“Share the Land” (The Guess Who)

Today’s classic song of the day comes from north of the border. “Share the Land” was released by the Canadian group the Guess Who in September of 1970. It peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, #5 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #2 on the group’s native Canadian RPM chart.

“Share the Land” was written by the group’s lead vocalist, Burton Cummings. It’s a bit of a utopian fantasy, dreaming of a time and a world where all property is shared and people live together in harmony. (This sort of idealism was big in the late ’60s and early ’70s). As the lyrics put it:

Maybe I’ll be there to shake your hand
Maybe I’ll be there to share the land
That they’ll be givin’ away
When we all live together, together together

This was the group’s seventh top forty single, after “Shakin’ All Over” (1965), “These Eyes” (1969), “Laughing” (1969), “Undun” (1969), “No Time” (1969), “American Woman” (1970), and “No Sugar Tonight” (1970); a further top forty hit, “Hand Me Down World,” followed later in 1970. “Share the Land” was released after co-founder Randy Bachman left the group to found Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

Which brings us to today’s daily bonus video of the day, Burton Cummings and the Guess Who performing a medley of “Hand Me Down World” and “Share the Land” live on the October 21, 1970 episode of The Johnny Cash Show. (Mr. Cash plays a little, too.)