Woodstock's 40th ~

I remember reading this poem by astrologer, Linda Goodman, when I was a kid. Amazing what people remember:

Were you at the miracle of Woodstock?
the third largest city in New York State
surrounded by tiny rivers of hate
conceived in magic
born in music
and rocked in fields of alfafa, baby

Were you there on the highway called Happy?
where the Jefferson Airplane streaked through the sky
explodin' like a comet over Philippine Pound
while the cattle were lowin' and roamin' around
diggin' the sound
and the Wise Men rode on a Day-Glo bus
"Oh, come along with us
and make the scene
where Groovy Way meets Gentle Path
at the intersection of Freedom
and we'll all take a bath in milk and honey"

Come along now
and we'll reach for a song
we'll drink up a cupful of green meadow grass
or some rain on the rocks
and we'll find us a bed near the Greatful Dead
Girl, if you go, I'll tell you true
the road's not straight
but just you wait
till you see the view
from the top of yourself

Were you there at the miracle of Woodstock?
where the hazy smoke of Uranus dreams
softened the cries
of Melanie by the Mountain
Did you drown with Joan in cool Sweetwater
to the piper's patter of Blood, Sweat and Tears

Were you there?
did you care
when Arlo jumped clear over the Moon?
Hey, diddle diddle, the cat and his fiddle
He turned on the stars not a wish to soon
Did you see the horizons of multitudes?
wearin' rainbow robes and muddy boots
where Country Joe shared his Fish in the stable
with a couple of loaves from Max's Farm
and Man, it poured down all that bread
on all those beautiful people
like it did before
way up in the hills
when everybody shared his picnic basket
at the great Jerusalem love-in

Oh, were you there when we rang the bells of Woodstock?
so Richie Havens could hear us pray
while Janis flew high on the Milky Way
How long did she stay out there and groove?

Girl, did you throb
to the chant of love me
touch me-heal me
feel me turn to gold
beneath soggy tents of plenty?

Oh, girl, did you feel me turn to gold?
Then let it be told
that the sermon was preached with Creedence
at the swingin' clearwater Revival-so fine
in the Year of our Lord
Nineteen hundred and sixty nine

Did you catch the sight of Jimi and Tim?
takin' up a collection of warm
while the choir sang true
with an Incredible String Band
that wrapped your head in swaddling blankets

Were you there at the miracle of Woodstock?
where the Canned Heat burned
around the Butterfield Blues
eggin' on the Quill to call Santana
and spill more chords on Sly
so the Family Stone could pass the laughter
for Ten Years After
How many Bulls kissed a Moon Child's eyes
near the tree
where the Ram lay down with the Lion
and the Goat learned to talk with the Virgin
to the echo of a hundred guitars
and the Twins touched Venus on the way to Mars

Were you there with the many
when they saw the Who?
Did it tremble you
to hear Johnny Winter come wailin' through
a summer sky
tossin' midnight moods to Bert and Ravi
Did you wonder why it made you cry?

Oh, how many ballads do you think were sung
by Keef and McDonald
for the love of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
and how many babies were bundled in sighs
to the rhythm of Sebastian's rock-a-byes
cradled by The Band that filled this big land
of rockets' red glare
with LOVE burstin' in air
to give proof through the night
and by dawn's early light
that the message was there
so far out of sight
it left you mind
way behind
your soul

Were you there at the miracle of Woodstock?
when five hundred thousand Aquarian hearts
whispered a secret from one to another
"There's a lot of us here
and if we're all gonna make it
we;d better remember
each guy is our brother"

so

Pace, Man, Peace
oh, tidings of great joy!
oh
Peace, Man, Peace


Well, and gotta add to the mix the former soldier and reigning guitar GOD, Jimi H, bringin' in the dawn...