Four days clocks unwind, back in nineteen sixty-nine
On a farm in New York, close to Bethel,
Where thousands will flock for a concert of Rock
That, some forty years later, is special

True icons of trying times, gather up music and rhymes
As the festival marks it's beginning
Some stars who have shone, others not so well known,
Will plant seeds for great future disc spinning

The idea back then, was all a plan of four men
One of fifty great moments in hist'ry
Crowds expected to show, will be surpassed and grow
True attendance will remain a mys'try

Guitar tones cut air, Jimi Hendrix strums his share
Seven encores, performs, Richie Havens
Sweetwater's, "What's Wrong" and also, "Day Song"
The Incredible String Band brings ravin's

A hit is Tim Hardin, after his set is heard
Melanie, and young Arlo Guthrie..
The fans will cheer wild..for Joan Baez, with child
And for most of the acts held that Friday

Till noon, crowds wait..for the Saturday's first slate
On comes Quill, and Keef Hartley, Santana
Next, follows Canned Heat,..Mountain, hard to beat
And the legend of Joplin, named Janis

Great tunes, she will choose..like her hit, "Kosmic Blues"
And a "Piece Of My Heart" a big fav'rite
Sings "Can't Turn You Loose" closes with "Ball And Chain"
Talk a lifetime performance, she gave it

The Grateful Dead ignite.. with their "Turn On Your Love Light"
And there aren't many acts that can rival
The "Proud Mary" tune, or the great "Rising Bad Moon"
From the Creedance Clearwater Revival

Sly And Family Stone, plus The Who show their tone
Soon the Jefferson Airplane starts hummin'
As Sunday rolls 'round..it's a Joe Cocker sound
Country Joe And The Fish are strummin'

Next, on comes The Band, and their music is grand
A Blood, Sweat & Tears midnight hour
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young..."Marrakesh Express" is sung
Sha-Na-Na's "At The Hop" shows their power

The Jeff Beck Group, Joni Mitchell, too
Are no shows, with their cancelled appearance
The Beatles were asked, but refused the task
John Lennon's lone offer lost clearance

Big rains come to flow, mud and mire will grow
Huge jams close the New York State Highway
There's a shortage of johns, first aid tents to depend on
Some choppers haul fans in the sky way

Tho' two people will die, two new babies are born
At this wild, uncontrolled operation
Pot's puffed, love's free, and there's much nudity
But in all, it's a peaceful occasion

So, a legend lives on of the "Sixties", now gone
Where great stars of the times showed they could rock
Tho' today, where they played, cattle graze and seek shade
We'll remember The Summer Of Woodstock