Why the “Posted” on no trespassing signs? Why tell me, on a sign saying no trespassing, that a sign was posted (this very one you are reading now, as a matter of fact) that trespassing (which is illegal by definition) is not allowed?
I can’t look at a no trespassing sign without thinking about the last few stanzas of the Woody Guthrie song “This land is your land.” Funny, we never made it to these stanzas in grade school when we sang this in class:
As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said “No Trespassing.”
But on the other side it didn’t say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.
In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,
By the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking
Is this land made for you and me?
Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.
I was thinking of a different song while I was reading this. It is less well known than This Land is Your Land, and I don’t think anyone ever sang it in grade school. It’s a song call Signs by Tesla. You can hear the version I like on YouTube here (https://youtu.be/uVRGw7LhIOE), and the lyrics are copied below.
And the sign says “long hair freaky people need not apply”
So I put my hair under my hat and I went in to ask him why
He said you look like a fine outstanding young man I think you’ll do
So I took off my hat I said “Imagine that Huh Me working for you”
Signs Signs
Everywhere there’s signs
Fucking up the scenery
Breaking my mind
Do this, don’t do that
Can’t you read the sign
And the sign says “Anybody caught trespassing will be shot on sight”
So I jumped the fence and I yelled at the house, Hey! What gives you the right
To put up a fence And keep me out Or to keep Mother Nature in
If God was here He’d tell it to your face Man You’re some kind of sinner
Signs Signs
Everywhere there’s signs
Fucking up the scenery
Breaking my mind
Do this, don’t do that
Can’t you read the sign
Oh Say now mister Can’t you read
You got to have a shirt and tie to get a seat
You can’t watch No You can’t eat You ain’t supposed to be here
And the sign says “You got to have a membership card to get inside” Huh
And the sign says “Everybody welcome Come in Kneel down and pray”
But then they passed around a plate at the end of it all
And I didn’t have a penny to pay
So I got me a pen and paper And I made up my own fucking sign
I said Thank you Lord for thinking about me I’m alive and doing fine
Signs Signs
Everywhere there’s signs
Fucking up the scenery
Breaking my mind
Do this, don’t do that
Can’t you read the sign
Signs Signs
Everywhere there’s signs
Fucking up the scenery
Breaking my mind
Do this, don’t do that
Can’t you read the sign