When you think about it, every day of every year has a past. That’s why writers compile “On This Date in History” columns. I love reading those lists. They provide a sense of the sweep of the past. They give me some perspective.
Do I think things are uniquely bad these days? What about the multitude of wars, assassinations, riots, burning cities, political intrigues, economic upheavals and environmental disasters that plagued the world just within my living memory? Or to flip it, I think about the wonders I have lived through. The medical progress, the scientific breakthroughs, the occasional peaceful resolutions of conflicts, the efforts over and over again of humans attempting to be their best selves. It’s good for me to remember both sides of the historical coin.
Because we seem to focus special attention on historical events according to calendar increments—Five or 10 or 25 years ago this happened—it is a sure bet that throughout this year we will be revisiting events that happened 50 years ago, way back in 1969. This is due at least in part to the interest we Baby Boomers have in our own history. So many things to remember about that year. In fact, not many weeks ago, word went out that some of my musical friends were planning to put together a set of songs from the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival.
We’ve play themed concerts at the Impact Church in Franklin before. Pastor Jeff uses these as fund-raising events, but it’s clear he really likes this music. For the nine of us musicians, it’s a fun challenge to decide on songs and then work out the parts. Perhaps the biggest challenge as we all have grown into our busy older selves is coordinating time to practice together.
Well, we found the practice time, and at the beginning of May we played our Woodstock set. We did songs ranging from acoustic Joan Baez to electric Santana. It was groovy and far out. And though our Saturday night set is long over, I find that I continue reflecting on the original event called Woodstock.
There were music festivals before and there have been many, many since. Why, I wondered, is this one somehow historically significant? Woodstock happened towards the end of the decade, August 1969. Perhaps we think of it as a neat summary of the times, a multicolored bow tying up that tumultuous decade. Or maybe the three-day event was the culmination for the 400,000 souls who were there—as well as those souls there in spirit—of all the hopes and dreams that had been building off and on throughout those ten years. “You know, this ‘peace and love’ stuff that we’ve been talking about just might be possible.” That this all happened against a backdrop of continuing violence and warfare was part of the power of the dream.
Fifty years ago young people were in many ways just like young people have always been: brash and impatient and not willing to blindly accept the answers of elders. The young were hungry for freedom with a capital FREE. Young people would ask: “Why can’t I? Why is there injustice? Why can’t we get along? Why aren’t things better?”
Of course, things don’t stay the same. The times change and so do people. Some tried to carry on the spirit of peace and hope while others, as humans are wont to do, reverted to cynicism and self. And here we are today, 50 years later, still playing the old songs. “Come on, People, now, smile on your brother/Everybody get together, try to love one another right now.”
