We were living in Michigan in August of 1969. I was 23 in January that year and my husband, Bob was 24. Bob worked on the fender line for Chrysler. He came home from work on the 16th of August and asked me if I would like to go with him to a festival in upper state New York.

At first I said yes, then resonsibility set in. Our son, Michael had just turned 1 year old on August 15th and at that time, all I could think of was what a drag it would have been changing diapers-Ugh!(I was quite modest too). We also had another young one of 2 1/2 years to look after and so, I began picturing running myself ragged after these two people, (make that three, counting my husband). All three, getting into all kinds of mischief! In public! I don't think so! Second reason: Skipping work at Chrysler could have dire consequences and possibly cause him to lose his job.

As Bob had been in Artillery in Viet Nam for a year and had only been back since '67, he was still in the groove of toking, to which he most dutifully reported was the in-thing being done in "Nam" at the time. So, I told him that I didn't think that was a good enough excuse for going to another state, sitting around in a cornfield with a bunch of wild men, and just waiting for the police to arrive, raid the place, and escort him and the likes of him, off to the clink, while the kids and I were subjected to a lot of nudity, foul language, and excellent music.

After Bob laid out all the details of this journey to me, (I thought about how I had never been to New York), I dolefully declined his offer. It just didn't seem to be the most relevant thing to do at the time. I felt bad for the longest time about turning him down but, felt more so for him than me. Then I heard it was a peaceful festival. I was surprised and very proud of everyone who had attended Woodstock '69 and had some second thoughts that maybe we should have gone after all. Anyway, Bob never displayed his disappointment but, I knew that deep down in his heart he really wanted to go.

In 1970, the vinyl Woodstock album came out. I wouldn't be surprised if my husband, Bob, was the first one in the store the day it was released. He was a big "Santana" fan and loved to listen to him over and over again. He was probably the first in line to buy the "Santana" album too! We would sit and listen for hours to every song on that album until we wore out the cover! One of my favorite songs on the vinyl album back then was Janis Joplin's song, "Mercedes Benz". Much later, the Woodstock CD boxed set would come out and then the Woodstock '69 movie. I purchased those as well.

Of course, as do most folks, I have many more favorites I like to brag about too. From Country Joe McDonald and his song, "The Fish Cheer"
aka, I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag", (Bob really like that a lot), to
Santana's "Soul Sacrifice", and Jim Hendrix playing his version of
"The Star Spangled Banner", which was awesomely done at
woodstock '69.

As time went on, I began to see my missed opportunity, not having attended the Woodstock Fest. Today I would give most anything if I could go back in time...to be there and share that part of history with my generation at Woodstock. Those of you who made it to Woodstock have a Golden Mecca Memory.

Our generation had a dream...about a world filled with much peace and love. Woodstock '69 was part of that dream fulfilled. PEACE

Woodstock '69 was a fun time in it hey-day and a lot of us just don't want it to go away. Even the folks who didn't have the opportunity to attend the Festival have enjoyed the after moments, listening to the music as long ago as vinyl records which, as we know now, were later converted to music CDs and DVDs for viewing, as the Festival took place on August 15, 16, 17, and 18, over 40 years ago in 1969.

Anyway, I thought it might be fun to compose a little something
"outside the box", and add a few excerpts from some of the songs played at Woodstock '69. Then, have a fictitious character (or is he), narrate the Festival, adding his own comments on a day to day basis. I hope you have as much fun reading it, as I did writing it...and as we say...
PEACE


WOODSTOCK CLOUD '69

DAY 1 AUGUST 15 FRIDAY

I'm walkin' down a country road
In Bethel, New York State
I see a giant "PEACE" sign posted
high upon a gate

There's shindig music straight ahead
I tripped on a cornfield fence and bled
I just got lost in WOODSTOCK

I looked at the cat sittin' next to me
with the bandana on his head
"What's with all those copters, man
why's everyone in bed?"

"Traffic Uptight at Hippie Fest"
that's what the headlines read
They closed the New York thruway
They're comin' in copters instead!

Drifting now, I'm on a cloud
Can't stop now the music's loud
I just got lost in Woodstock

"FREEDOM"

"Sometimes, I feel like a motherless child
a long way from home"
"Sometimes, I feel like I'm almost gone
a long long long way way from my home"...
Played and sun by RITCHIE HAVENS

"COMING TO LA"

"Coming in to Los Angeles
bringing in a couple of keys
Don't touch my bags if you please
MR Customs Man"...
Sung by ARLO GUTHRIE

I hear a song about "JOE HILL"
a man sent on a quest

"And standing there as big as life
and smiling with his eyes
says Joe Hill "What they can never kill"
went on to organize"

"From San Diego up to Maine
in every mine and mill
Where working men defend their rights
It's there you'll find Joe Hill"...
sung by JOAN BAEZ

"WE SHALL OVERCOME"

"Deep in my heart I do believe
we shall overcome someday
we'll walk hand in hand
We'll walk hand in hand someday"

"Oh Deep in my heart"

"We shall live in peace someday
We shall all be free someday
We are not afraid today
We shall overcome someday"...
Sung by JOAN BAEZ

DAY 2 AUGUST 16 SATURDAY

Now, COUNTRY JOE led the way
to get our message sent
And speak our minds about the war
to reach our president

He wrote this song 'bout Viet Nam
he named it "THE FISH CHEER"
"I-FEEL-I'M-FIXIN'-TO-DIE RAG"
for everyone to hear

"Come on all of you big strong men
Uncle Same needs your help again
Got himself in a terrible jam
way down yonder in Viet Nam"

"Put down your books and Pick up a gun
We're gonna have a whole lot of fun"...

"And it's 123, what are we fightin' for
Don't ask me I don't give a damn
next stop is Viet Nam"...

"And it's 5,6,7 open up the pearly gates
Well...there ain't no time to wonder why
whoopee, we're all gonn die!"

"Now, come on Wall Street don't be slow
why man this is war-a-go-go
There's plenty good money to be made
supplying the army with the tools of the trade"

"Just hope and pray that if they drop the bomb
they drop it on the Viet Cong!"

"And it's 123, what are we fighting for
Don't ask me I don't give a damn
next stop is Viet Nam"

"And it's 5,6 7, open up the pearly gates
Well...ain't no time to wonder why
whoopee! We're all gonna die!"

"Now, come on generals, let's move fast
your big chance is here at last
Now, you can go out and get those Reds
cus, the only good comy is one that's dead!"

"And it's 1,2,3, what are we fighting for
Don't ask me I don't give a damn
next stop is Viet Nam"

"And it's 5,6 7, open up the pearly gates
Well, there ain't no time to wonder why
whoopee we're all gonna die!"

"Now, come on mothers throughout the land
pack yhour boys off to Viet Nam
C'mon fathers, don't hesitate
send your sons off before it's too late
Be the first one on your block
to have your boy come home in a box!"

"And it's 1,2,3, what are we fighting for
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn...
next stop is Viet Nam

And it's 5,6,7, open up the pearly gates
Well, I ain't got time to wonder why
whoopee! We're all gonna die!"
Song written and sung by COUNTRY JOE Mc DONALD

ANNOUNCEMENT by WAVY GRAVY

"What we have in mind is breakfast in bed for Four Hundred Thousand"

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENT...

"And this message is for City Magee...I understand your wife is having a baby. Congratulations!"

THEY JUST ANNOUNCED THE CONCERT'S FREE
"THAT THE PEOPLE ARE WORTH MORE THAN A DOLLAR COULD EVER BE!"

Here's Max Yasgur, who owns this land
who, took the stage to say
"I think yo people proved to the world
that you have found a way"

"To come together here today
half a million strong
To share this groovy music
and peacefully get along!"

"And I thank you for it"


"SOUL SACRIFICE"

SANTANA made my day!
That music's a sensational creation!
Remember the standing ovation!
Played by CARLOS SANTANA with
MICHAEL SHRIEVE on the drums

Wow....that was music to my ears
The best of the best
So good I shed tears!


"GOING UP THE COUNTRY"

Says he plans on "going where the water tastes like wine"
"Jump right in the water and
stay drumk there all the time"...
Played and sung by CANNED HEAT


"WORK ME LORD"

"Work me Lord Work me Lord
please, don't ever leave me
I feel so useless down here
with no one to love"

"Though, I've looked everywhere
and I can't find anybody to love
to feel my care"...
Sung by JANIS JOPLIN


"I WANT TO TAKE YOU HIGHER"

"Shaka-laka-laka
Boom shaka-laka-laka
C'mon light my fire
Want to take you higher"...
Played by SLY & THE FAMILY STONE

"SEE ME FEEL ME"

"See me feel me touch me heal me
See me feel me touch me heal me"...

"Listening to you I get the music
gazing at you I get the heat
Following you I'd climb the mountain
I get excitement at your feet"...

"Right behind you I see the motions
on you I see the glory
From you I get opinions
from you I get the story"...
Sung and Played by THE WHO

"SUMMERTIME BLUES"

About a cat who doesn't want war
and is still to young to vote
Doesn't wanna work late
Wants to use his dad's car
but, no gun he want to tote!

"I'm gonna' raise a fuss, I'm gonna raise a holler
About a workin' all summer just to try to earn a dollar
Every time I call my baby and try to get a date
My boss says, "no dice son, you gotta' work late"

"Sometimes I wonder what I'm a gonna do
But, there ain't no cure for the Summertime blues...
Sung and Played by THE WHO

Man, did you see that over there?
Townsend threw his guitar in the air!
Hey...it's OK...someone will find it
and put it in a museum somewhere


"UNCLE SAMS BLUES"

A real fine tribute to our countrymen
who want to made a stand...
and sang by none other than
THE JEFFERSON AIRPLANE BAND

"You got my questionnaire baby
You know I'm headed off for war
Well now I'm gonna' do some fighting
Well no one know what for"...
Sung a d Played by THE JEFFERSON AIRPLANE


DAY 3 AUGUST 17 SUNDAY


Here comes "Morning Maniac Music"
Described by GRACIE SLICK
She woke me up with "Good morning, people"
MAN...what a chick!


"DO YOU NEED ANYBODY BLUES"

"What would you do if I sang out of tune
would you stand up and walk out on me
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song
and I'll try not to sing out of key"...
Sung by JOE COCKER

Original Title: "With a little Help from My Friends"
Song written by LENNON AND McCARTNEY
Song made for and sung by RINGO STARR


"RAIN RAIN GO AWAY, COME AGAIN ANOTHER DAY"


Like, MAN! IT's raining!
My hot dog's drowning
Don't feel high
just feel like frowning
Muddy people everywhere
skinny-dippin' if you dare

Some cats said the clouds were seeded
when they saw a plane
Then shortly after we heard thunder
then down came tons of rain

"THE RAIN CHANT DANCE"

We played tin cans and bongo drums
to chant the rain away
and nearly got a rain check when
the bands couldn't play

I'M SITTIN' IN THE MUD, MAN!

Then, the ground got mighty muddy
so, we had some Woodstock fun
And slid around in mud-soaked grass
while some folks toked on some


ENCORE...ENCORE

I'ts COUNTRY JOE & THE FISH
doing an Encore to the Viet Nam, "Fish Cheer" again!
Joe's "GIVE ME AN F"...chant, just may be
A milestone to bringing the war to an end
Written and Sung by COUNTRY JOE McDONALD

"I'M GOIN' HOME"

"Oh baby baby I'm coming home
baby baby I'm coming home
Tell me Mama baby I'm coming home"...

"Gonna see my baby, see my baby fine
Gonna take my baby, wanna take my baby mine
Gonna take my woman treats me real fine"...
Sung and Played by TEN YEARS AFTER


THEY'RE PROBABLY WORRIED ABOUT ME...

Anybody got some change...
Gotta call home today
Before they think I'm really strange!

My mother probl'y thinks I'm dead
My father thinks I've lost my head
My sister she just call me "Freak"
And I'll be damned if my shoes don't squeak!

Must've been all that RAIN!


DAY 4 AUGUST 18 MONDAY


"SUITE" JUDY BLUE EYES"

"Chestnut brown canary
Ruby-throated sparrow
Sing a song...Don't be long
Thrill me to the marrow"...
Sung and Played by CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG

"LONG TIME GONE"

"It's been a long time coming
It's going to be a long time gone
Appears to be a long time
Yes, a long long long time
before the dawn...
Sung and Played by CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG

"COST OF FREEDOM"

"I think about a hundred years ago,
how my fathers' bled
I think I see a valley
covered with bones of blue"

"All the brave soldiers
that cannot get older
been askin' after you"

"Hear the past a callin'
from Armageddon's side
When everyone's talkin'
and no one's listenin'
how can we decide"...
Sung and Played by CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG


AT 9:00 AM MONDAY MORNING, DAY 4
THERE WERE STILL 80,000 PEOPLE REMAINING at WOODSTOCK


I haven't left with most of the rest
I've purposely stayed behind
So, I could catch the best of the Fest
Jimi, music...a one-of-a-kind

"THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER"
Played Solo by JIMI HENDRIX

Jimi's music made me feel high
So, "Ecuse me, while I kiss the sky!"
What ever his music did to me
I thing that cat "put a spell on me!"


*THE WOODSTOCK GENERATION*

3 DAYS
of PEACE
& MUSIC


*THE FIRST AQUARIAN EXPOSITON*