Richard P. "Richie" Havens (born January 21, 1941; died April 22, 2013) was… Read Full Bio ↴Richard P. "Richie" Havens (born January 21, 1941; died April 22, 2013) was an American folk singer and guitarist. He is best remembered for his intense, rhythmic guitar style (often in open tunings), soulful covers of pop and folk songs, and his opening performance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
Born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, Havens moved to Greenwich Village in 1961 in time to get in on the folk boom then taking place. Havens had a distinctive style as a folksinger, appearing in such clubs as the Cafe Wha? His guitar set to an open tuning, he would strum while barring chords with his thumb, using it essentially as percussion while singing rhythmically in a gruff voice for a mesmerizing effect. Havens was signed to Douglas Records in 1965 and recorded two albums that gained him a local following. In 1967, the Verve division of MGM Records formed a folk section (Verve Forecast) and signed Havens and other folk-based performers. The result was Havens's third album, Mixed Bag. It wasn't until 1968 and the Something Else Again album, however, that Havens began to hit the charts -- actually, Havens's fourth, third, and second albums charted that year, in that order. In 1969 came the double album Richard P. Havens 1983. Havens' career benefited enormously from his appearance at the Woodstock festival in 1969 and his subsequent featured role in the movie and album made from the concert in 1970. His first album after that exposure, Alarm Clock, made the Top 30 and produced a Top 20 single in "Here Comes the Sun." These recordings were Havens's commercial high-water mark, but by this time he had become an international touring success. By the end of the '70s, he had abandoned recording and turned entirely to live work.
Havens came back to records with a flurry of releases in 1987: a new album, Simple Things; an album of Bob Dylan and Beatles covers; and a compilation. In 1991, Havens signed his first major-label deal in 15 years when he moved to Sony Music and released Now.
On April 22, 2013, Havens died of a heart attack at home in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was 72.
Discography
* A Richie Havens Record (1965)
* Electric Havens (1966)
* Mixed Bag (February 1967)
* Something Else Again (1968)
* Richard P. Havens, 1983 (1969)
* Stonehenge (1970)
* Alarm Clock (1971)
* The Great Blind Degree (1971)
* Richie Havens On Stage (1972)
* Portfolio (1973)
* Mixed Bag II (January 1975)
* The End of the Beginning (1976)
* Mirage (1977)
* Connections (1980)
* Common Ground (1983)
* Simple Things (1987)
* Sings Beatles and Dylan (1987)
* Live at the Cellar Door (1990)
* Now (1991)
* Cuts to the Chase (1994)
* Time (1999)
* Wishing Well (April 2002)
* Grace of the Sun (2004)
Guest appearances
* Please Don't Touch by Steve Hackett (1978)
* Starlight Express Music and Songs from (1987)
* OVO by Peter Gabriel (2000) (Soundtrack to the Millennium Dome Show)
* "Freedom" on The Best of The Jammy's Volume One w/ The Mutaytor
* "The Long Road" (Duet with Cliff Eberhardt) on Cliff's 1990 album "The Long Road")
Born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, Havens moved to Greenwich Village in 1961 in time to get in on the folk boom then taking place. Havens had a distinctive style as a folksinger, appearing in such clubs as the Cafe Wha? His guitar set to an open tuning, he would strum while barring chords with his thumb, using it essentially as percussion while singing rhythmically in a gruff voice for a mesmerizing effect. Havens was signed to Douglas Records in 1965 and recorded two albums that gained him a local following. In 1967, the Verve division of MGM Records formed a folk section (Verve Forecast) and signed Havens and other folk-based performers. The result was Havens's third album, Mixed Bag. It wasn't until 1968 and the Something Else Again album, however, that Havens began to hit the charts -- actually, Havens's fourth, third, and second albums charted that year, in that order. In 1969 came the double album Richard P. Havens 1983. Havens' career benefited enormously from his appearance at the Woodstock festival in 1969 and his subsequent featured role in the movie and album made from the concert in 1970. His first album after that exposure, Alarm Clock, made the Top 30 and produced a Top 20 single in "Here Comes the Sun." These recordings were Havens's commercial high-water mark, but by this time he had become an international touring success. By the end of the '70s, he had abandoned recording and turned entirely to live work.
Havens came back to records with a flurry of releases in 1987: a new album, Simple Things; an album of Bob Dylan and Beatles covers; and a compilation. In 1991, Havens signed his first major-label deal in 15 years when he moved to Sony Music and released Now.
On April 22, 2013, Havens died of a heart attack at home in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was 72.
Discography
* A Richie Havens Record (1965)
* Electric Havens (1966)
* Mixed Bag (February 1967)
* Something Else Again (1968)
* Richard P. Havens, 1983 (1969)
* Stonehenge (1970)
* Alarm Clock (1971)
* The Great Blind Degree (1971)
* Richie Havens On Stage (1972)
* Portfolio (1973)
* Mixed Bag II (January 1975)
* The End of the Beginning (1976)
* Mirage (1977)
* Connections (1980)
* Common Ground (1983)
* Simple Things (1987)
* Sings Beatles and Dylan (1987)
* Live at the Cellar Door (1990)
* Now (1991)
* Cuts to the Chase (1994)
* Time (1999)
* Wishing Well (April 2002)
* Grace of the Sun (2004)
Guest appearances
* Please Don't Touch by Steve Hackett (1978)
* Starlight Express Music and Songs from (1987)
* OVO by Peter Gabriel (2000) (Soundtrack to the Millennium Dome Show)
* "Freedom" on The Best of The Jammy's Volume One w/ The Mutaytor
* "The Long Road" (Duet with Cliff Eberhardt) on Cliff's 1990 album "The Long Road")
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Richie Havens Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down' by these artists:
Band Virgil Caine is the name, and I served on the…
billy & the kids Virgil Caine is the name And I served on the Danville…
Bob Dylan & The Band Virgil Caine is the name, and I served on the…
Bob Dylan and The Band Virgil Caine is the name And I served on the Danville…
Charlie Daniels Virgil Caine Is My Name And I Drove On The…
Dylan Bob &The Band Virgil Caine is the name And I served on the Danville…
Endless Highway: The Music Of The Band/Allman Brothers Band Virgil Caine is the name, and I served on the…
Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders Virgil Caine is the name and I served on the…
Jerry Garcia Band feat. Jerry Garcia The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (Robertson) Virgil Cain…
Jerry Garcia/Merl Saunders Virgil Caine is the name, and I served on the…
Joan Baez Virgil Caine is my name and I drove on the…
John Denver Virgil Caine is the name And I served on the Danville…
Johnny Cash Virgil caine is the name, and I served on the…
Legion Of Mary Virgil Caine is the name and I served on the…
Merl Saunders & Friends Virgil Caine is the name, and I served on the…
Ofln - The Band Virgil Caine is the name And I served on the Danville…
Roger McGuinn & Joan Baez Virgil Caine is my name and I drove on the…
Solomon Burke Virgil Caine is the name, and I served on the…
Sophie B. Hawkins Virgil Cain is my name And I served on the…
Tanya Tucker Virgil Caine is the name, and I served on the…
The Band Virgil Kane is the name And I served on the Danville…
The Band Virgil Caine is the name And I served on the Danville…
The Black Crowes Virgil Caine is the name, and I served on the…
The Jerry Garcia Band Virgil Caine is the name and I served on the…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Richie Havens:
02 Handouts in the rain You can talk about your neighbor You can grab him by…
Adam In the dawning, wakening hour He'll lift his head and brush…
Alarm Clock Доброе утро, сейчас 7 часов утра. В Малибу 22 градуса, легка…
All Along the Watchtower "There must be some way out of here," said the…
Alone Together Everyday that I awake I must be mindful That everyday is all…
Can't Make it Anymore I get too low with no reason You say its the…
Cautiously Cautiously you handed her the rose Yes you did, yes you…
Dolphins Sometimes I think about Saturday's child And all about the t…
Don't Listen To Me Don't listen to me When I talk about the love That I…
Drown in my own Tears IT BRINGS A TEAR INTO MY EYES WHEN I BEGIN…
Eleanor Rigby Ah look at all the lonely people Ah look at all…
End of the Seasons In younger times when it was spring, I climbed the hill…
Eyesight To The Blind You talk about your woman I wish you could see mine, You…
Fates He has religion with no compassion To make decisions, of eve…
Fire Just yesterday mornin', they let me know you were gone Suzan…
Follow Let the river rock you like a cradle Climb to the…
For Haven's Sake So time flies, day by day The hours they spend, The minutes…
Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom Free…
Freedom (Motherless Child) Freedom, freedom Freedom, freedom Freedom, freedom Freedom, …
Freedom/ Motherless Child Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom …
God Bless the Child Them that's got shall get Them that's not shall lose So the…
Going Back to My Roots Zippin' up my boots Goin' back to my roots Yeah…
Going Back to My Roots (Club m Zippin' up my boots Goin' back to my roots Yeah…
Handouts in the Rain You can talk about your neighbor You can grab him by…
Handsome Johnny Hey, look yonder, tell me what's that you see Marching…
Hardline Midnight, Streetlight, shadows touch your face Whisper, "Goo…
Helplessly Hoping Helplessly hoping her harlequin hovers nearby Awaiting a wo…
Here Comes The Sun Here comes the sun The Beatles Music & Lyrics : George Harri…
Here Comes the Sun (Ep 7- Heart of Darkness Here comes the sun, here comes the sun And I say…
High Flyin' Bird There's a high flyin' bird, flying way up in the…
High Flying Bird "There's a high flyin' bird, flying way up in the…
High Flyin’ Bird There's a high flyin' bird, flying way up in the…
Hurricane Waters See I will carry you, through the hurricane water And I'll…
I Can't Make It Anymore I get too low with no reason You say its the…
I'm Not In Love I'm not in love So don't forget it It's just a silly…
If I If I could tell a story, what secrets I would…
Imagine Imagine there's no heaven It's easy if you try No hell below…
In My Life There are places I'll remember All my life, though some have…
Indian Rope Man Fog dangling thick Can't see the right road, streets are sic…
Inside Of Him Oh I have learned that the birds fly and the…
Just Above My Hobby Horse's Head Oh, day is near, darkness gone and the word is…
Just Like A Woman Nobody feels any pain Tonight as I stand here in the…
Klan The countryside was cold and still There were three crosses …
Lady Madonna Lady Madonna, children at your feet Wonder how you manage to…
Lay Lady Lay Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed Lay, lady,…
Let It Be When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary…
Lives In The Balance I've been waiting for something to happen For a week…
Long and Winding Road The long and winding road That leads to your door Will never…
Long Train Running Down around the corner half a mile from here See them…
Maggie's Farm I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more, no…
Minstrel From Gaul A minstrel came down from Gaul, with scores of tales…
Morning Morning submit more Havens Richie lyrics Morning, morning Feel so l…
My Own Way IT BRINGS A TEAR INTO MY EYES WHEN I BEGIN…
No Opportunity Necessary No Experience Needed Step out in the nightWhen you get lonely. Listen for the…
Nobody Left To Clown To those of you seeking perfection Oh Lord it's not a…
Nobody Left To Crown To those of you seeking perfection Oh Lord it's not a…
Ol '55 Well, my time went so quickly I went lickety-splitly Out t…
One More Day My love so dear, as this life you are to…
Ooh Child Ooh child Things are gonna get easier Ooh child Things'll ge…
Open Our Eyes Father, open our eyes, that we may see, to follow thee.…
Prayer To all those outside the inner side Let not your heart…
Putting Out the Vibration and Hoping It Comes Home Brighter days ahead Step out from the shade Brighter days ah…
Run Shaker Life Run, Shaker life, shake life eternal Shake it out of me,…
San Francisco Bay Blues I got the blues from my baby Down by the…
Sandy Sandy made me promise Not to tell Not a soul must know How…
Say It Isn't So Say it isn't so That the world must choose again The who…
She's Leaving Home Wednesday morning at five o′clock As the day begins Silently…
Slow down The faces in my sleep Are buried very deep They only surface…
Standing On The Water Why do we surround ourselves with houses and big cars And…
Stardust & Passion Somewhere on the outside is our passion Somewhere deep insid…
Strawberry Fields Forever Let me take you down 'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields N…
Sugarplums It's late night and we're asleep, my love and I Had…
The Bag I'm In I'm not in love So don't forget it It's just a silly…
The Dolphins Sometimes I think about Saturday's child And all about the …
The End Diesel is for unbelievers Electricity is wrong steam has got…
The Great Mandala So I told him, that he better shut his mouth And…
The Hawk Gotta make your own rules, child Gotta brake your own chains…
The Key Somewhere there is a key It is laid behind the golden…
The Klan The countryside was cold and still There were three crosses …
The Long and Winding Road The long and winding road That leads to your door Will never…
The Parable Of Ramon Ramón, he drives a four wheeled cart, His plow cracks the…
The Well There is a well Down by the hollow Its waters deep As they…
There's a Hole in the Future Like the smoke that rises to the ceiling, Mona I keep…
Three Day Eternity You know the reason you act the way you do And…
Tightrope I'm up on the tight wire One side's ice and one…
Tombstone Blues The sweet pretty things are in bed now, of course The…
We All Know Now We all know now that somewhere The weather is something that…
We All Wanna Boogie Some want all the money, well Some want all the honey,…
We Both Know They all say it All the ones that made it Once you…
What Mother, mother There's too many of you crying Brother, broth…
What About Me You poison my sweet waters; you chop down my green…
What More Can I Say John You have anticipated all the players Your silent judgment gr…
What's Going On Mother, mother There's too many of you crying Brother, broth…
Wild Night As you brush your shoes And stand before the mirror And yo…
will the circle be unbroken I was standing by my window On a cold and cloudy…
Woman Nobody feels any pain Tonight as I stand here in the…
Won't Get Fooled Again We'll be fighting in the streets With our children at our…
Woodstock I came upon a child of god He was walking along…
You Can Close Your Eyes Well the sun is surely sinking down But the moon is…
You'll Never Know You'll never know You're walking down the street You see fac…
Younger Men Grow Older "Wish I was a younger man" Said the old man to…
Zeus's Anger Roar From Olympus he is bound, he was chained to a…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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RaptorJesus
It is genuinely amazing how much the way it is sung changes the meaning of the lyrics. Truly astounding. I would not say this is better than the original, but equally good in a wholly different way. The perspective shift is truly beautiful.
arizonamatt1
Great version
notta lackey
A masterpiece. Sung just like it was into a mike in 1865. Encased all the sorrow and pathos of the innocent victims of war.
Mark Stephenson
What a great find. Thanks for this 😀
az21300
Amazing
lydia zenda
That was fucking awesome!!!. He is the only singer I have heard sing it true to Robbies orginal lyrics. After Joan Baez re-wrote it everyone else just followed suit. Even Levon changed lyrics.
Brian Venners
Levon Helm refused to even perform it after Baez''s version, because he absolutely hated it. So do I.
Jonathan Birenbaum
You can't sing it any better or play it any better unless you are Levon Helm and The Band
liza0052
That's true of The Band, but there is something special about a black man covering it.
Darryl Revok
Have you ever seen "The Last Waltz"? (HIGHLY recommended) The Last Waltz was a concert by the "The Band", held on American Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1976, at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. The Last Waltz was advertised as The Band's "farewell concert appearance", and the concert saw The Band joined by more than a dozen special guests, including their previous employers Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan as well as Paul Butterfield, Bobby Charles, The Staple Singers, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Dr. John, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Ringo Starr, Muddy Waters, Ronnie Wood, and Neil Young. The event was filmed by director Martin Scorsese and made into a documentary of the same title, released in 1978.