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A short thread on some of the music sung at today's inauguration. #inaugurationDay 
This Land is Your Land by Woodie Guthrie, sung by J Lo. Written in 1940, it was Guthrie's response to the incessant playing of God Bless America. According to History the song represents both his love for his country and solidarity with the common folk. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/guthrie-writes-this-land-is-your-land
In this modern context, it's a very interesting and importance choice. Guthrie is notable in the context of this transition for two reasons: 1. he was adamantly anti-Fascist to the point that he wrote "This Machine Kills Fascists" on his guitars.
He also wasn't a fan of Trump's father. More than 65 years ago in 1950 he moved into a Brooklyn public housing project owned by Fred Trump. Found that it was segregated by color and excluded black tenants. He came to call the project named "Beach Haven" to "B*tch Haven".
Gunthrie's notebooks from the time included writings about destroying the color line to create a diverse community. They also included words about the elder Trump. You can read more here: https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6851574/woody-guthrie-donald-fred-trump-racist-more-than-60-years-ago/
Now on to Amazing Grace, sung by Garth Brooks. Another impactful choice. A Christian hymn published in 1779 by John Newton. A former slave trader, in 1748 Newton's vessel was battered by a storm off the coast of Ireland, so severely that he called out to God.
Newton's turn to God didn't end his involvement in the slave trade and he kept with the horrible profession until 1754 to 1755. When he finished seafaring he began to study Christian theology and later became an abolitionist.
Amazing Grace was written to illustrate a sermon on New Year's Day of 1773 but was relatively obscure in England.
In the US, it became a popular song used by Baptist and Methodist preachers as part of their evangelizing in the South during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century. A Protestant revival, this movement included a call for the abolition of slavery.
More here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Grace
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Grace
