Anna: You know I love Washington, D.C. But I want to see more of the United States. My roommate Marsha and I will be on vacation at the same time. So, we are going on a road trip together!
Hi, Marsha!
Marsha: Hi!
Anna: I packed my bags and I am ready to go!
Marsha: Did you make a list of all the places you want to see?
Anna: I did. I want to see New York City and the Statue of Liberty!
Marsha: And I want to see Mount Rushmore!
Anna: (Anna writes) Mount Rushmore.
Marsha: And don’t forget the Grand Canyon!
Anna: (Anna writes) Let’s not forget California’s redwood forest! There are so many places to see!
Marsha: We will be driving for a long time. So, we might get bored.
Anna: Bored? No way! We can talk.
Marsha: Or not talk.
Anna: We can play word games. We can sing! You know, our trip is like that famous American song. (sings) "This land is your land, This land is my land …"*
Marsha: (sings) "…from California to the New York island ..."
BOTH: “... to the redwood forest to the Gulf stream waters ... this land was made for you and me!”
Marsha: Will we be stopping soon?
Anna: We won’t be stopping soon.
Marsha: I’m hungry.
Anna: Marsha, we just left D.C.! We’ll be eating lunch in about 2 hours. Can you wait?
Marsha: I guess.
Anna: Here, have an apple. It’s organic!
(Anna throws the apple. It goes out the window.)
Marsha: Thanks.
Marsha: Okay, we will be arriving in New York City very soon!
Anna: I can’t wait to see The Big Apple! Marsha, look! There she is!
Marsha: The Statue of Liberty!
Anna: She is awesome!
Anna: Marsha, in ten minutes, guess what we’ll be seeing?
Marsha: What?
Anna: The largest rocking chair in the world!
Marsha: No, we won’t be seeing that.
Anna: Marsha, it’s on my other list -- Best Roadside Sights.
(Marsha grabs the paper and throws it out the window.)
Anna: Oh no! We littered! And my list is gone. Don't worry. I brought the book. (lifts up large book, starts reading)
(Later)
Anna: … and that is why I am so afraid of sheep.
Marsha: (snores a little)
Anna: Wow, I feel better. Marsha, you are a great listener.
Marsha: (waking up) Where are we?
Anna: We will be entering North Dakota any minute now!
Marsha: North Dakota! We are going in the wrong direction! We want to go to South Dakota!
Anna: No problem. I will just exit the highway. We will be going south … in just a minute. There. Done! We're going south! Okay, we will be stopping for gas and a bathroom break in about an hour.
Marsha: Then we will be very near to Mount Rushmore!
Anna: Yay! Dead presidents’ heads on the side of a mountain!
Anna: We did it, Marsha! We made it to California! It’s beautiful!
Marsha: And we saw everything on the list!
Anna: Well, we saw everything on page 1 of the list.
Marsha: What do you mean "page 1?"
Anna: Oh. Here are pages 2, 3 and 4! We’ll be very busy driving back to Washington, D.C. Until next time … !
Here is a complete version of the song, This Land is Your Land.
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.
As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said "No Trespassing."
But on the other side it didn't say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.
In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,
By the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking
Is this land 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.
