Woodstock
Crosby Stills Nash & Young Lyrics
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He was walking along the road
And I asked him, Tell me, where are you going
This he told me
Said, I'm going down to Yasgur's Farm
Gonna join in a rock and roll band
Got to get back to the land and set my soul free
We are stardust, we are golden
We are billion year old carbon
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden
Well, then can I roam beside you?
I have come to lose the smog,
And I feel myself a cog in somethin' turning
And maybe it's the time of year
Yes and maybe it's the time of man
And I don't know who I am
But life is for learning
We are stardust, we are golden
We are billion year old carbon
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden
We are stardust, we are golden
We are billion year old carbon
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden
By the time we got to Woodstock
We were half a million strong
And everywhere was a song and a celebration
And I dreamed I saw the bomber death planes
Riding shotgun in the sky,
Turning into butterflies
Above our nation
We are stardust, we are golden
We are caught in the devils bargain
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young's classic song, "Woodstock" is a reflection on the powerful experience of attending the 1969 Woodstock music festival. The opening verse gives insight into the perspective of the singer, who encounters a nomadic “child of God” while walking down the road. The child responds that he is heading towards the Woodstock festival at Yasgur’s farm, where he intends to join a rock and roll band and "get back to the land and set his soul free". This notion of finding freedom in nature ties into the rest of the song by suggesting a disconnect with modern American society and city life.
The chorus of "Woodstock" emphasizes the fact that everyone in attendance has something in common: they are made of the same material as the universe itself (“we are stardust, we are golden, we are billion-year-old carbon”), and they are all seeking to return to nature, represented by a garden. The idea of transforming the world to a peaceful, liberated, environment of love and music is a central thread throughout the song.
The final verse brings us to the event itself, with the huge crowds of peace-loving people dancing and singing together. The singer describes a powerful vision of transforming war machines into “butterflies above our nation”. The line implies that past errors and warlike behavior are being purged, and the participants are moving toward the aforementioned vision of peace and freedom. The final message of the song is a call to action for society to reclaim our lost connection with nature and return to the garden.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I came upon a child of God
The singer meets a stranger, who he thinks has a spiritual or angelic aura.
He was walking along the road
The stranger is someone who is traveling down the path of life.
And I asked him, Tell me, where are you going
The singer wants to know where the stranger is headed in life.
This he told me
The stranger decides to share his life philosophy with the singer.
Said, I'm going down to Yasgur's Farm
The stranger is heading to a music festival where peace and love will be celebrated.
Gonna join in a rock and roll band
The stranger wants to contribute to the musical celebration by joining a band.
Got to get back to the land and set my soul free
The stranger believes that returning to nature and simplicity will give him inner peace and a sense of freedom.
We are stardust, we are golden
The singer believes that every person is a part of the universe and has innate value.
We are billion year old carbon
The singer believes that every person has a connection to the earth and is made up of elements that existed for billions of years.
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden
The singer thinks that humanity needs to return to a state of harmony with nature and find peace.
Well, then can I roam beside you?
The singer wants to join the stranger on his journey and learn from him.
I have come to lose the smog,
The singer wants to escape the negative influences of modern society, like air pollution.
And I feel myself a cog in somethin' turning
The singer feels like he is a small part of a larger movement or force in society.
And maybe it's the time of year
The singer thinks that this time period may be a significant turning point in history.
Yes and maybe it's the time of man
The singer thinks that humanity may be entering a new era of understanding and evolution.
And I don't know who I am
The singer is trying to find his place in the world and understand his identity.
But life is for learning
The singer believes that life is a journey of learning and growth.
By the time we got to Woodstock
The singer is referring to a music festival that was a significant event in history.
We were half a million strong
The singer is referencing the massive number of people who attended Woodstock.
And everywhere was a song and a celebration
The festival was a joyful celebration of music and peaceful unity.
And I dreamed I saw the bomber death planes
The singer had a dream where he saw aircraft that were used in war and destruction.
Riding shotgun in the sky,
The singer is imagining these aircraft acting as protectors of sorts, or accompanying the people below like a bodyguard.
Turning into butterflies
The dream takes a positive turn, where the aircraft turn into symbols of peace, beauty, and transformation.
Above our nation
The transformation is happening on a large scale, affecting the entire country.
We are caught in the devil's bargain
The singer believes that modern society is controlled by dark forces and that humanity has made a deal with the devil.
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden
The singer thinks that humanity needs to escape this deal and return to the simplicity and harmony of nature.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind