Here is a popular Sunday School song we sang when we were children. I thought it was an Indian song for a long time and realised only later that the first verse was the Indian version of the first verse of a popular American folk song by Woody Guthrie (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxiMrvDbq3s). The second verse was sung to the same tune, of course, but had Christian thought unlike the original lyric. I see that there is a Kiwi version and a Canadian one too.
This Land is your Land, This Land is my Land,
From the Himalayas down to Cape Comorin.
From Bombay city to old Calcutta,
This Land belongs to you and me.
This land needs Jesus, He is the answer
This land needs Jesus, we youth must tell her,
Tell of the Savior, His saving power,
Stand and declare His love to all.
The second verse is true for all places under the sun (not so sure about the “her” for countries that are regarded as fatherlands).
Kiwi Version
This Land is your Land, This Land is my Land,
From Cape Reinga to Stewart Island.
From the Kauri Forests to our Southern oceans,
This Land belongs to you and me.
American Version
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California to the New York Island
From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me.
Canadian Version
This land is your land, this land is my land
From snow capped mountains to Prince Edward Island
From the BC forests to the seaway waters
This land was made for you and me
Interesting post!
This song is also sung in South Africa (not at church/Sunday School, though) – I tried to see on the net if there is a version adapted for SA – but found no further information.
I knew it was American. I saw some kids sing it for Thanksgiving in a movie. I don’t remember singing the Indian version as a child, though.