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Peace Love Art and Activism

Johnny Winter Woodstock

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Johnny Winter Woodstock

Johnny Winter Woodstock

In it’s December 7, 1968 issue, Rolling Stone magazine’s Larry Sepulvado and John Burks wrote in an article titled “Tribute to the Lone Star State: Dispossessed Men and Mothers of Texas” :

The hottest item outside of Janis Joplin, though, still remains in Texas. If you can imagine a hundred and thirty pound cross-eyed albino with long fleecy hair playing some of the gutsiest fluid blues guitar you have ever heard, then enter Johnny Winter. At 16, Bloomfield called him the best white blues guitarist he had ever heard. 

Winter reportedly received $600,000 for signing with Columbia Records in 1969. That was a huge sum of money for that time.

The band started at midnight; played a little over an hour.

Personnel:

Setlist:

  • Mama, Talk to Your Daughter
  • Leland Mississippi Blues
  • Mean Town Blues
  • You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now > Mean Mistreater
  • I Can’t Stand It* 
  • Tobacco Road* 
  • Tell the Truth* 
  • Johnny B. Goode* 

* with Edgar Winter

Johnny Winter Woodstock

Mama, Talk to Your Daughter

Johnny Winter Woodstock

The band starts minus brother Edgar Winter.  JB Lenoir wrote the song. The song would appear on Winter’s third album and the third Columbia Records release for Winter in 1969!

Mama, mama please talk to your daughter ’bout me
Mama, mama please talk to your daughter ’bout me
She made me love her and I ain’t gonna leave her be

You should talk to your daughter (talk, talk)
You should talk to your daughter (talk, talk)
You should talk to your daughter (talk, talk)
You should talk to your daughter (talk, talk)
She made me love her and I ain’t gonna leave her be

I ain’t gonna stand no quitting and she won’t have me aroun
I ain’t gonna stand no quitting and she won’t have me around
If she got me a ride, she’d be six feet in the ground

You should talk to your daughter (talk, talk)
You should talk to your daughter (talk, talk)
You should talk to your daughter (talk, talk)
You should talk to your daughter (talk, talk)
She made me love her and I ain’t gonna leave her be

You should talk to your daughter (talk, talk)
You should talk to your daughter (talk, talk)
You should talk to your daughter (talk, talk)
You should talk to your daughter (talk, talk)
She made me love her and I ain’t gonna leave her be

Johnny Winter Woodstock

Leland Mississippi Blues

Written by Johnny Winter, the song appeared on The Progressive Blues Experiment, his first album. Austin’s Sonobeat Records label originally issued the album in 1968, but when Winter signed to Columbia Records, the rights were sold to Imperial Records who reissued the album in 1969.

Oh yeah, oh yeah, uh huh, oh yeah
I’ve been in Texas, I’ve been on the run
I’ve been in Texas, I’ve been on the run
I’m going to Leland, Mississippi, mama
You all know that’s where I come from
Right down on the Delta, man
Well, I’m alone, baby, I’m free free from my home
Well, I’m alone, I’m free from my home
You know I was sittin’ right down people
On my daddy’s cotton farm
Come hear, baby, let your long hair down
Ah, come here, woman, let your hair down
I want you to love me with a feeling
‘Cause I’m Mississippi bound
The best woman, the best waist in town
The best woman, the best waist in town
Oh yeah
You’ll never keep me woman
‘Cause I have a travellin’ mind
Johnny Winter Woodstock

Mean Town Blues

Johnny Winter wrote it and it also appeared on his first Columbia Records album.

Lord my mother she done told me and my
Father done told me
Grandfather told me too
My mother she done told me
And my father done told me
Grandfather told me too
It’s a mean old town to live in by yourself

Yeah, I worked for a dollar could not
Save a lousy
Could not save a dime
You know I worked for a dollar could not
Save a lousy
Could not save a dime
Ain’t nobody worried, man, ain’t nobody crying

Everybody’s got a hand out trying to
Get a hold on
Trying to get some of my cash
Everybody’s got a hand out trying to
Get a hold on
Trying to get some of my cash
Smiling great big smiles, man, keep on talking trash

You know I packed up my suitcase and I
Moved on down the
Hit that lonesome road
You know I packed up my suitcase and I
Moved on down the
Hit that lonesome road
I’m still trying to make it, man, when the day is done

Johnny Winter Woodstock

 

You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now > Mean Mistreater

BB King and Joe Josea wrote You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now and had been on his 1960 album. Written by Jimmie Gordon, “Mean Mistreater” appeared on Winter’s second album. My Kind of Blues.

Oh, baby you done lost your good thing now
Oh, baby you done lost your good thing now
Well the way I used to love you baby
Baby that’s the way I hate you now
You used to say that you loved me
But baby I believe you’ve changed your mind
You used to say that you loved me
But baby I believe you’ve changed your mind
Well I don’t blame you baby
Because you ain’t what you used to be
Let me love you just one more time
Yes let me love you just one more time anyway
Oh, let me love you, let me love you, let me love you
One more time baby
Let me love you just one more time anyway
Oh you can’t quit me now baby
Because you didn’t mean me no good anyway
Well you know where I’m from baby
So please don’t try to mistreat me
Yes you know where I’m from baby
So please don’t try to mistreat me
Yes because I’ll make your mother a present
Baby of you and your casket too
Oh you once said you loved me
And you would do anything I said
Oh you once said you loved me baby
And you would do anything I said
Oh but the way you treat me now baby
I just soon rather be dead
Oh, baby you done lost your good thing now
Oh, baby you done lost your good thing now
The way I used to love you
Baby that’s the way I hate you now

Johnny Winter Woodstock

She’s a mean mistreater
And she don’t mean me no good
She’s a mean mistreater,
And the woman she don’t mean me no good
Well you know I don’t blame you baby,
I’d be the same way if I could
She’s a mean mistreater,
And the girl mistreats me all the time
She’s a mean mistreater,
And the little girl mistreats me all the time
Well you know you just wants to quit me darlin’,
Because you got that on your mind
Well you remember that Monday mornin’ that I knocked up, up on your door
You had the nerve to tell me that you didn’t love, me no more
Can’t you remember baby,
When I knocked up on your door
Well you know you had the nerve to tell me that you,
Didn’t love me no more
Well you know it’s lonesome you know it’s lonesome,
When you sleepin’, all by yourself
The little girl that you lovin’,
She lovin’ someone else
And it’s lonesome,
Sleepin’ by yourself
Well you know the little woman that you involved with now,
She is loving someone else
Johnny Winter Woodstock

I Can’t Stand It

Brother Edgar Winter now joined Johnny, who explained that they’d just finished cutting their next album in Nashville and that I Can’t Stand It was one of the tracks from it. That album would be Second Winter,  but the song does not appear on it and will not appear on any album until Columbia Legacy released Winter’s complete Woodstock set as part of the The Woodstock Experience album in 2009.

Johnny Winter Woodstock

Tobacco Road

By John Loudermilk the song has become especially associated with Edgar more than Johnny. In fact, Edgar is the vocalist on this song.

I was born in a trunk
Mama died and my daddy got drunk
Let me hear two dying crows
In the middle of tobacco road
Grew up in a rusty shack
All I owned was hanging on my back
Only lord knows how I loved tobacco road
But it’s hard, hard the only life I’ve ever known
But the lord knows how I loved
Tobacco road
Gonna leave, get a job
With the help of the treesome god
Save my money, get rich enough
Bring it back to tobacco road
Bring dynamite and a crane
Blow it up and start all over again
Build a town be proud to show
Give the name tobacco road
‘Cause it’s hard, hard the only life I’ve ever known
I despise you cause you’re filthy
But I love you cause you’re home
Bring dynamite and a crane
Blow it up start all over again
Build a town be proud to know
This place called tobacco road
‘Cause it’s hard, hard the only life I’ve ever known
But the lord knows how I love
Tobacco road
Johnny Winter Woodstock

Tell the Truth 

By Lowman Pauling  wrote it and it was supposed to be included on Winter’s next album, but wasn’t released until a 2004 re-release.

Tell the truth
Tell the truth
You know you can make me do what you want me to
Tell the truth
Tell the truth
You know you can make me do what you want me to
Loving you, feelings started
But, I’m goin’ to stop it
If I could, I surely would
I would roll up around you
If I thought it would do any good
Tell the truth
Tell the truth
Well you know you can make me do what you want me to
Loving you, feelings started
But, I’m goin’ to stop it
If I could, I surely would
I would roll up around you
If I thought it would do any good
Why don’t you tell the truth
Tell the truth
Well you know you can make me do what you want me to
Whooah, come on, tell the truth, now
(Tell the truth)
And I know, I know, baby
(Tell the truth)
Every day, every night
(Tell the truth)
Whooah, hold me tight
(Tell the truth)
And I know, and I know
(Tell the truth)
You ‘oughta, you ‘oughta
(Tell the truth)
Stop Lying
(Tell the truth)
Stop Lying, whooh
(Tell the truth)
Whoooh
(Tell the truth)
Whoooh
(Tell the truth)
Oh baby
(Tell the truth)
Now tell the truth
(Tell the truth)
Every day of your life, tell the truth little girl
(Tell the truth)
What about that man you were with last night
(Tell the truth)
I want to know
(Tell the truth)
Come on baby
(Tell the truth)
Hey hey
(Tell the truth)
Every day of your life, you ‘oughta
(Tell the truth)

 

Johnny Winter Woodstock

Johnny B. Goode

The crowd called for more and Johnny Winter gives Chuck Berry’s classic composition a great treatment. It did appear on Second Winter.

Deep down Louisiana close to New Orleans,
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens…
There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood,
Where lived a country boy name of Johnny B. Goode…
He never ever learned to read or write so well,
But he could play the guitar like ringing a bell.
Go Go
Go Johnny Go
Go Go
Johnny B. Goode
He use to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
And sit beneath the trees by the railroad track.
Oh, the engineers used to see him sitting in the shade,
Playing to the rhythm that the drivers made.
People passing by would stop and say
Oh my that little country boy could play
His mama told him someday he would be a man,
And he would be the leader of a big old band.
Many people coming from miles around
To hear him play his music when the sun go down
Maybe someday his name would be in lights
Saying Johnny B. Goode tonight.
Johnny Winter Woodstock

The next act was Blood, Sweat and Tears.

Peace Love Art and Activism

The Band Woodstock

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The Band Woodstock

It was still Sunday and The Band came on around 10 PM. The weekend’s most persistent rumor had been that Bob Dylan would show up. He didn’t, of course, but having having The Band was a close and satisfactory second.

They would play for about 55 minutes.

Personnel:

The Band Woodstock

  • Robbie Robertson: guitar, vocals

The Band Woodstock

  • Garth Hudson: organ, keyboard, saxophone

The Band Woodstock

  • Richard Manuel: piano
  • Rick Danko: bass, vocals

The Band Woodstock

  • Levon Helm: drums, mandolin

The Band Woodstock

Setlist:

  • Chest Fever
  • Don’t Do It
  • Tears of Rage
  • We Can Talk
  • Long Black Veil
  • Don’t You Tell Henry
  • Ain’t No More Cane on the Brazos
  • This Wheel’s on Fire
  • I Shall Be Released
  • The Weight
  • Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
The Band Woodstock

Chest Fever

Written by Robbie Robertson and featuring Garth Brooks on organ at the start, the song was one of several in the set that had been on their only album to that point, Music From Big Pink which Capital Records had released on July 1, 1968. Bob Dylan had done the cover artwork.

I know she’s a tracker
Any style that would back her
They say she’s a chooser
But I just can’t refuse her
She was just there, but then she can’t be here no more
And as my mind unweaves
I feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives
She’s been down in the dunes
And she’s dealt with the goons
Now she drinks from a bitter cup
I’m trying to get her to give it up
She was just here, I fear she can’t be there no more
And as my mind unweaves
I feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives
It’s long, long when she’s gone
I get weary holding on
Now I’m coldly fading fast
I don’t think I’m gonna last very much longer
“She’s stoned, ” said the Swede
And the moon calf agreed
But I’m like a viper in shock
With my eyes in the clock
She was just there somewhere and here I am again
And as my mind unweaves
I feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives
The Band Woodstock

Don’t Do It

A Band cover. Motown composers Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, and  Edward Holland originally wrote and intended the for the Supremes, but eventually reassigned to Marvin Gaye to record and he had a hit with it.

From Wikipedia:  “The Band recorded the song numerous times under the title “Don’t Do It”.  Different versions, both studio and live, appear on several of their albums and box sets, including the 1972 live release Rock of Ages.

” “Don’t Do It” was the encore performed by The Band in Martin Scorsese‘s 1976 concert film The Last Waltz, though it was featured first in the film. Although it was not included on the 1978 soundtrack album, the track was included in the 2002 box set edition of The Last Waltz soundtrack.

“The version of “Don’t Do It” from Rock of Ages was issued as a single, reaching #34 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the autumn of 1972; the track was the second – following “Up on Cripple Creek” – and final Top 40 single for the Band. Billboard called this version a “dynamite dance treatment.”

Baby, don’t you do it, don’t do it
Don’t you break my heart, please don’t do it
Don’t you break my heart
I sacrifice to make you happy
Get nothin’ for myself
Now you wanna leave me
For the love of someone else
My pride is all gone, whether right or wrong
I need you, baby, girl, just keep on keepin’ on
And you know I tried to do my best
Well, I try to do my best
Don’t do it
Don’t you break my heart
Please don’t do it
Don’t you break my heart
My biggest mistake was lovin’ you too much
And lettin’ you know
Now you’ve got me where you want me
You won’t let me go, no, no
My heart was made of glass
Well, then you’ll surely see
Heartaches and misery
Girl, you’ve been causin’ me
Well, I’ve been tryin’ to do my best
Well, I try to do my best
Don’t do it
Don’t you break my heart
Please don’t do it
Don’t you break my heart
Go down to the river and there I’ll be
I’m gonna jump in, girl
‘Cause you don’t care about me
Open up your eyes, can’t you see I love you?
Open up your heart, girl
Can’t you see I need you?
Oh baby, don’t do it, do it, do it
Don’t you break my heart
Please don’t do it
Don’t you break my heart
My biggest mistake was loving you too much
And letting you know
How you got me where you want me
You won’t let me go, no, no
If my heart was made of glass
Well, then you’ll surely see
How much heartaches and misery
You’ve been causin’ me
Well, I’ve been tryin’ to do my best
Well, I try to do my best
Don’t do it
Don’t you break my heart
Please, don’t do it
Don’t you break my heart
The Band Woodstock

Tears of Rage

Also from Big Pink, Bob Dylan and Richard Manual co-wrote the tune.

We carried you in our arms
On Independence Day
And now you’d put us all aside
And put us on our way
Oh, what dear daughter ‘neath the sun
Could treat a father so
To wait upon him hand and foot
Yet always tell him, “No?”
Tears of rage, tears of grief
Why must I always be the thief?
Come to me now, you know
We’re so alone
And life is brief,
It was all very, very painless
When you ran out to receive
All that false instruction
Which we never could believe
And now the heart is filled with gold
As if it was a purse
But oh, what kind of love is this
Which goes from bad to worse?
Tears of rage, tears of grief
Why must I always be the thief?
Come to me now, you know
We’re so alone
And life is brief,
We pointed you, the way to go
And scratched your name in sand
Though you just thought that it was nothing more
Than a place for you to stand
Now I want you to know that while you watched
Discovered that there was no one true
That I myself  was among the ones
Who thought It was just a childish thing to do
Tears of rage, tears of grief
Why am I always the one who must be the thief?
Come to me now, you know
We’re so alone
And life is brief
The Band Woodstock

A trickle…

Chip Monch pauses the performance for a few moments because there is an PA issue. A bit of “Testing one two” and Chip again asks those on the light tower to get down and to stay away from the tower’s guy wires as “there is [an electrical] trickle in that area.”

The interruption lasted a few minutes.

We Can Talk

The third song from Big Pink. From Wikipedia:“We Can Talk” shows unrelated snippets of conversation between members of The Band. Levon Helm wrote in his autobiography “It’s a funny song that really captures the way we spoke to one another; lots of outrageous rhymes and corny puns.”

We can talk about it now
It’s that same old riddle, only starts from the middle
I’d fix it but I don’t know how
Well, we could try to reason, but you might think it’s treason
One voice for all
Echoing (echoing) echoing along the hall
Don’t give up on father’s clock
We can talk about it now
Come, let me show you how
To keep the wheels turnin’ you got to keep the engine churnin’
Well, did ya ever milk a cow? (Milk a cow?)
Well, I had the chance one day but I was all dressed up for Sunday!
Everybody, everywhere:
Do you really care?
Well, then pick up your heads and walk
We can talk about it now
It seems to me we’ve been holding something
Underneath our tongues
I’m afraid if you ever got a pat on the back
It would likely burst your lungs
Whoa, stop me, if I should sound kinda
Down in the mouth
But I’d rather be burned in Canada
Than to freeze here in the South!
Pulling that eternal plough
We got to find a sharper blade, or have a new one made
Rest awhile and cool your brow
Don’t ya see, there’s no need to slave, the whip is in the grave
No salt, no trance
It’s safe now (you know it’s safe) to take a backward glance
Because the grains have turned to chow!
We can talk about it now,
We can talk about it now
The Band Woodstock

Long Black Veil

The fourth song from Big Pink, but a cove a 1959 country ballad, written by Danny Dill and Marijohn Wilkin and originally recorded by Lefty Frizzell.

Ten years ago, on a cool dark night
There was someone killed ‘neath the town hall light
There were few at the scene and they all did agree
That the man who ran looked a lot like me
The judge said, “son, what is your alibi?”
“If you were somewhere else, then you won’t have to die”
I spoke not a word, though it meant my life
I had been in the arms of my best friend’s wife
She walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits my grave where the night winds wail
Nobody knows, no, and nobody sees
Nobody knows but me
The scaffold was high and eternity neared
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear
But sometimes at night when the cold wind moans
In a long black veil, she cries over my bones
She walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits my grave where the night winds wail
Nobody knows, no, and nobody sees
Nobody knows but me
The Band Woodstock

Don’t You Tell Henry

Someone calls out “Where’s Dylan!” Another says, “We want Dylan.” He’s not there of course, but some of his songs were. Like this one. A Dylan UK site has a lot to say about the song.

Yes, I went down to the river on a Saturday morn
I was lookin’ around just to see who’s born
I spied a little chicken down on his knees
I went up and yelled to him
“Please, please, please!”
He said, “Don’t ya tell Henry
Don’t ya tell Henry
Don’t ya tell Henry
Apple’s got your fly”
Yes, I went down to the beanery at half past twelve
I was lookin’ around just to see myself
I looked high and  low, I looked above
Well who did I see but the one I love
She said, “Don’t ya tell Henry
Don’t ya tell Henry
Don’t ya tell Henry
Apple’s got your fly”
Yeah, I went down to the whorehouse the other night
I was lookin’ around, I was outta sight
I looked at a horse and I saw a mule
I looked for a cow and I saw me a few
They said, “Don’t ya tell Henry
Don’t ya tell Henry
Don’t ya tell Henry
Apple’s got your fly”
Yeah, I went down to the river on a Saturday morn
A-lookin’ around just to see who was born
I saw a little chicken down on his knees
I went up and yelled to him
“Please, please, please!”
He said, “Don’t ya tell Henry
Don’t ya tell Henry
Don’t ya tell Henry
Apple’s got your fly”
The Band Woodstock

Ain’t No More Cane on the Brazos

Ain’t No More… is a cover of a traditional work song and sometimes attributed to Huddie Ledbetter (Lead Belly), but no references can be found for that idea, nor can ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax find that connection.

Ain’t no more cane on the Brazos
Oh, oh, oh-oh
It’s all been ground down to molasses
Oh, oh, oh-oh
You shoulda been on the river in ninteen-and-ten
Oh, oh, oh-oh
They were driving the women just like they drove the men
Oh, oh, oh-oh
Go down old Hannah, don’cha rise no more
Oh, oh, oh-oh
Don’t you rise up til Judgment Day is for sure
Oh, oh, oh-oh
Ain’t no more cane on the Brazos
Oh, oh, oh-oh
It’s all been ground down to molasses
Oh, oh, oh-oh
Captain, don’t you do me like you done poor old Shine
Oh, oh, oh-oh
Well ya drove that bully ’till he went stone blind
Oh, oh, oh-oh
Wake up on a lifetime, hold up your own head
Oh, oh, oh-oh
Well you may get a pardon and then you might drop dead
Oh, oh, oh-oh
Ain’t no more cane on the Brazos
Oh, oh, oh-oh
It’s all been ground down to molasses
Oh, oh, oh-oh
The Band Woodstock

This Wheel’s on Fire

Fifth song from Big Pink and another Dylan collaboration, this with Rick Danko.

If your memory serves you well
We’re going to meet again and wait
So I’m going to unpack all my things
And sit before it gets too late
No man alive will come to you
With another tale to tell
And you know that we shall meet again
If your memory serves you well
This wheel’s on fire, rolling down the road
Best notify my next of kin
This wheel shall explode
If your memory serves you well, I was going to confiscate your lace
And wrap it up in a sailor’s knot and hide it in your case
If I knew for sure that it was yours, and it was oh so hard to tell
And you know that we shall meet again if your memory serves you well
This wheel’s on fire, rolling down the road
Best notify my next of kin
This wheel shall explode
If your memory serves you well, you’ll remember that you’re the one
Who called on them to call on me to get you your favours done
And after every plan had failed and there was nothing more to tell
And you know that we shall meet again if your memory serves you well
This wheel’s on fire, rolling down the road
Best notify my next of kin
This wheel shall explode

 

The Band Woodstock

I Shall Be Released

Sixth song from Big Pink and another Dylan song.

They say everything can be replaced
They say every distance is not near
So I remember every face
Of every man who put me here
I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
They say every man needs protection
They say that every man must fall
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Somewhere so high above this wall
I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
Now, yonder stands a man in this lonely crowd
A man who swears he’s not to blame
All day long I hear him shouting so loud
Just crying out that he was framed
I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
The Band Woodstock

The Weight

The seventh from Big Pink and arguably the best and best known song by the Band, a Robbie Robertson composition.

I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin’ about half past dead
I just need some place where I can lay my head
“Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?”
He just grinned and shook my hand, “no” was all he said
Take a load off Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off Fanny
And (and) (and) you put the load right on me
(You put the load right on me)
I picked up my bag, I went lookin’ for a place to hide
When I saw Carmen and the Devil walkin’ side by side
I said, “Hey, Carmen, come on let’s go downtown”
She said, “I gotta go but my friend can stick around”
Take a load off Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off Fanny
And (and) (and) you put the load right on me
(You put the load right on me)
Go down, Miss Moses, there’s nothin’ you can say
It’s just ol’ Luke and Luke’s waitin’ on the Judgment Day
“Well, Luke, my friend, what about young Anna Lee?”
He said, “Do me a favor, son, won’tcha stay and keep Anna Lee company?”
Take a load off Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off Fanny
And (and) (and) you put the load right on me
(You put the load right on me)
Crazy Chester followed me and he caught me in the fog
He said, “I will fix your rack if you’ll take Jack, my dog”
I said, “Wait a minute, Chester, you know I’m a peaceful man”
He said, “That’s okay, boy, won’t you feed him when you can”
Yeah, take a load off Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off Fanny
And (and) (and) you put the load right on me
(You put the load right on me)
Catch a cannon ball now to take me down the line
My bag is sinkin’ low and I do believe it’s time
To get back to Miss Fanny, you know she’s the only one
Who sent me here with her regards for everyone
Take a load off Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off Fanny
And (and) (and) you put the load right on me
(You put the load right on me)
The Band Woodstock

Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever

After Chip Monck says that he thinks the crowd will have to convince them and the crowd responding enthusiastically, The Band’s encore was another Motown-based song, “Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever.” a 1966 song written by Ivy Jo Hunter and Stevie Wonder and performed by the Four Tops

I remember yet before we met
That every night and day
I had to live the life of a lonely woman
I remember meeting you
Discovering love can be so true
When it’s shared by two instead of one
When you said you love me (when you said you love me)
We could not be parted (we could not be parted)
And I built my world around you (I built my world around you)
I’m so thankful that I found you
And loving you is sweeter than ever
(I ain’t never felt like this before)
Loving you has made my life sweeter than ever, sweeter than ever
Each night I pray we’d never part
For the love within my heart grows stronger
From day to day
As best I can, and how I try
To reassure and satisfy
‘Cause I’d be lost if you went away
‘Cause I really need you (really really need you)
And I need for you to need me too
(If you don’t go breaking my heart)
I have built my world around you
(I have built my world around you)
Baby I’m so thankful that I’ve found you
And loving you has made my life sweeter than ever before
(I ain’t never felt like this before)
And loving you has made my life sweeter than ever
So much sweeter
That’s what loving you (loving you)
‘Cause I really love (really really love you)
And I’m thankful that you love me too
(Thankful that you love me too)
I have built my world around you
(I have built my world around you)
I am truly glad, I am truly glad
That loving you has made my life sweeter than ever
(You don’t know how much this means to me)
When I’m loving you
Me, you, us
Sweeter than ever (tell me about it)
Loving you has made my life sweeter than ever
(You don’t know how much this means to me)
I’m loving you, you made my life sweeter than ever
(You’re sweeter than ever baby)
Sweeter than ever (sweeter than ever)
So much sweeter (sweeter than ever)
Loving you
Loving you is sweeter than ever…
The Band Woodstock

The next act was Johnny Winter.

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Ten Years After Woodstock

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Ten Years After Woodstock

Ten Years After Woodstock Ten Years After Woodstock Ten Years After Woodstock

Ten Years After started around 8.15 pm; played for a little over an hour. While the huge crowd had dwindled quite a bit, those who remained enthusiastically responded to the great performance.

Set list:

  • Spoonful
  • Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
  • Hobbit
  • I Can’t Keep from Crying Sometimes
  • Help Me
  • I’m Going Home
Ten Years After Woodstock

Spoonful

“A little blues to warm us up” and the band begins their cover of Willie Dixon‘s Spoonful (made famous by Howlin’ Wolf), though many in the crowd would have been more familiar with Cream’s cover.

Ten Year After’s cover had appeared on the band’s first album, Ten Years After, that the Deram label had released in September 1967.

They’d also play the song at the Texas Pop Festival 2 weeks later.

Ten Years After Woodstock

Good Morning Little Schoolgirl

Lee explains, “This has been banned all over the country for one word–ball–it’s called Good Morning Little Schoolgirl.”  Sonny Boy Williamson wrote it in 1937.  The song was on the band’s Ssssh album, their third, that had just been released.

This video is from the Groupies 1969 film

Good morning little schoolgirl
Can I go home, home with you?
Good morning little schoolgirl
Can I go home, home with you?
Tell your mama and your papa
Big be schoolboy, too
I won’t bore you, yeah
Baby, I won’t bore you all night long
Yes, I do
Baby, I want to ball you
I want to ball you all night long
Tell your mama and your papa
Baby, baby, doing nothing wrong, child
I’m doing nothing wrong, yeah
I won’t bore you, yea, yea, huh
Baby, I want to ball you all night long
Yes, I do, child
I won’t bore you, darling, yea
I won’t bore you all night long
Tell your mama and your papa
Baby, baby, we’re gonna do nothing wrong
Wrong , wrong, wrong
Baby, I want to ball you every night
Oh, yeah, come on now
Ten Years After Woodstock

Hobbit

An instrumental written by drummer Ric Lee. Not surprisingly, it mainly features Lee. A live version of the song  recorded in January 1973 was included on the band’s third live album, Recorded Live.

This video is. from August 4, 1975 at Winterland:

Ten Years After Woodstock

I Can’t Keep from Crying Sometimes

Al Kooper‘s song that the band had also included on its debut album.  As with many songs, Lee doesn’t necessarily follow the “official” lyrics.

Also from Winterland (must have been a hell of a concert)…

I can’t keep from crying sometimes
I can’t keep from crying sometimes
Oh momma she’s dead and gone
And I know I’m all alone
I can’t keep from crying sometimes
Early in the morning
About the break of day
I fall down on my knees child
I fall down and I pray
I think about my woman
My woman who’s long gone
I can’t keep from crying sometimes
I can’t keep from crying sometimes
Oh momma she’s dead and gone
And I know I’m all alone
I can’t keep from crying sometimes
Later in the evening
I watch the sun go down
I think about my woman
But my woman Lord she ain’t around
My heart is filled with sadness
And my eyes are filled with tears
I can’t keep from crying sometimes
I can’t keep from crying sometimes
Oh momma she’s dead and gone
And I know I’m all alone
I can’t keep from crying sometimes
Ten Years After Woodstock

Help Me

The third song from their debut album and another blues cover. Ralph Bass, Willie Dixon, Sonny Boy Williamson wrote the song.  In 1987, “Help Me” was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in the “Classic of Blues Recordings” category.

This video is from the Marquee in London, 1983…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A19OMJ1Q9iU

As deservedly well-known as “Goin’ Home” is, Lee’s performance on this song may outdo it.

You got to help me, now; I can’t do it all by myself
You got to help me, now; I can’t do it all by myself
You know if you don’t help me, darling, I’ll have to find myself somebody else
I my have to wash, I may have to sew, I may have to cook
I might mop the floor; but you help me baby
If you don’t help me, darling, I’ll have to find somebody else
When I walk, you walk with me; and when I talk, you talk with me
Oh, baby, I can’t do it all by myself
Bring my nightshirt; put your mornin’ gown
Bring my nightshirt; put your mornin’ gown
You know if you don’t help me, darling, I’ll have to find myself somebody else
You’re talking about your woman, I wish to God man that you could see mine
You’re talking about your woman, I wish to God man that you could see mine
Every time the little girl starts to loving she bring eyesight to the blind
Ten Years After Woodstock

I’m Going Home

At the end  of Help Me, MC Chip Monck asks the crowd to allow the show to continue given how late things are running. But the crowd is loud and insistent.

Albert “tunes the ol’ axe up…,”  thanks the crowd, and says that the song is “I’m Goin’ Home…by helicopter.” Lee wrote the song and it was on their second album, Undead,  which the Deram label had released just a year before. While Woodstock fans sometimes feel this is their song, it was a staple of Lee’s performances.

Goin’ home, my baby
Goin’ home, my baby
Goin’ home, to see my baby
Our baby, how good
My baby, be good
I’m goin’ home, my baby
Home to see my girl
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, want to take my baby mine
Gonna take my woman treats me real kind
I’m goin’ home, my baby
I’m goin’ home, to see my baby
Goin’ home, my baby
Gonna see my baby, see my baby fine
Take my baby, take my baby mine
Gonna tell your mama how good that love of ours
I’m goin’ home, to see my baby
I’m goin’ home, to see my baby
Oh, baby ooh
Want to take you back, take where love belong
Treat me baby, treat, don’t treat me wrong
Oh, baby, I’m rollin’
Baby, baby, I’m rollin’
Baby, baby, I’m rollin’
Won’t you shake me, baby, well get you rollin’ down
Won’t you shake me, baby, well get you rollin’ down
Oh, baby, we’re gonna have some fun
Baby, please don’t go, baby, please don’t go
Baby, please don’t go, baby, please don’t go
Please don’t go, she’s cold, I need you
Comin’ home, ooh, hey
Come on over baby, whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on
I’m goin’ home, to see my baby
Home, to see my girl, ooh
I’m goin’ home, take my baby
I’m goin’ home, see my baby
Gonna take me back, I’ll take her where I belong
I’m goin’ home, to see my baby
I’m goin’ home, to see my baby
Come on, Take me, Yeah
I’m goin’ home, I’m goin’ home
I’m goin’ home, hey, hoo
Gonna take me back right where I belong
I’m goin’ home, I’m goin’ home
I’m goin’ home, I’m goin’ home
Hoo, hoo, right where I belong
And apparently, a watermelon was included in the band’s compensation.
Ten Years After Woodstock

The next act was The Band.