machine
B: What will you have though to keep clean?
G: Skyscrapers bloom in America
G: Cadillacs zoom in America
G: Industrial boom in America
B: Twelve in a room in America
G: Lots of new housing with more space
B: Lots of doors slamming in our face
G: I'll get a terraced apartment
B: Better get rid of your accent
G: Life can be bright in America
B: If you can fight in America
G: Life is all right in America
B: If you're all white in America
G: Here you are free and you have pride
B: Long as you stay on your own side
G: Free to be anything you choose
B: Free to wait tables and shine shoes
B: Everywhere grime in America
B: Organized crime in America
B: Terrible time in America
G: You forget I'm in America
B: I think I go back to San Juan
G: I know a boat you can get on
B: Everyone there will give big cheer
G: Everyone there will have moved here.
2 READING
Read the following poem and answer the questions below.
1. What jobs are mentioned in the poem?
2. Why do you think the poet chose them?
3. What image of society comes out of the poem?
4. Is the poet’s view of America positive or negative?
I Hear America Singing
by Walt Whitman
I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be, blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck.
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,
The wood-cutter’s song, the ploughboy’s on his way in the morning, or at the noon intermission or at sundown;
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing.
Each singing what belongs to him or her, and to none else;
The day what belongs to the day – at night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.
3 READING
Read the following poem and answer the questions below.
1. What is the main theme of the poem?
2. What does the poet mainly focus on?
3. What is the poet’s attitude towards America?
Let America Be America Again
by Langston Hughes
Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.
(America never was America to me.)
Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed –
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.
(It never was America to me.)
O, let my land be a land where Liberty
Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,
But opportunity is real, and life is free,
Equality is in the air we breathe.
(There's never been equality for me,
Nor freedom in this "homeland of the free.")
Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark?
And who are you that draws your veil across the stars?
I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart,
I am the Negro bearing slavery's scars.
I am the red man driven from the land,
I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek –
And finding only the same old stupid plan
Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.
I am the young man, full of strength and hope,
Tangled in that ancient endless chain
Of profit, power, gain, of grab the land!
Of grab the gold! Of grab the ways of satisfying need!
Of work the men! Of take the pay!
Of owning everything for one's own greed!
I am the farmer, bondsman to the soil.
I am the worker sold to the machine.
I am the Negro, servant to you all.
I am the people, humble, hungry, mean –
Hungry yet today despite the dream.
Beaten yet today – O, Pioneers!
[…]
O, let America be America again –
The land that never has been yet –
And yet must be–the land where every man is free.
The land that's mine–the poor man's, Indian's, Negro's, ME –
Who made America,
Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain,
Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain,
Must bring back our mighty dream again.
[…]
O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath –
America will be!
[…]
4 WRITING
Write a short text about the positive and negative aspects of America stressed by Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes in the two poems above and compare their different viewpoints.
5 READING
Read the lyrics of this song and answer the questions below.
1. What main features of America are stressed in the poem?
2. What places are mentioned?
3. What social issues are addressed?
4. Why is it a protest song?
This Land Is Your land
words and music by Woody Guthrie
This land is your land. This land is my land
From California to the New York island;
From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me.
As I was walking that ribbon of highway,
I saw above me that endless skyway:
I saw below me that golden valley:
This land was made for you and me.
I've roamed and rambled and I 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.
When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,
As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting:
This land was made for you and me.
There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me;
Sign was painted, it said private property;
But on the back side it didn't say nothing;
This land was made for you and me.
In the squares of the city ,in the shadow of a steeple;
By the relief office, I seen my people.
As they stood hungry, I stood there whistling
This land was made for you and me.
As they stood hungry, I stood there whistling
This land was made for you and me.
Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.
Questo file è un’estensione online del corso M. G. Dandini, NEW SURFING THE WORLD.
Copyright © 2010 Zanichelli Editore S.p.A., Bologna [1056]
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