The Songs of
Songs Performers Albums Audio

1. Old Dan Tucker
2. Jesse James
3. Mrs. McGrath
4. O Mary Don't You Weep
5. John Henry
6. Erie Canal
7. Jacob's Ladder
8. My Oklahoma Home
9. Eyes On the Prize
10. Shenandoah
11. Pay Me My Money Down
12. We Shall Overcome
13. Froggie Went A Courtin'
14. Buffalo Gals
15. How Can I Keep From Singing


American Land Edition Additional Songs:

16. How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live
17. Bring 'Em Home
18. American Land


Seeger Sessions Tour Songs:

1. Long Black Veil


The Seeger Sessions - American Land Edition.  Click to buy from amazon.com

The Seeger Sessions.  Click to buy from amazon.com

Springsteen links:
Charities
Discography
Covers of Springsteen songs
brucespringsteen.net
backstreets.com


The Orel Family
Email: matt@orel.ws
URL: http://matt.orel.ws/
Matt's blog

RecordingsNotes

American Land

American Land is an original Bruce Springsteen composition. There are no prior recordings of this song.

Notes: In 1947, Andrew Kovaly taught Pete Seeger a song he had written in Slovakian, called "I Lie in the American Land." The song told the true story of a co-worker of Kovaly's who had immigrated to Pittsburgh from Slovakia, saved enough money to send for his family, but was killed in a mine accident before the family arrived. Seeger recorded an English version of the song, called "He Lies in the American Land"; that song inspired the story told in Bruce Springsteen's "American Land."

The music for "American Land" is Celtic in feel. Although no specific song has been identified as an inspiration for the melody, "American Land" bears a strong resemblence to the traditional Scottish song "Gallant Forty-Twa." Click here for a performance of "Gallant Forty-Twa" by Plain Salt.

Bruce Springsteen first performed "American Land" towards the end of his US Tour supporting "The Seeger Sessions, and released "American Land" on "The Seeger Sessions American Land Edition."