Woodstock's Wonder

Forty-five years ago today the young people rocked the house
astonished people with their numbers and civility
in a decade racked by bloodshed and distrust of organized movements
four hundred thousand people
enjoyed music and each other
Youth weren't beating each other up
in the streets or anywhere else

"People all over the world
joined hands
started a love train, love train
people all over the world
joined hands
started a love train, love train"

Started as a money making adventure
on the acres of Max Yasgur
but after thousands more showed  
then the organizers had prepared for
the decision was made to open it up

"Every woman, every man
join the caravan of love (Stand up, stand up, stand up)
everybody take a stand
join the caravan of love"

Thirty two acts played those three days
blowing people's mind with ear candy
Richie Havens started things off
the guitars and the percussion  bellowing out
with an urgency about those who weren't free
rain couldn't stop Ravi Shankar with the world's most difficult instrument
Joan Baez singing like an angel while six months pregnant
Santana up there with Carlos acting like his guitar was a demon
which he thought it was tripping on mescaline
one of Janis's last stands and Sly Stone's brightest moment
The Who would have thrased it all
Crosby, Stills, and Nash now had a guy named Young
and though most had departed the baddest left handed guitar slinger
Jimi Hendrix ruined the instrument for all of us mortals who came after

Corporate sponsors didn't have signs
the vibe was totally communal
people of all backgrounds with full of positive of energy
(okay some were full of some other stuff)
but it wasn't like the cities that burnt when King was gunned down
or the skull bashing of Chicago at the Democratic Convention
not the horror of Altamont or the killings of Kent State

So never underestimate the power of song
it may not singlehandedly be the solution
but it can be part of it

Music is the river that flows though us all
we just need to open ourselves to it's beautiful call
no shame is saying "brother I love you and I do care"
be surprised when it finds you, you in turn have so much to share


Lyrics, "Love Train", Gamble and Huff, by the O'Jays, "Caravan of Love", Isley, Jasper, Isley