Woody Guthrie
A dust-blown troubadour who armed American folk music with a social conscience, writing an unofficial national anthem for the common people.
1912–1967 (age 55)·American singer-songwriter·Birthday: July 14·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Woody Guthrie carried America's stories in his guitar case, scribbling lyrics on its face as he rode the rails and walked the hard roads of the 1930s. Born in Oklahoma, his life was shaped by personal tragedy and the economic devastation of the Dust Bowl, which he chronicled with plainspoken poetry in songs like 'Do Re Mi' and 'Pretty Boy Floyd.' Migrating to California, his radio broadcasts and union hall performances gave voice to displaced workers and radicals, blending traditional melodies with fiercely pro-union, anti-fascist messages. His masterpiece, 'This Land Is Your Land,' written as a critical response to 'God Bless America,' evolved from a protest song into a beloved, if subtly subversive, patriotic standard. Guthrie's raw, nasal delivery and boundless output influenced everyone from Pete Seeger to Bob Dylan, embedding a tradition of social commentary at the heart of American songwriting. He sang not for fame, but as a weapon against what he saw as injustice.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Woody was born in 1912, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Woody Was Born
The biggest hits of 1912
Woody's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1912Born
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1917Started school
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1925Became a teenager
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1928Could drive
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1930Could vote
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1933Turned 21
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1942Turned 30
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1952Turned 40
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1962Turned 50
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1967Died at 55
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
Key Achievements
- Wrote 'This Land Is Your Land,' one of the most widely known and performed folk songs in American history.
- Penned hundreds of songs documenting the Great Depression, Dust Bowl migration, and labor struggles, creating a people's history in music.
- His column in the communist newspaper *The Daily Worker* and his radio shows amplified the voices of marginalized workers.
- Served as a major inspiration for the 1960s folk revival, directly mentoring a young Bob Dylan.
Did You Know?
The handwritten label on his guitar read, 'This machine kills fascists.'
He was a prolific writer and painter, leaving behind journals, novels, and hundreds of artworks.
He served in the Merchant Marine during World War II, and his ship was torpedoed twice.
He was the father of folk singer Arlo Guthrie, who wrote 'Alice's Restaurant.'
“I hate a song that makes you think that you are not any good. I hate a song that makes you think that you are just born to lose.”
