Woodstock

From August 15-18, 1969 almost half a million gathered in Bethel, NY on Max Yasgur's farm for 3 days of Peace, Love and Music. I attended the 40th anniversary concert and penned this as I walked through the museum.

Two score ago

News of a show

Spread across the land

From Maine river to California sand

People spread the word

Voices silenced, now heard

 

Heroes of a generation

Came from around the nation

To play in Yasgur's field

In hopes this would yield

A new way of thought

One that simply cannot be bought

 

As the crowds swelled large

Over fences they soon did barge

Four men with such a grand vision

Made a perplexing decision

The fences will soon be gone

This is a free concert from now on

 

The nation watched in awe

Shocked at what they saw

Thinking of what could go wrong

Instead, half a million kids got along

Peace and love had a unifying sound

Was the message they spread around

 

Through rains and mud they stood fast

Despite the thought this wouldn't last

Three days later on Monday morn'

As Jimi played to the weary and worn

The great festival came to a close

One day to be the hallmark of all shows

 

Looking back it's clear to see

Why they chose for it to be free

Even through the rainy weather

Music brings people together

If only we could understand this now

We'd find the path to peace somehow

Author's Note

I was lucky enough to attend the 40th anniversary of this legendary concert on the very same site in Bethel, NY, 40 years to the day later. It was a truly magical event and while it was not quite as a landmark event as the original was it still leads me to believe that there is hope for peace, that the hippie spirit, the hippie mentality still lives on today.