Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is arguably the most influential American folk musician of the first half of the 20th century. He is best known for his folk ballads, traditional and children’s songs, and improvised works, often incorporating political commentary. Woody Guthrie is closely identified with the Dust Bowl and Great Depression of the 1930s. His songs from that time period earned him the nickname "Dust Bowl Troubadour."

During the ten years of the Great Depression, California’s population grew more than 20 percent. Half of the newcomers came from cities, not farms; one in six were professionals or white-collar workers. Of the 315,000 who arrived from Oklahoma, Texas, and neighboring states, only 16,000 were from the Dust Bowl itself. But regardless of where they actually came from, regardless of their skills, their education, and their individual reasons for seeking a new life in a new place, to most Californians—and to the nation at large—they were all the same.

And they all had the same name—"Okies."

In the activities provided in this media gallery, students will analyze the lyrics of Woody Guthrie songs, identifying not only their message but also their effect on audiences in the 1930s and today.

Lesson Objectives:

Students will:

• Analyze how musical artists provided commentary on social and political issues of the day.
• Analyze the lyrics of Woody Guthrie’s Dust Bowl Ballads, identifying their message and effects on the subjects of his songs and his listeners.
• Analyze how a modern audience would have received Woody Guthrie’s music.

About the Author:

Greg Timmons has been a social studies teacher for more than 30 years. He has written lessons for and serves as an educational consultant to various PBS programs including Frontline, the NewsHour, and WashingtonWeek. He resides in Washington state and Montana.