Tim Hardin Woodstock
Tim Hardin was one of the names unintentionally left off the Woodstock monument that Wayne Saward created.
The others are Keef Hartley, Quill, and Bert Sommer. John Sebastian’s last name is spelled “Sabastian.” And though not a “performer” as such, Sri Swami Satchidananda is missing as well.
Hardin had already had an insult added to that later unintended injury by being left out of both the movie and the album.
Recent releases have remedied that mistake, but too late for Tim to know.
His band that Friday 15 August evening were:
- Tim Hardin: vocals, guitar
- Richard Bock: cello
- Ralph Towner: lead classical guitar
- Gilles Malkine: guitar
- Bill Chelf: piano
- Glen Moore: bass
- Steve “Murunga” Booder: drums
His setlist was:
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Tim Hardin Woodstock
Matches in the Rain
Melanie will follow Ravi Shankar’s Woodstock performance. Shankar follow Hardin. As part of his Hardin introduction, MC John Morris asked the crowd to do something he’d seen on July 4, 1968 with a Tiny Tim performance. He asked the crowd to light matches. The story most heard is that Woodstock Ventures handed out candles and that their lighting inspired Melanie to write the song Candles in the Wind. Perhaps that remembrance is partially Woostock Haze.
Hardin’s and the band’s performance lasts about an hour and five minutes.
Tim Hardin Woodstock
(How Can We) Hang On To a Dream
Hardin’s songs are known for their simple beauty and short arrangements, so it is a bit surprising to see so many other musicians with him at Woodstock, but he is still up front and often solo nonetheless.
With (How Can We) Hang On To a Dream we hear Bill Chelf’s piano intro, but then I only hear Hardin’s voice.
What can I say, she’s walking away
From what we’ve seen
What can I do, still loving you
It’s all a dream
How can we hang on to a dream
How can it, will it be, the way it seems
What can I do, she’s saying we’re through
With how it was
What will I try, I still don’t see why
She says what she does
How can we hang on to a dream
How can it, will it be, the way it seems
What can I say, she’s walking away
From what we’ve seen
What can I do, still loving you
It’s all a dream
How can we hang on to a dream
How can it, will it be, the way it seems
How can we hang on to a dream
What can I say, she’s walking away
From what we’ve seen
What can I do, still loving you
It’s all a dream
How can we hang on to a dream
How can it, will it be, the way it seems
How can we hang on to a dream
Tim Hardin Woodstock
Once-Touched By Flame
Before the song begins, apparently someone calls out that they can’t hear him. He replies, “Your mics aren’t picking up either.”
Again, this simple arrangement is Chelf on piano and Hardin singing. The lyrics on line do not accurately reflect the lyrics Hardin actually sings at Woodstock. Here are what apparently are the original lyrics, not Woodstock’s.
Tim Hardin Woodstock
If I Were a Carpenter
We don’t often see the subjunctive case in English, but in what is perhaps Hardin’s best known song (because of Bobby Darin’s popular cover), such is the case.
At the song’s start, some in the crowd recognize it and applaud. This song is simply Hardin and his guitar
[Chorus]
If I were a carpenter and you were a lady
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby? (Would you have my baby)
If I were a miller and the mill should grind me
Would you miss your lover man?
Your soft shoe shiner (Soft shoe shiner)
Yeah, yeah
Oh baby
If a tinker were my trade would you still find me?
Absolutely, yes I would
Come give me your tomorrow
[Chorus]
See my love through loneliness
See my love through sorrows
I’m giving you my in this
Come give me your tomorrow
Please baby
Pretty, pretty, pretty please, baby
Oh yeah yeah
Sweet baby, baby, baby…
Tim Hardin Woodstock
Reason To Believe
Hardin segues right into Reason To Believe and again he simply accompanies himself on acoustic guitar.
If I listened long enough to you
I’d find a way to believe that it’s all true
Knowing that you lied straight faced while I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe
Someone like you makes it hard to live
Without somebody else
Someone like you makes it easy to give
Never thinking of myself
If I gave you time to change my mind
I’d find a way to leave the past behind
Knowing that you lied straight faced while I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe
If I listened long enough to you
I’d find a way to believe it’s all true
Knowing that you lied straight faced while I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe
On his Tim Hardin 1 album, this song is a mere 2 minutes. Here he stretches it out (thankfully) to 4:43.
Tim Hardin Woodstock
You Upset the Grace of Living When You Lie
Again someone calls out a request and he responds that maybe he’ll do it. This song again is just himself on acoustic guitar.
Tim Hardin Woodstock
Speak Like A Child
At this point Tim introduces the band. Although they must all be on the stage, only Richard Bock accompanies Hardin with a cello.
I speak like a child
I look like a child
Through dancing eyes
I wish more for you
I give more to you
Than jealous replies
There’s nothing to say
That children don’t say
Through lips that smile
I wish more for you
I give more to you
Than jealous replies
I look at you
And what i saw
Was far removed
And what i saw
Was never there
I speak like a child
I look like a child
Through dancing eyes
I give more to you
I wish more for you
Than jealous replies
I look at you
And what I saw was far removed
And what i saw
Was never there
Tim Hardin Woodstock
Snow White Lady
As well-known as Hardin is for his pithy songs, Snow White Lady departs from that. There is a jazzy blues feel here with the full band backing him for nearly 16 minutes! Although, at its close Hardin says, “We’ll get warmed up here in a minute and stop making mistakes.”
Blues On My Ceiling
This song is nearly as long clocking in at ten minutes. At the end the crowd is calling out indistinguishable requests.
Blues on the ceiling over my head
Running down the walls across the floor and over my bed
Blue lights across the street blinkin’ off and on
It’s so lonely now she’s gone
I’ll never get out of these blues alive
I’ll never get out of this crazy blues alive
Love had been a dirty five letter word to me
I was into the blues over my head blue was all that I could see
Up to my neck in misery
I’ll never get out of these blues alive
I’ll never get out of this crazy blues alive
Blues keep on fooling with my weary head
Cocaine couldn’t numb the pain I’d be better off dead
Blue lights gone out at last I sleep
The bitter the blues the better they keep
I’ll never get out of these blues alive
I’ll never get out of this crazy blues alive
Tim Hardin Woodstock
Simple Song of Freedom
As has often been pointed out, it is a bit of Woodstock Haze to say that the Woodstock Music and Art Fair was a protest. While there were a few booths and speakers promoting a particular view of current events, it was not common. Having said that, Hardin’s Simple Song of Freedom is topical.
Come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you’ve never sung before
Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
We, the people here, don’t want a war
Hey, there, Mister Black Man can you hear me
I don’t want your diamonds or your game
I just want to be someone who knows to you as me
And I will bet my life you want the same
Come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you’ve never sung before
Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
We, the people here, don’t want a war
Seven hundred million are you listening
Most of what you read
Most of what you read is made of lies
But speaking one to one, ain’t it everybody’s sun
To wake to in the morning when we rise
Come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you’ve never sung before
Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
We, the people here, don’t want a war
No doubt some folks enjoy doing battle
Like presidents, Prime ministers and kings
So let’s all build them shelves
So they can fight among themselves
And leave the people be who love to sing
Come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you’ve never sung before
Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
We, the people here, don’t want a war
Come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you’ve never sung before
Speaking one to one, ain’t it everybody’s
Ain’t it everybody’s sun
To wake to in the morning when we rise
When we rise.
Tim Hardin Woodstock
Misty Roses
For an encore he responds to those requesting songs that he just can’t do that, but decides to do another of his more popular songs and one that had been covered by others: Misty Roses. It is a beautiful song and he provided more than four minutes of it.
Like misty rose
Too soft to touch
But too lovely to leave alone.
Like misty roses
I’d love you much
You’re too lovely to leave alone.
But too late to find
That their beauty has been lost
With their peace of mind.
Like love forever
Too good to last
But too lovely not to try.
In love forever
I’d forget the past
You’re just too lovely not to try.
Tim Hardin Woodstock
The next performance is by Ravi Shankar