Bert Sommer Woodstock
John Morris intro…notice his asking people to “take a seat.” Funny!
You hear John Morris adding an “s” to the end of Bert’s not s-ending last name. I guess from that point, we should have known that things were not going to go well for Bert. He is another of the missing musicians from the album, the movie, as well as the Monument!
The other missing from the Monument are Keef Hartley, Quill, and Tim Hardin. John Sebastian’s last name is spelled “Sabastian” and though not a “performer” as such, Sri Swami Satchidananda is missing as well.
And as long as we’re pointing out monument (yet not monumental) errors, of course the name of the event was the “Woodstock Music and Art Fair” (not “Arts”).
Definitely playing with Bert were:
- Ira Stone: electric guitar, Hammond organ, harmonica
- Charlie Bilello: bass
The setlist of his approximately 40 minute stage appearance was:
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Bert Sommer Woodstock
Jennifer
Bert Sommer had appeared in the popular play Hair, and according to the Many Fantastic Colors site, fellow Hair performer Jennifer Warnes inspired him to write his opening song which had also appeared on his first album the Road to Travel (1968) which was produced by Woodstock Ventures’ Artie Kornfeld.
Jennifer’s something you handle with care
Fragile as crystals of glass
Jennifer’s lips are as soft as the air
Kissing her here in the grass
Whoa, I’m lost in a maze
Counting the ways that she smiles
Time is slipping away
Lost in the arms of her love
So gentle and wild
Bert Sommer Woodstock
The Road to Travel
The name of Sommer’s first album was The Road to Travel. It was his second song at Woodstock.
Here it is, it’s summertime
Still I haven’t felt my sigh
And the years are over too, since I’m gone
And my daddy wonders why
How I look and make him proud
But I’ll carry on his name when he dies
Though the years of headache pain
I’ll continue on the game
To the further road that I can travel tonight
Find my peace, of mine
Papa says it’s straightened out
Look in what my life’s about
Try to use the head that god once gave you
Bert Sommer Woodstock
I Wondered Where You’d Be
If you wonder how to play the song, you can follow this link to the song’s chords.
Bert Sommer Woodstock
She’s Gone
As somber and beautiful as Sommer’s songs are, before he begins his next song, he calls out in a friendly way, “Anybody from Forest Hills?” referring to an area of Queens, NY where he grew up. He then asks for a bit more volume in his acoustic guitar. He begins the song and then quickly says, “Too loud.” The song was also on his first album.
Nights by the fire when she was there
Now all I see is an empty chair
She’s gone and this man is dying
There was a time when I’d laugh and sing
All I have left is a dusty reign
She’s gone, there’s no purpose in trying
The door stays open in the day
The lock still broken
And the way I feel without her here
Is very strange and won’t change.
Bert Sommer Woodstock
Things Are Goin’ My Way
He says he want to speed things up and sings Things Are Goin’ My Way. The song gives electric guitarist the chance to do a bit more.
It’s seems the things are goin’ my way
Bert Sommer Woodstock
And When It’s Over
Before Sommer can continue, we hear an audience chant, “Come on down” referring to those who have climbed onto the sound towers to view but in doing so threaten to destabilize the towers themselves as well as block the view of those sitting behind it.
MC John Morris follows up on the chant with, “Like they say, come on down man. You’re gonna’ make us sit here and wait so we can’t hear the man sing until you come on down. Let’s go. Everybody. On the top, too. Let’s go. Man, you are not bigger or big enough to insult an artist who’s sitting on this stage who’s here to play for you. So get down off that tower!”
Cheering follows.
“Come on, creep, come on down.”
The crowd chants, “Down! Down! Down!”
Morris apologizes to Sommer (again adding an s to his name). Sommer chuckles and asks the crowd if they know the band the Vagrants, a group he had hung around and a group that changed its name to Mountain and would appear the next day.
And as you like your cigarette
Feelin’ much older
Knowin’ that ill was no regret
Touchin’ your shoulder
Feelin’ the joy in what we’ve done
With our hearts and souls as one
Feelin’ free as the sea
Gazin’ into your gentle light
Pullin’ you closer
Knowin’ what experience said alright
Both of us powdered
Now that is nothin’ left to hide
On the love we play so high
Feelin’ free as the sea
With our hearts and souls as one
Feelin’ free as the sea
Bert Sommer Woodstock
Jeanette
He asks Joanie (?) to stand up for a second, says to the band “Let’s do Jeanette next. Someone shouts out something. Bert responds “Fuck you, man” and receives cheers.
When it was wrong
She Came along
Singing her songs
And long before the morning
What could I say
I told her to stay
Still here today
And there’s no need
For talking
Oh Jeanette
I love you Jeanette
And love’s what I get
When you hold me
The Secrets you told me
Don’t you want to be living here with me
Anyway
Deep in the night
She is the light
Have I the right
They take the love she’s bringing
There was a time
She drank my wine
It was the sign
That makes the song worth singing
Oh Jeanette
I love you Jeanette
And love’s what I get
When you hold me
The Secrets you told me
Don’t you want to be living here with me
Anyway
Bert Sommer Woodstock
America
For the only time in his set, singer-songwriter Sommer did a cover. Tradition has it was the first standing ovation for any artist was for his version of Paul Simon’s America. It’s interesting how he feels it necessary to tell the audience that it’s a Simon and Garfunkel song. His version really did resonate with the crowd.
Bert Sommer Woodstock
A Note That Read
Sommer introduces the two band members before his penultimate song.
Bert Sommer Woodstock
Smile
Before his last song hee says “If you just smile, everything will be alright.” Words true then and true now.
Why should you be sad?
Don’t be disappointed
Just smile
Just smile
Smile, all the love is in your hands
Smile ’cause we all need one another
It only takes a song to understand
A-doin’ all we can
It will start to make it better
It only takes a song to understand
Why should you be sad?
Don’t be disappointed
Just smile
Mmh smile
Smile, all the love is in your hands
Smile ’cause we all need one another
It only takes a song to understand yeah
A-doin’ what they can
And they all would a-love to reach you
It only takes a song to understand
Smile, all the love is in your hands
Whoa you’ve got to smile, ’cause we all need one another
It only takes a song to understand. Alright!
Whoa smile and the world smiles with you
Smile, all the love is in your hands
Whoa we’ve got to smile, ’cause we all need one another
It only takes a song to understand. Yeah!
Smile!
John Morris says, “The rather magnificent Bert Sommers.”
True.
The next performance is Tim Hardin.