The Great Woodstock Disaster of 1999; Lyric Sheets
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Unlike the original Woodstock 30 years ago, the vastly overpriced Woodstock '99 ended
in mayhem last weekend. Police were needed when part of the 250,000-strong crowd torched the stage, looted merchandise stalls and fought with each other
'Twas in the year of 1969 round August or September.
But no one who was there can accurately remember
A great pop festival was held somewhere in the USA
Which loads of people attended, though most didn't pay.
Half a million hippies went, to be more or less precise
Even though it rained and the toilets weren't particularly nice.
This was long before the days of U2, Bjork or Prince
But everyone has been blathering on about it ever since
Things they used to say included: "Far out maan, or "Woah-bummer."
The elderly still use these gems at Stonehenge in summer.
Your divorced hippie aunt may reminisce about it over tea
But that's because she's still a bit in love with Alvin Lee
Alvin Lee was Ten Years After's handsome guitarist, by the way
And acquitted himself much better than many other stars did on the day.
By playing, instead of talking, which sometimes can impinge
Unlike John Sebastian, whose waffle still makes you cringe
They showed the film in Britain later, usually in a flea-pit
And tons of people in flares and beards shuffled in to see it
Anyway where was I? Oh yeah - three people left with babies
But most contented themselves by leaving with galloping squits or scabies
A salient Woodstock anthem was that Joni Mitchell one
Which even now can make me want to reach for a gun
In spite of this, the footage still makes for entertaining viewing
Especially in the light of what its subjects now are doing
That man for instance, blissed-out in muddy meditation.
Will soon become director of some computer corporation
But it's cheap to laugh at such idealistic young libertarians
Especially since so many later became teachers or librarians.
In fact a lot of people thought that Woodstock was such fun
That 30 years down the road they tried to hold another one
No small surprise it cost a bomb, but then what did they expect?
And upon this occasion 'twas the site not just the people who got wrecked.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments