1. Sandy Cash
Mailbox 108
Guthrie uses religious imagery of California being the Garden of Eden. He contrasts the
hopes of migrant workers of being hopeful, like “going to a sugar bowl,” but says, “Now the
police at the port of entry say ‘You’re number fourteen thousand for today.’” If this was a
speech instead of a song, I do not think people would receive this message well, because it’s
not that encouraging of a message. I did listen to Guthrie on YouTube for both “Do Re Mi,”
and “This Land Is Your Land.”
Guthrie compares California to being the Garden of Eden. He gives this idea that California
is this paradise where everything is perfect. He goes on to saying that these migrant workers
“think they are going to a sugar bowl…” This being said California seems to be this fairytale,
perfect place. Then he goes on to say that, what these migrant workers don’t know that since
this place is “paradise” everyone is going to California, so “if you ain’t got the do re mi, why,
you better go back to beautiful Texas, Oklahoma,…”
If Guthrie’s song was a speech instead, I do not think it would be received well. I think this
because, he’s not that positive, and during this time people wanted hope. Also, it seems like
songs can be sad and not so positive, where speeches seem like they have to be hopeful, or if
they are not that positive, they have to give a solution to the problem.
I did listen to Guthrie on YouTube, to actually hear how “Do Re Mi” sounded. Guthrie
compares California to the Garden of Eden, calling it a “paradise.” He contrasts the hopes of
migrants, and the reality by saying “They think they’re going to a sugar bowl…if you ain’t
got the do re mi,/Why, you better go back to beautiful Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Georgia,
Tennessee.” I do not think Guthrie’s message would be received well if this was a speech,

2. because it is not hopeful; where songs seem like they do not have to be hopeful, but speeches
are suppose to encourage people.