"Pastures of Plenty" was composed by Woody Guthriein 1941. It describes the life of agricultural migrant workers. It was possibly inspired by John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath which was published in 1939. Guthrie was inspired to write a two-part song—"Tom Joad – Parts 1 & 2" which were recorded on his album Dust Bowl Ballads (1940). The tune is based on the ballad "Pretty Polly" which is included in the Songs section. It has been recorded by Harry Belafonte, Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, Jesse Colin Young, Peter, Paul and Mary, Dave Van Ronk, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Flatt and Scruggs, Will Geer, The Kingston Trio, Country Joe MacDonald, Odetta, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Cisco Houston, Pete Seeger and others. I can't recall from whose recording I first learned it. The phrase "pastures of plenty" is used in a different context in the song "Talking Vietnam Pot-Luck Blues" by Tom Paxton. It is printed in Pete Seeger's The Bells of Rhymney book. Other songs by Woody Guthrie in this section are: "Do Re Mi" "Deportees" "Gypsy Davy" "Hard Travelin" "Hard, Ain't It Hard" "The Philadelphia Lawyer" "The Reuben James" "Roll On Columbia" "So Long, It’s Been Good To Know You" "Talking Blues" "This Land Is Your Land" "Union Maid" "Woody's Rag"