The Free Spirit

Woodstock, 1969 (Part Four)

"'Damn hippies', said he who condoned the murder of innocents, yet those 'damn hippies' celebrated life and love, surrounded by one another in three days of peace..."

Peace and love, enhanced by the power of music, ran rampant at Woodstock that hot August day in 1969. Originally, one had to buy tickets to attend the festival, and close to two hundred thousand tickets were sold, but then more showed up, and it became a free event when the turnout blossomed into over four hundred thousand people. I couldn't believe it when, as I climbed the stairs onto the platform that would be the stage, they'd told me that half a million people were out there waiting for me to kick off the festival. My husband, who would be backing me on the guitar and potentially joining me for a song in my set, put a hand on my back for support, and we glanced at each other.

"Get on up there and make history, baby," he said to me, and I smiled at him. He gave me a quick, but passionate kiss before we walked up onstage together, and the crowd cheered as I set myself up with an acoustic guitar at the microphone, waiting for the crowd to calm down.

"Hello, everyone," I said when I could finally hear myself think. "It's so, so wonderful to see so many young and happy faces standing here before me... They said to me, before I came up on this stage, that half a million people were in attendance today, and I couldn't believe my ears. Half a million people, each and every one of you here for fun and music, and nothing but fun and music. Look at all of you beautiful, beautiful people... And now here I am, standing before all of you beautiful people - a half million beautiful people - who have all come together to celebrate life, love and peace. I stand here before half a million people at sundown celebrating life, love and peace with you all. Listen to me, repeating myself. I still can't believe it... You have all made history by participating in the biggest peaceful protest in history, and I am proud to stand by your sides to celebrate peace and love with you. I know we're all still shocked by the death of dear Sharon Tate... I considered her a near and dear friend of mine, even though we knew each other only for a short time. I stand up here today in honour of her kind heart, and her love of life. I am also proud to be the very first performer at this historic celebration of love and life! I suppose, now, I'd better get into the music now, which is what you've all been waiting for. Don't let me sing this first song alone - I know all of you know it. It was a song that, three years ago, I wrote and sang to the people of San Francisco, when they welcomed me with open arms and taught me to love like a free spirit... I suppose I should play it, now. Sing along with me, won't you?" I glanced back at my husband, who smiled at me, and he played the opening chords of 'San Francisco' on his electric guitar. The crowd burst into song as they sang the opening lines to my song.

"If you're going to San Francisco.... Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair..." It was such an ethereal experience, standing there singing along with half a million people, all singing my song, all embracing the concept of peace and love as each and every one of shared a moment of unity. I followed up 'San Francisco' with 'Itchycoo Park', addressing the questions to the audience.

"Now, what'd you do there?" I sang to them, addressing them.

"I got high!" half a million voices said in unison, and I smiled as I sang the rest of the song. After 'Itchycoo Park' came 'Good Morning, Starshine', which I sang in Hair as Sheila the previous year, and I watched as some women climbed onto the shoulders of men in the crowd singing along to the song with me. After 'Good Morning, Starshine', I stepped back a bit.

"I'd like to take a moment to step back and introduce my husband, whom you all know very well as Don Everly, to join me on a song that he wrote-" I began, but my husband beat me to the microphone and took it from me.