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Sha Na Na Woodstock

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Sha Na Na Woodstock

Sha Na Na Woodstock

There is a story that seems to be true that Woodstock Ventures invited Roy Rogers to close the whole festival by singing his well-known Happy Trails To You.

It would have been fun had it happened. It didn’t, of course, but fun was had nonetheless if not at the actual close of Woodstock, then the morning of.

It came under the category of camp: a style or mode of personal or creative expression that is absurdly exaggerated and often fuses elements of high and popular culture

Sha Na Na Woodstock

The sun is up. It is Monday 18 August. 7:30 AM. It has been a long weekend of music and Woodstock will present the penultimate group: Sha Na Na. It take a bit of extra work to set up the band because there are seven vocalists and five players. It’s one or the other.  The group will be on stage about  a half hour.

They will be in the album. They will be in the movie. They will be on the monument. And although it won’t be until 1977, they will be the only group who will get a TV show.

As an old time lover of doo-wop I have to say, as much fun as Sha Na Na’s covers are, one, the band they cover didn’t dress like they did and, two, the originals are better.

Personnel

Sha Na Na Woodstock

Setlist

All the songs were the group’s fun interpretation of the classic doo wop songs in the set.

  • Get A Job
  • Come Go With Me
  • Silhouettes
  • Teen Angel
  • Her Latest Flame
  • Wipe Out
  • (Who Wrote) The Book of Love
  • Little Darling
  • At The Hop
  • Duke Of Earl
  • Get A Job (Reprise)
Sha Na Na Woodstock

Get A Job

The Silhouettes made the song famous. Group member Rick Lewis wrote it. And of course, it’s how the band got its name.

Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Mum mum mum mum mum mum
Get a job, sha na na na, sha na na na na
Ev’ry morning about this time
She get me out of my bed
A-crying, get a job
After breakfast ev’ry day
She throws the want ads right my way
And never fails to say
Get a job, sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Ah yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Mum mum mum mum mum mum
Get a job, sha na na na, sha na na na na
And when I get the paper
I read it through and through
And my girl never fails to say
If there is any work for me
And when I go back to the house
I hear the woman’s mouth
Preaching and a-crying
Tell me that I’m lying
‘Bout a job that I never could find
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Mum mum mum mum mum mum
Get a job, sha na na na
And when I get the paper
I read it through and through
And my girl never fails to say
If there is any work for me
And when I go back to the house
I hear the woman’s mouth
Preaching and a-crying
Tell me that I’m lying
‘Bout a job that I never could find
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Mum mum mum mum mum mum
Get a job, sha na na na, sha na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha Na Na Woodstock

Come Go With Me

Dell Viking‘s band member C E Quick wrote the song.

Dom-dom dom-dom dom-de-doo-be
Dom dom dom dom dom dom-de-doo-be
Dom dom dom dom dom dom-be-doo-be
Dom woa-woa-woa-woah
Dom-dom dom-dom dom-de-doo-be
Dom dom dom dom dom dom-de-doo-be
Dom dom dom dom dom dom-be-doo-be
Dom woa-woa-woa-woah
Well I love, love you darlin’
Come and go with me
Come home with me
Way beyond the sea
I need you darlin’
So come go with me
Come, come, come, come
Come into my heart
Tell me darlin’
We will never part
I need you darlin’
So come go with me
Yes, I need you
Yes, I really need you
Please say you’ll never leave me
Well, say you never
Yes, you really never
You never give me a chance
Come, come, come, come
Come into my heart
Tell me darlin’
We will never part
I need you darlin’
So come go with me
(Yeah)
Yes, I need you
Yes, I really need you
Please say you’ll never leave me
Well, say you never
Yes, you really never
You never give me a chance
Ahhhhh….
Love you darlin’
Come and go with me
Come home with me
Way beyond the sea
I need you darlin’
So come go with me
Come on go with me
Come on go with me
Sha Na Na Woodstock

Silhouettes

“Silhouettes” is a song made famous by the the Rays in 1957. Written by Bob Crewe and Frank Slay, Jr.

Ah ah ah ah ah
Ah ah ah ah ah
Took a walk and passed your house late last night
All the shades were pulled and drawn way down tight
From within, the dim light cast two silhouettes on the shade
Oh, what a lovely couple they made
Put his arms around your waist, held you tight
Kisses I could almost taste in the night
Wondered why I’m not the guy whose silhouette’s on the shade
I couldn’t hide the tears in my eyes
Silhouette’s (silhouette’s) silhouette’s (silhouette’s)
Silhouette’s (silhouette’s) ty oh, oh oh
Silhouette’s (silhouette’s) silhouette’s (silhouette’s)
Silhouette’s (silhouette’s) ty oh, oh oh
Lost control and rang your bell, I was sore
Let me in or else I’ll beat down your door
When two strangers who have been two silhouettes on the shade
Said to my shock, “You’re on the wrong block”
La la la la, la la la
Rushed out to your house with wings on my feet
Loved you like I’d never loved you, my sweet
Vowed that you and I would be two silhouettes on the shade
All of our days, two silhouettes on the shade
Silhouette’s (silhouette’s) silhouette’s (silhouette’s)
Silhouette’s (silhouette’s) ty oh, oh oh
Silhouette’s (silhouette’s) silhouette’s (silhouette’s)
Silhouette’s (silhouette’s) ty oh, oh oh
Two silhouettes on the shade
Sha Na Na Woodstock

Teen Angel

Written by Jean Dinning and her husband Ray Surrey. Mark Dinning was her brother.

“Teen Angel” and its two predecessors at the Hot 100’s top spot, “El Paso” by Marty Robbins and “Running Bear” by Johnny Preston, continued a string of pop tunes in which someone dies tragically.

Teen angel, teen angel, teen angel, ooh
That fateful night the car was stalled upon the railroad track
I pulled you out and we were safe, but you went running back
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
And I am still your own true love?
What was it you were looking for that took your life that night?
They said they found my high school ring clutched in your fingers tight
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
And I am still your own true love?
Just sweet sixteen, and now you’re gone
They’ve taken you away
I’ll never kiss your lips again
They buried you today
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
And I am still your own true love?
Teen angel, teen angel, answer me, please
Sha Na Na Woodstock

Her Latest Flame

Elvis’s song from 1961. Words and music by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman .

A very old friend came by today
‘Cause he was telling everyone in town
Of the love that he just found
And Marie’s the name of his latest flame
He talked and talked and I heard him say
That she had the longest, blackest hair
Prettiest green eyes anywhere
And Marie’s the name of his latest flame
Though I smiled the tears inside were burning
Well I wished him luck and then he said goodbye
He was gone but still his words kept returning
What else was there for me to do but cry
Would you believe that yesterday
This girl was in my arms and swore to me
She’d be mine eternally
And Marie’s the name of his latest flame
Though I smiled the tears inside were burning
Well I wished him luck and then he said goodbye
He was gone but still his words kept returning
What else was there for me to do but cry
Would you believe that yesterday
This girl was in my arms and swore to me
She’d be mine eternally
And Marie’s the name of his latest flame
And Marie’s the name of his latest flame
And Marie’s the name of his latest flame
And Marie’s the name of his latest flame
Sha Na Na Woodstock

Wipe Out

“Wipe Out” is an instrumental played by The Surfaris and composed by band members Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly, Jim Fuller and Ron Wilson.

Sha Na Na Woodstock

(Who Wrote) The Book of Love

“The Book of Love” (also titled “(Who Wrote) The Book of Love”) was originally done by The Monotones. It was written by three members of the group, Warren Davis, George Malone and Charles Patrick.

I wonder, wonder who, who-oo-ooh, who
(Who wrote the book of love)
Tell me, tell me, tell me
Oh, who wrote the Book Of Love
I’ve got to know the answer
Was it someone from above
(I wonder, wonder who, mmbadoo-ooh, who)
(Who wrote the Book Of Love)
I love you darlin’
Baby, you know I do
But I’ve got to see this book of love
Find out why it’s true
(I wonder, wonder who, mmbadoo-ooh, who)
(Who wrote the Book Of Love)
(Chapter one says to love her)
(You love her with all your heart)
(Chapter two you tell her you’re)
(Never, never, never, never, never gonna part)
(In chapter three remember the meaning of romance)
(In chapter four you break up)
(But you give her just one more chance)
(Oh, I wonder, wonder who, mmbadoo-ooh, wWho)
(Who wrote the book of love)
Baby, baby, baby
I love you, yes I do
Well it says so in this book of love
Ours is the one that’s true
(Oh, I wonder, wonder who, mmbadoo-ooh, who)
(Who wrote the book of love)
(Chapter one says to love her)
(You love her with all your heart)
(Chapter two you tell her you’re)
(Never, never, never, never, never gonna part)
(In chapter three remember the meaning of romance)
(In chapter four you break up)
(But you give her just one more chance)
(Oh, I wonder, wonder who, mmbadoo-ooh, Who)
(Who wrote the book of love)
Baby, baby, baby
I love you, yes I do
Well it says so in this book of love
Ours is the one that’s true
(Oh, I wonder, wonder who, mmbadoo-ooh, who)
(Who wrote the book of love)
I wonder who (yeah)
Who wrote the Book Of Love
Sha Na Na Woodstock

Little Darling

 

It was written by Maurice Williams and done by him and The Gladiolas and was a hit in 1957. When done by the Canadian group, The Diamonds, it reached #2.

Ah, ya ya ya ya, ya ya ya ya, ya ya ya ya
Little darling oh little darling
O-oh where a-are you?
My lover I was wronger
To try to love two
Ahh uha uha uha uha
Knowing well that my lover
Was just for you uh only you
My darling I need you
To call my own
And never do wrong
To hold in mine
Your little hand
I’ll know too soon
That I’ll so pray
Please hold my hand
My dear I was wronger
To try to love two
Ahh uha uha uha uha
Knowing well that my lover
Was just for you
Uh only you
Sha Na Na Woodstock

At The Hop

A hit for Danny and the Juniors in 1957. Band members Artie Singer, John Medora, and David WhiteIt wrote it.

Bah-bah-bah-bah
Bah-bah-bah-bah
Bah-bah-bah-bah
Bah-bah-bah-bah, at the hop
Well, you can rock it you can roll it
You can stop and you can stroll it at the hop
When the record starts spinnin’
You dance when you chicken at the hop
Do the dance sensation that is sweepin’ the nation at the hop
Let’s go to the hop
Let’s go to the hop [(oh baby)]
Let’s go to the hop [(oh baby)]
Let’s go to the hop
Come on, let’s go to the hop
Well, you can swing it you can groove it
You can really start to move it at the hop
Where the jockey is the smoothest
And the music is the coolest at the hop
All the cats and chicks can get their kicks at the hop
Let’s go!
Let’s go to the hop
Let’s go to the hop [(oh baby)]
Let’s go to the hop [(oh baby)]
Let’s go to the hop
Come on, let’s go to the hop
Let’s go!
Well, you can rock it you can roll it
You can stop and you can stroll it at the hop
When the record starts spinnin’
You go dancin’ when you chicken at the hop
Do the dance sensation that is sweepin’ the nation at the hop
You can swing it you can groove it
You can really start to move it at the hop
Where the jockey is the smoothest
And the music is the coolest at the hop
All the cats and chicks can get their kicks at the hop
Let’s go!
Let’s go to the hop
Let’s go to the hop [(oh baby)]
Let’s go to the hop [(oh baby)]
Let’s go to the hop
Come on, let’s go to the hop
Bah-bah-bah-bah
Bah-bah-bah-bah
Bah-bah-bah-bah
Bah-bah-bah-bah, at the hop!
Sha Na Na Woodstock

Duke Of Earl

Gene Chandler, Earl Edwards, and Bernice Williams wrote the song.

Duke, Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
As I walk through this world
Nothing can stop the Duke of Earl
And-a you, you are my girl
And no one can hurt you, oh no
Yes-a, I, oh I’m gonna love you, oh oh
Come on let me hold you darlin’
‘Cause I’m the Duke of Earl
So hey yea yea yeah
And when I hold you
You’ll be my Duchess, Duchess of Earl
We’ll walk through my dukedom
And a paradise we will share
Yes-a, I, oh I’m gonna love you, oh oh
Nothing can stop me now
‘Cause I’m the Duke of Earl
So hey yeah yeah yeah
Well, I, oh I’m gonna love you, oh oh
Nothing can stop me now
‘Cause I’m the Duke of Earl
So hey yeah yeah yeah
Sha Na Na Woodstock

Get A Job (Reprise)

Sha Na Na Woodstock

The next and last act is Jimi Hendrix.

Peace Love Art and Activism

Butterfield Blues Band Woodstock

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Butterfield Blues Band Woodstock

Butterfield Blues Band Woodstock

 

Morning’s twilight shone and sunrise was a few minutes away when the Paul Butterfield Blues Band came onto the stage around 6 AM. Their set would last until a little after 7.

There were four other Woodstock groups that preceded the Paul Butterfield Blues Band that had a horn section: the Keef Hartley Band, Janis Joplin’s Kozmic Blues Band, Sly and the Family Stone,  and Blood, Sweat and Tears.

For my money, the performance that tops them all (and they were all good) in terms of horn power is Butterfield. Perhaps because no other had five brass instruments, but such an advantage does not automatically mean a punchier performance.

Hopefully you can listen to this performance.

Butterfield Blues Band Woodstock

Personnel

Butterfield Blues Band Woodstock

Setlist

  • Born Under a Bad Sign
  • No Amount of Loving
  • Driftin’ and Driftin’
  • Morning Sunrise
  • All in a Day
  • Love March
  • Everything’s Gonna Be Alright
Butterfield Blues Band Woodstock

Born Under a Bad Sign

Butterfield Blues Band Woodstock

From Wikipedia: The lyrics to “Born Under a Bad Sign” were written by Stax Records rhythm and blues singer William Bell with music by Stax bandleader Booker T. Jones (of Booker T. & the M.G.’s). It became a signature tune by Albert King.

Bell recalled, “We needed a blues song for Albert King … I had this idea in the back of my mind that I was gonna do myself. Astrology and all that stuff was pretty big then. I got this idea that [it] might work.”

Paul Butterfield is just one of many who have covered this classic tune. For all of the white kids at Woodstock (like me), likely we’d first heard Cream’s version. Butterfield’s was on the The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw album. Elektra Records had released it in December 1967.

Born under a bad sign
Been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn’t for bad luck, you know I wouldn’t have no luck at all
Hard luck and trouble is my only friend
I been on my own ever since I was ten
Born under a bad sign
Been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have no luck at all
I can’t read, haven’t learned how to write
My whole life has been one big fight
Born under a bad sign
I been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn’t for bad luck, I said, I wouldn’t have no luck at all
That ain’t no lie
You know if it wasn’t for bad luck I wouldn’t have no kind o’ luck
If it wasn’t for real bad luck, I wouldn’t have no luck at all
You know wine and women is all I crave
A big legged woman is gonna carry me to my grave
Born under a bad sign
I been down since I begin to crawl
If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have no luck at all
Yeah, my bad luck boy
Been havin’ bad luck all of my days, yes
Butterfield Blues Band Woodstock

No Amount of Loving

Electra Records released the “Keep On Moving” album in october 1969
Written by Paul Butterfield and the last cut on the band’s Keep On Moving album.
When I was down, babe, you reached out your hands to guide
When I was feeling so sorry, I’ve been hurt so deep inside
I realize no amount of love, yeah,
Can take away those lies, no, baby
Yeah, tried to catch your dog, baby, but the dog was mean
Came to your door, it was closed, yeah,
You put a wound in my shoulder
For something to lean on, baby,
How much it hurts, you know the load
Oh, deep inside, you wouldn’t be too wrong,
Somewhere along the road
Yeah, all things, baby,
Catch up with you Watch yourself
Well, I’ll be around
No amount of love, can take away those lies
I’m taking them away now
I realize no amount of love, yeah
Can take away those lies, no baby
I’m taking them away
Oh, everything you gave me, baby,
You want to take it back
There’s one story, darling, that’s out of sight
Don’t want nothing from you,
Woman, I didn’t need no schooling
Until a lot less amount of loving you, baby,
For me to see the fool
I realize no amount of loving, can take away those lies
Can’t take ’em away now, I realize, baby,
Not any amount of loving
Can take away those lies,
Can’t take ’em away now, take ’em away
Oh, take ’em away now, take ’em away, babe
No amount of love, yeah
Um, baby
Butterfield Blues Band Woodstock

Driftin’ and Driftin’

The song is based on another song called “Driftin’ Blues.” From Wikipedia: “Driftin’ Blues” or “Drifting Blues” is a blues standard, recorded by Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers in 1945. The song is a slow blues and features Charles Brown‘s smooth, soulful vocals and piano. It was one of the biggest blues hits of the 1940s and “helped define the burgeoning postwar West Coast blues style.”

Paul Butterfield cover was also on their The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw album.

I’m driftin’ and driftin’, like a ship out on the sea
I’m driftin’ and driftin’, like a ship out on the sea
Nobody seems to want me
Except the wide and open sea
My ship ain’t got no captain, my ship ain’t got no crew
My ship ain’t got no captain, my ship ain’t got no crew
Doin’ that tide dare blow me and my past and future too
I look around for a savior to search me from the hungry sea
I look around for a savior to search me from the hungry sea
Maybe he’s down at the bottom, waiting patiently for me
Butterfield Blues Band Woodstock

Morning Sunrise

Written by Paul Butterfield and Philip Wilson and on the Keep On Moving album.
Baby, all I can feel is the morning sunrise coming on
Yeah, I can feel all my love coming on
Yeah, try to remember the long time has passed on by
Yeah, I’m all alone these days, may we both cry
Yeah, baby, they’re gone
All I can feel is the morning sunrise coming on
Baby, all I can feel, all my love for you
Every evening
Life can be so strong when you say what you feel, yeah
It’s so hard sometimes
To leave me girl, just please me
Yeah, you wonder
If you knew love the way you know how
I believe it’s a rough time, baby
But I know it’s the right time, babe
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I know it’s the right time
And the right time is now
Yeah, I can feel it coming on
Yeah, ooh, baby, it’s the morning sunrise
Oooh, all my loving
And all my love
All I can feel and all my love is the morning sunrise
Butterfield Blues Band Woodstock

All in a Day

From the Keep On Moving album, Rod Hicks, the band’s bassist , wrote it.

When days are gray that’s the murmur of the day
When days are blue that’s a part of it too
When days are cold then your love calls
It’s all in a day, it’s all in a day
All in a day, baby
All in a day, all in a day, all in a day
When days are gray it gets a man on his way
When days are blue make a man very true
When days are cold then your lover come to call
It’s all in a day, let me tell you
It’s all in a day
All in a day, baby, all in a day
If days are gray make a man want to play
If days are blue don’t you try to tell me what to do
When days are cold then your lover come to call
All in a day, it’s all in a day
All in a day, let me tell you now
All in a day
Oh, baby, came to gray, came to blue, oh
All in a day, all in a day, baby
All in a day, wait for us tomorrow
All in a day
Oh, all in a day

Butterfield Blues Band Woodstock

Love March

Written by Gene Dinwiddie  and Philip Wilson, it was on the band’s Keep On Moving album.

Gene explains before the start: I got a little something I’d like to lay on yall…if you bear with me a minute, please. We’re gonna do a little march right along through now. It’s a love march. We don’t carry no guns and things in this army  we got and stuff. Don’t nobody got to worry about keepin’ in step. We ain’t even got no uniforms to wear. We’re a poor army. [crowd applause]. But we run around in order to keep our heads above the water and whatnot…we sing to one another and we play to one another and we try to make each other feel good.”

The music began and Gene says, “OK. Hep two three four. All yall out there, if you wasn’t so tired we could all get up and just mark around this whole area here and be happy and stuff. Bring your little sister...”

I said marching along
Thinking as time goes by
Sing a glad song
Sing all the time
While I make all the people
Feel so good
Treat all my brothers like I should
See all the houses all in place
Living’s no longer an empty space
Marching along
Love as much as I can
Try and be strong
 
Good for the time that’s not too far
Good while no jealousy and war
Aim my sad eyes into the sun
Think of all people just as one
March
People say because my daddy did these things
Oh, yes, they say
They say that I must wear a tie and be the same
I got to treat my brother wrong
And kill him, what a shame
Oh, yeah, what a shame, yeah, yeah
But I know, yes, I know
What is it you know, right?
What you know?
There’s got to be a change
March all along
Love as much as I can
Try and be strong
[List string the shoes I had]?
Good for the time that’s not too far
Good while no jealousy and war
Aim my sad eyes into the sun
Think of all people just as one
Hep, two, three, four
Hep, two, three, four
Hep, two, three, four
Love march
Gonna be a change
Butterfield Blues Band Woodstock

Everything’s Gonna Be Alright

Paul Butterfield had recorded several tunes for a debut album in December 1964, but the project was abandoned. In September 1965 Electra released The Paul Butterfield Blues Band album which became Paul’s debut album.

In 1995, The Original Lost Elektra Session album was released and Everything’s Gonna Be Alright was (finally) released.

I cannot find any reliable lyrics to the version the band did at Woodstock, but they aren’t too complicated anyway.

Butterfield Blues Band Woodstock

The next act is Sha Na Na.

Peace Love Art and Activism

Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

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Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

 

It was 3 AM Monday. Those still there had heard reveille about 15 hours earlier! I was home in bed and would be at my summer job in NYC in 5 hours. Crosby, Stills and Nash was one of the bands I hated to miss. Had I known that Neil Young would be there as well, I would have been more disappointed, but c’est la vie.

The initial band’s three members were familiar to most because of the well-known bands they’d recently left: David Crosby from the Byrds, Stephen Stills from Buffalo Springfield, and Graham Nash from the Hollies.

They’d been together informally the year before and found they harmonized well. In early 1969 they signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records, recorded an album in February and March, and Atlantic released the eponymous album on May 29, 1969.

Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

As they famously say at Woodstock, this was only the second time that they’d performed live and they were “scared shitless.” They’d perform for about an hour and a quarter.

Personnel:

Setlist:

Acoustic

  • Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
  • Blackbird
  • Helplessly Hoping
  • Guinnevere
  • Marrakesh Express
  • 4 + 20
  • Mr. Soul
  • I’m Wonderin’
  • You Don’t Have to Cry

Electric

  • Pre-Road Downs
  • Long Time Gone
  • Bluebird
  • Sea of Madness
  • Wooden Ships

Acoustic encores

  • Find the Cost of Freedom
  • 49 Bye-Byes
Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

Acoustic Set

Suite: Judy Blue Eyes

From that first album, Judy Collins inspired Stephen Stills to writer the song. This was the opening track to their first album.

It’s getting to the point where I’m no fun anymore
I am sorry
Sometimes it hurts so badly I must cry out loud
I am lonely
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are
You make it hard
Remember what we’ve said and done and felt about each other
Oh, babe have mercy
Don’t let the past remind us of what we are not now
I am not dreaming
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are
You make it hard
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Tearing yourself away from me now you are free
And I am crying
This does not mean I don’t love you I do that’s forever
Yes and for always
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are
You make it hard
Something inside is telling me that I’ve got your secret
Are you still listening?
Fear is the lock and laughter the key to your heart
And I love you
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are
You make it hard
And you make it hard
And you make it hard
And you make it hard
Friday evening
Sunday in the afternoon
What have you got to lose?
Tuesday morning
Please be gone I’m tired of you
What have you got to lose?
Can I tell it like it is? (Help me I’m sufferin’)
Listen to me baby
It’s my heart that’s a sufferin’ it’s a dyin’ (Help me I’m dyin’)
And that’s what I have to lose (To lose)
I’ve got an answer
I’m going to fly away
What have I got to lose?
Will you come see me
Thursdays and Saturdays?
What have you got to lose?
Chestnut brown canary
Ruby throated sparrow
Sing a song, don’t be long
Thrill me to the marrow
Voices of the angels
Ring around the moonlight
Asking me said she so free
How can you catch the sparrow?
Lacy lilting lady
Losing love lamenting
Change my life, make it right
Be my lady
Que linda me la traiga Cuba [How beautiful Cuba brings to me]
La reina de la Mar Caribe [The Queen of the Caribbean Sea]
Cielo sol no tiene sangreahi [Sunny sky has no blood there]
Y que triste que no puedo vaya oh va, oh va [And how sad I cannot go]

 

Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

Blackbird

Once again, the Beatles are part of the Fair if not in actual presence, then in their music. The crowd loves their cover.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of a dark black night
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of a dark black night
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

Helplessly Hoping

Another song by Stephen Stills and the third song on side two of their first album. He jokes as the song begins, “Helpless hoping as a helicopter hovers nearby.”

They start and restart.

Helplessly hoping
Her harlequin hovers nearby
Awaiting a word
Gasping at glimpses
Of gentle true spirit
He runs, wishing he could fly
Only to trip at the sound of good-bye
Wordlessly watching
He waits by the window
And wonders
At the empty place inside
Heartlessly helping himself to her bad dreams
He worries
Did he hear a good-bye? Or even hello?
They are one person
They are two alone
They are three together
They are for-or each other
Stand by the stairway
You’ll see something
Certain to tell you confusion has its cost
Love isn’t lying
It’s loose in a lady who lingers
Saying she is lost
And choking on hello
They are one person
They are two alone
They are three together
They are for-or each other
Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

Guinnevere

David Crosby wrote the song. It the third song on side one of their first album.

Guinnevere had green eyes
Like yours, m’lady, like yours
She’d walk down
Through the garden
In the morning after it rained
Peacocks wandered aimlessly
Underneath an orange tree
Why can’t she see me?
Guinnevere drew pentagrams
Like yours, m’lady, like yours
Late at night
When she thought
That no one was watching at all
On the wall
She shall be free
As she turns her gaze
Down the slope
To the harbor where I lay
Anchored for a day
Guinnevere had golden hair
Like yours, m’lady, like yours
Streaming out
When we’d ride
Through the warm wind down by the bay
Yesterday
Seagulls circle endlessly
I sing in silent harmony
We shall be free
Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

Marrakesh Express

A Graham Nash song and again from their first album. Someone calls out to get off the projector. Nash says that they’d like to do “a medley of our hit.” The band had released the song as a single with Helplessly Hoping on the B-side. It had reached 28 on Billboard.

Looking at the world
Through the sunset in your eyes
Trying to make the train
Through clear Moroccan skies
Ducks and pigs and chickens call
Animal carpet wall to wall
American ladies five foot tall in blue.
Sweeping cobwebs from the edges of my mind
Had to get away to see what we could find
Hope the days that lie ahead
Bring us back to where they’ve led
Listen not to what’s been said to you
Would you know we’re riding
On the Marrakesh Express
Would you know we’re riding
On the Marrakesh Express
All on board that train
I’ve been saving all my money just to take you there
I smell the garden in your hair
Take the train from Casablanca going south
Blowing smoke rings from the corners of my my, my, my, my mouth
Colored cottons hang in air
Charming cobras in the square
Striped Djellebas we can wear at home
Don’t you know we’re riding on the Marrakesh Express
Don’t you know we’re riding on the Marrakesh Express
They’re taking me to Marrakesh Express
Don’t you know we’re riding on the Marrakesh Express
Don’t you know we’re riding on the Marrakesh Express
They’re taking me to Marrakesh
All on board that train
All on board that train
Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

4 + 20

Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

A Stephen Stills song that would appear on their next album, Déjà Vu which they’d already started to record, would finish recording in January 1970, and release on March 11, 1970. The album would include Neil Young. This performance is sung alone by Stills.

Four and twenty years ago, I come into this life,
The song of a woman and a man who lived in strife.
He was tired of being poor and he wasn’t into selling door to door
And he worked like the devil to be more.
A different kind of poverty now upsets me so.
Night after sleepless night, I walk the floor and I want to know- why am I so alone?
Where is my woman can I bring her home? Have I driven her away? Is she gone?
Morning comes to sunrise and I’m driven to my bed.
I see that it is empty and there’s devils in my head.
I embrace the many colored beast. I grow weary of the torment, can there be no peace?
And I find myself just wishing that my life would simply cease.

Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

Mr. Soul

Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

A song well-known Neil Young song to Buffalo Springfield fans and Neil Young comes out on the stage. He refused to be filmed, thus there are no pictures of him at Woodstock. Young sings. It was the A-side of a Springfield single that Atco Records had released on June 15, 1967. It had been on their Buffalo Springfield Again album.

Oh, hello, Mr. Soul, I dropped by to pick up a reason
For the thought that I caught that my head is the event of the season
Why in crowds just a trace of my face could seem so pleasin’
I’ll cop out to the change, but a stranger is putting the tease on
I was down on a frown when the messenger brought me a letter
I was raised by the praise of a fan who said I upset her
Any girl in the world could have easily known me better
She said, “you’re strange, but don’t change, ” and I let her
In a while, will the smile on my face turn to plaster?
Stick around while the clown who is sick does the trick of disaster
For the race of my head and my face is moving much faster
Is it strange I should change?
I don’t know, why don’t you ask her?
Is it strange I should change?
I don’t know, why don’t you ask her?
Is it strange I should change?
I don’t know, why don’t you ask her?
Is it strange I should change?
I don’t know, why don’t you ask her?
Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

I’m Wonderin’

A Neil Young song that would not appear on an album until 1983, Everybody’s Rockin’ a version will have a rockabilly feel.

At the end of this song, David Crosby says, “As you’ve gathered by now, our shows are very easy, it’s just the music that counts.”

I’ve been walking all night long
My footsteps made me crazy
Baby, you’ve been gone so long
I’m wonderin’ if you’ll come home
I’m hopin’ that you’ll be my baby
I’m wonderin’ if I’ll be alone
Knowin’ that I need you to save me.I’ve been talking all day long
To keep my heart from sadness
Baby, you’ve been gone so long
I’m wonderin’ if you’ll come home
I’m hopin’ that you’ll be my baby
I’m wonderin’ if I’ll be alone
Knowin’ that I need you to save me.I’m wonderin’, I’m wonderin’,
I’m wonderin’, I’m wonderin’,
I’m wonderin’, I’m wonderin’,
I’m wonderin’, I’m wonderin’.Well, I’m knowin’
that I need you to save me
Knowin’ that I need you to save me.
Knowin’ that I need you to save me.
Knowin’ that I need you to save me.
I’m wonderin’, I’m wonderin’.
Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

You Don’t Have to Cry

A Stephen Stills song, the song closed side one of their debut album and the last song of this first acoustic set.

In the mornin’ when you rise
Do you think of me and how you left me cryin’?
Are you thinkin’ of telephones, and managers
And where you got to be at noon?
You are living a reality I left years ago
It quite nearly killed me
In the long run it will make you cry
Make you crazy and old before your time
And the difference between me and you
I won’t argue right or wrong
But I have time to cry, my baby
You don’t have to cry
I said cry my baby, you don’t have to cry
I said cry my baby, you don’t have to cry
In the mornin’ when you rise
Do you think of me and how you left me cryin’?
Are you thinkin’ of telephones, and managers
And where you got to be at noon?
You are living a reality I left years ago
It quite nearly killed me
In the long run it will make you cry
Make you crazy and old before your time
And the difference between me and you
I won’t argue right or wrong
But I have time to cry, my baby
You don’t have to cry
I said cry my baby, you don’t have to cry
I said cry my baby, you don’t have to cry
Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

Electric set

Pre-Road Downs

A Graham Nash song, it closed side one of their debut album. Graham Nash introduced the two other band members at this point: Dallas Taylor and Greg Reeves.

I have kissed you
So I’ll miss you
On the road I’ll be wantin’ you
But I have you
‘Cause I love you
And you have me ’cause you love me too, yeah

Felt forsaken
You’ll awaken
To the joys of livin’ hand in glove
And then I will
Lend you my will
And your days will be filled with love

Don’t run, the time approaches
Hotels and midnight coaches
Be sure to hide the roaches

Felt rejected
As expected
You rejected all the thoughts of words
So I’ll pray with
You to stay with
Me forever and we’ll make it work, whoa-oh-oh!

Elevated
You’re elated
‘Cause I’ve waited a year for you
If you’re thinkin’
What I’m thinkin’
Then I’m gonna make my love to you, whoa-oh-oh!

Don’t run, the time approaches
Hotels and midnight coaches
Be sure to hide the roaches

Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

Long Time Gone

A David Crosby song from their debut album.

It’s been a long time comin’
It’s goin’ to be a long time gone

And it appears to be a long
Appears to be a long
Appears to be a long time
Yes, a long, long, long, long time before the dawn

Turn, turn any corner
Hear, you must hear what the people say
You know there’s something that’s goin’ on around here
That surely, surely, surely won’t stand the light of day, no

And it appears to be a long (yes it does)
Appears to be a long (mm)
Appears to be a long time
Such a long, long time before the dawn

Speak out, you got to speak out against the madness
You got to speak your mind, if you dare
But don’t—no, don’t no—try to get yourself elected
If you do you had better cut your hair, mm

And it appears to be a long (yes it does)
Appears to be a long (mm)
Appears to be a long time
Such a long, long, long, long time before the dawn

It’s been a (long) long (time) time (comin’) comin’
It’s going to be (long) a long (time) time (gone) gone
But you know the darkest hour
Is always, always just before the dawn

And it appears to be a long
Appears to be a long
Appears to be a long time
Such a long, long, long, long time before the dawn

Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

Bluebird Revisited

A follow-up to another well-known Stephen Stills song from the Buffalo Springfield canon and the single referenced above. Graham Nash introduced the song as on their new album, but it was not there.

The pain of losing you well it made me an angry man
Was there something else that I could do? or was it over?
Had I the chance?

So I listened once again to my bluebird sing
Oh yes and children how she made the mountains ring
Now when hearts be stilled that gentle voice is spring
Oh my precious my soul says to my blue eyed sparrow
Come back, come back. I can peel away the cages
Come back, come back. I can put away the rages
Come back, come back. Can we turn the next page together?

Listen to my bluebird laugh she can tell you why
Deep within her heart you see she knows only cryin’
There she sits aloft at perch strangest color blue
Flying is forgotten now thinks only of you

Get into all those blues must be a thousand years
And each is differently used you just know
You sit there mesmerized by the depth of her eyes
I can tell you no lies
She’s got soul, she’s got soul she’s got soul, she’s got soul
She’s got soul

Soon she’s goin’ to fly away sadness is her own
Give herself a bath of tears and go home
So I listened once again to my bluebird sing
Oh yes and children how she made the mountains ring
Now when hearts be stilled that voice is spring
Oh my precious my soul says to my blue eyed sparrow
Fly back home, fly back home, fly back home

Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

Sea of Madness

A Neil Young song. Interestingly, as the band tunes the little riff from the Byrds famous cover of Bob Dylan’s Mr Tambourine Man can be hears and one assumes Crosby was just having some fun. The song will sort of appear on the Woodstock album the following year. Sort of because the producers of the album actually used a recording from a September 1969 performance at the Fillmore East.

How can I bring you
To the Sea of Madness
I love you so much
It’s gonna bring me sadness
I’ve never seen you
Through these eyes before
Now I don’t believe it
I think I’ll take it
Or leave it.
All I need is your sweet sweet loving
Fill my life with happiness
All I want is your heart
Every time I think of you
Mine falls apart.
I went to heaven
And I stood at the crossroads
I’ll love you tomorrow
As sure as the wind blows
Silver rain
On the mountain clover
Washes away
Until the music is over
Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

Wooden Ships

Written by Stills, Crosby, and the Airplane’s Paul Kantner. It was about 4 AM Monday at this point and the Airplane had done a 20+ minute version of the song about 19 hours before.

If you smile at me, I will understand
‘Cause that is something
Everybody everywhere does in the same language
I can see by your coat, my friend
You’re from the other side
There’s just one thing I got to know
Can you tell me please, who won?
Say, can I have some of your purple berries?
Yes, I’ve been eating them for six or seven weeks now
Haven’t got sick once
Probably keep us both alive
Wooden ships on the water, very free and easy
Easy, you know the way it’s supposed to be
Silver people on the shoreline, let us be
Talkin’ ’bout very free and easy
Horror grips us as we watch you die
All we can do is echo your anguished cries
Stare as all human feelings die
We are leaving, you don’t need us
Go, take your sister then, by the hand
Lead her away from this foreign land
Far away, where we might laugh again
We are leaving, you don’t need us
And it’s a fair wind blowin’ warm
Out of the south over my shoulder
Guess I’ll set a course and go
Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

Back to Acoustic

Find the Cost of Freedom

A song by Stephen Still that he’d written  for the movie Easy Rider. The song would sadly become the B-side of Neil Young and the band’s sadder Ohio in less than a year.

Find the cost of freedom
Buried in the ground
Mother Earth will swallow you
Lay your body down

Find the cost of freedom
Buried in the ground
Mother Earth will swallow you
Lay your body down

Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

Encore

49 Bye-Byes

Written by Stephen Stills, the song was the closing track of side two on their debut album. It takes a bit to get going, but get going they do.

Forty Nine reasons all in a line
All of them good ones
All of them lies
Driftin’ with my lady
We’re oldest of friends
Need a little work, and there’s fences to mend

Steady girl, be my world
`Till the drifter come, now she’s gone
I let that man play his hand
I let them go, how was I to know?
I’m down on my knees
Nobody left to please

Now it’s over, they left in the spring
Her and the drifter, looking for beautiful things

Steady girl, be my world
`Till the drifter come, now she’s gone
I let that man play his hand
I let them go, how was I to know?
I’m down on my knees
Nobody left to please

On my knees
Feeling wrong
Mama’s gone
Bye bye baby

Write if you think of it, maybe
Know I love you (Know I love you)
Go if it means that much to you
Hey, but you can run, baby
If the feeling’s wrong before too long it’s crazy
And you’re trapped, babe
And you know that’s not where it’s at, babe
You’re just seein’ things through a cat’s eye, baby
That’s not my old lady

Come on and tell me, baby
You better tell me, baby
Who do you
Who do you love?
Time will tell us
Who is trying to sell us
Bye, bye, baby
Write if you think of it, maybe
Hey, but you can run, baby
If the feeling’s wrong, before too long, it’s crazy
And you’re trapped babe
And you know that’s not where it’s at baby
You’re just seein’ things through a cat’s eye, baby
That’s not my old lady

Come on and tell me, baby
You better tell me, baby
Who do you
Who do you love?

Crosby Stills Nash Young Woodstock

The next act was the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.