Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: singer-songwriter
Song Meaning of “Talking Columbia” by Woody Guthrie
‘Talking Columbia’ is a song by Woody Guthrie that expresses the common man’s battle for survival against powerful establishments. It tells the story of a farmer struggling against long working hours, poverty and industrialization. The song begins with an allegory of a conversation between Columbia (America) and the farmer, where Columbia promises a life of prosperity but fails to deliver. Columbia represents the establishment powers at the time, and the farmer represents the working class.
The song then transitions to depict the farmer struggling to keep up with the demands of the harsh and unwelcoming conditions of the time. He is seen working hard to survive, and yet his efforts become fruitless as he is unable to benefit from industrialization and the harder he works, the worse it gets. The song portrays the strong feeling of pessimism and misery that the farmer is struggling against.
Guthrie paints a picture of how many American lives were affected during this era and he ultimately drives home the point of how the establishment was to blame. In the end, the song is a homage to the struggle of the common man and a reminder of the injustices of economic power in a powerful and lyrical way.