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
The lyrics of Crosby Stills & Nash's song Woodstock highlight the essence of the milestone counterculture event that took place in 1969. The song starts with the singer coming across a young hippie on the road and asking him where he is heading. The young man responds that he is going to Yasgur's Farm, where the famous Woodstock festival was held. He is looking to join a rock and roll band and return to a more natural way of life to free his soul. The lyrics emphasize the importance of reconnecting with nature and the belief that we are all made of stardust and carbon, which connects us to the universe and each other.
In the second verse, the singer asks the young man if he can walk with him, saying that he wants to lose the smog and be part of a movement for change. He feels like a small part of something greater that is happening and wants to learn from this experience. The verse highlights the idea that the time of year and the time of man is changing, and it's time to embrace that change and learn from it.
The final verse celebrates the success of the Woodstock festival, with half a million people coming together to celebrate music and peace. The singer even has a dream where military planes turn into butterflies, symbolizing the hope for peace and change. The last line suggests that while it's easy to get caught up in the negative aspects of society, we need to focus on getting back to the garden, a metaphor for returning to our natural state and living in harmony with each other and the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I came upon a child of God
Encountering a person who embodies the goodness and purity that defines humanity.
He was walking along the road
The individual is existing within our shared reality.
And I asked him, Tell me, where are you going
Curiosity about the direction that this individual's life is headed in.
This he told me
The individual was willing to share their thoughts and plans.
Said, I'm going down to Yasgur's Farm
Going to an environment that is in harmony with the natural world.
Gonna join in a rock and roll band
Looking to become part of a community that inspires creativity and freedom of expression.
Got to get back to the land and set my soul free
Building a connection to the natural world, and finding personal liberation in that experience.
We are stardust, we are golden
We are all made from the same cosmic materials, and have the potential to shine like precious metals.
We are billion year old carbon
Our existence and origins stretch back billions of years and are rooted in the natural world.
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden
Our current way of life has disconnected us from the natural world, and it is our responsibility to return and live sustainably.
Well, then can I roam beside you?
Request to share the journey that the individual is on in their quest for personal understanding and spiritual growth.
I have come to lose the smog,
The individual is seeking clarity and freedom from the pollution of modern society.
And I feel myself a cog in somethin' turning
The individual is starting to make sense of their place within the larger societal cycle.
And maybe it's the time of year
The current era seems to be a time of great change and transformation.
Yes and maybe it's the time of man
Humans as a species are reaching a critical point in our history.
And I don't know who I am
Lack of clarity about identity and role in society.
But life is for learning
Understanding that life's journey involves growth and self-discovery.
By the time we got to Woodstock
Referring to a significant moment in history that represents the cultural shift towards connection with the natural world.
We were half a million strong
A large community of people had gathered together to celebrate and share ideas.
And everywhere was a song and a celebration
Reference to the joyous and peaceful atmosphere of the Woodstock festival.
And I dreamed I saw the bomber death planes
A symbolic representation of the destructiveness of war and the military-industrial complex.
Riding shotgun in the sky,
The planes were ominously present in the sky.
Turning into butterflies
A transformation from destructive forces to something beautiful and free.
Above our nation
The transformation is occurring on a larger, societal level.
We are caught in the devil's bargain
Humanity has become beholden to a system that is at odds with our natural state and values.
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden
A reaffirmation of the need to return to a way of living that is in harmony with nature and the fundamental goodness of humanity.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind