Country Joe Woodstock

The night before, the little-known Melanie Safka had her famous impromptu performance.  On Saturday, the far better known Country Joe McDonald did the same and did it even more famously.

Country Joe and the Fish were not scheduled to play until Sunday, but like many musicians there, Country Joe was hanging out and amazed at the size of the crowd. The organizers asked him if he could play a solo set, but he said he had no guitar.

A guitar was found, but it had no strap.

A piece of rope (clothes line?) was found.

And so Joe stepped onto the stage and into history.

His 27 minute set was:

• Janis
• Donovan’s Reef
• Heartaches by the Number
• Ring of Fire
• Tennessee Stud
• Rockin’ Round the World
• Flying All the Way
• I Seen a Rocket
• Fish” Cheer > I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag

Country Joe Woodstock

Janis

No surprise that Country Joe wrote this song for Janis Joplin. They were living together in 1967 and according to Joe, she was upset with him for breaking up with her to be with Robin Menken, whom he subsequently married, but asked him to write a song for her, and this was the song. [Songfacts]

The song was on the 1967 album, I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ To Die

Into my life on waves of electrical sound
And flashing light she came,
Into my life with a twist of a dial
The wave of her hand–the warmth of her smile.

And even though I know that you and I
Could never find the kind of love we wanted together,
Alone I find myself missing you and I, you and I.

It’s not very often that something special happens
And you happen to be that something special for me.
And walking on grass where we rolled and laughed in the moonlight
I find myself thinking of you and I, you and I, you.

Into my eye comes visions of patterns
Designs the image of her I see.
Into my mind the smell of her hair,
The sound of her voice–we once were there.

And even though I know that you and I
Could never find the kind of love we wanted toghther,
Alone, I find myself missing

You and I,
You and I,
You.

Country Joe Woodstock

Donovan’s Reef

Written by Joe, the song is from the 1969 Fish album, Here We Go Again. 

Scorching the painted desert adrift off of Donovan’s reef
Tossing and spinning your pills alone brings such sweet relief
Open your mind and show me a sign to prove you’re insane
Open your arms and show me the scars reflecting your pain
Lovely lady, forgive me now
If words seem cruel
If words seem cruel
You’ve lost your soul
You’ve grown so cold
You’ve learned the rules
Obey the rules of their game:
Life’s just a game
Pig boat sails across the seven seas
Servants at home are down on their knees
The master’s praying and begging me, “Please
Look away.”
Diamonds shining through an emerald sky
Watch the phantom as he flies by
Trying to laugh but he knows he must die
Look away, look away, look away
Satan dances of death and doom our time has finally come
Lower imps of sin sing an orgy of our flesh begun
Excuse me, I can’t seem to recall exactly what’s happening here
Your mask in the past always seemed to me to be so sincere
She’s stolen you away
Taken your heart
Once it was mine
Ah once it was mine
You look so cool
But I’m no fool
You’ll pay for your crimes
By doing your time in their game
Life’s just a game
Life’s just a game
You know that life is just a game
Life’s just a game
Life’s only a game…

Country Joe Woodstock

Heartaches by the Number

After Bob Dylan had recorded the album Nashville Skyline, many other rock artists went there, too. Joe was one of them. He called his album, Tonight I’m Singing Just For You and released it in 1970.  Harlan Howard wrote this song.