A series of essays….
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WE ARE ALL CAUGHT IN THE DEVIL’S BARGAIN WHEN OUR LEADERS BELIEVE THAT WAR IS AN ASSET OF OUR EXISTENCE |
Courtesy of The Paris Review
….as seen through my eyes!
By: Jacqueline E Hughes
How often have you heard about the power and influence of music in our lives? I’ve written here about it many times over and in one capacity or another. I understand how music can evoke certain memories in time and place, spark our National pride and unite us in a cause, lull us into the unconscious world of sleep, and make us feel more relaxed. In some cases, music is used to ease physical pain and reduce our anxiety.
That’s some very powerful medicine, my friends!
The arrangement of sounds through rhythm, melody, harmony, and timbre can be some very heady stuff when applied to the behavior of mortal souls and the beliefs we formulate within a lifetime.
A dose of Canned Heat, Carlos Santana, Joe Cocker, Richie Havens, Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix should do the trick when it comes to memories of the Vietnam conflict and the promotion of peace and love — not war, during the 1960’s and ‘70’s. With many people recently comparing Vietnam with the war in Afghanistan this past week, even though many of these people are too young to have lived through the horrors of Vietnam and, eventually, the Cambodian conflict, the dose of pure hell our men and women lived and died by affected us in such a way that it is difficult to shake-off — even today.
Country Joe and the Fish literally spelled it out for all of us in their ‘Vietnam Song (Live from Woodstock)’: “And it’s 1,2,3 what are we fightin for? Don't ask me I don't give a damn, next stop is Vietnam. And it’s 5,6,7 open up the pearly gates. Well there ain’t no time to wonder why...WHOOPEE we're all gunna die.” And die they did! The boys and girls, if lucky enough to have someone find their bodies, came home in wooden boxes to tearful loved ones often wondering if they died through ‘friendly fire’ (weapon fire coming from our own side) or at the hands of Vietcong soldiers.
True, there was strong music composed and played during this solemn era in our lives. But, it also included the steady stream of lyrics stressing peace and love, spiritual healing, and our ability to make change. Richie Havens opened Woodstock with his energized song entitled ‘Freedom (Motherless Child)’ and set a dynamic pace right from the beginning. Richie taught himself to play guitar in order to be able to accompany the poetry he was writing while performing in Greenwich Village in Manhattan before being asked to appear at Woodstock. Believing that all song writers are truly poets at heart, Richie Havens certainly proves this theory.
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SINGER JONI MITCHELL |
Courtesy: Pinterest
If Joe Cocker doesn’t send chills through you with his rendition of ‘With a Little Help from My Friends,’ you must kick puppies and have no soul. May you Rest In Peace, Joe.
If the horrors of ending a war that was lost represents a long struggle with almost nothing to show for it but pain and sorrow without closure, than Vietnam and Afghanistan (eighteen and twenty years, respectfully) share this fatal attraction; this affinity for something inherently harmful and ultimately fruitless. But, unfortunately, enough to destroy the lives of those left behind — Afghans and Americans alike. Not even music can console broken hearts when it comes to the casualties of war, won or lost.
Living with my own heart and mind so intensely burdened by the ‘head spinning on overload’ days we now live through, I came across a favorite song on YouTube from quite a few years back and decided to push play. The surreal tones of Scottish bagpipes flooded the air and filled me with memories of our visit to the Scottish Highlands a few years ago. Beautiful memories were evoked and a sense of calm flooded through me almost immediately. Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, you hit it out of the ballpark with the ‘Mull of Kintyre’ and I find myself pushing ‘play’ to hear it over and over again. Yes, powerful medicine, indeed!
Even though she always regretted not being able to be present at historic Woodstock, Joni Mitchell left her mark in September of 1969 when she released the song ‘Woodstock.’ The memorable rendition of this song by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young sums up the entire ‘love & hate, right & wrong, good vs evil’ feelings they (we all) experienced at Yasgur’s Farm during August 15 through August 18, 1969, whether we were physically present or not!
“We are stardust, billion year old carbon, we are golden, caught in the devil’s bargain.”
“And I dreamed I saw the bombers riding shotgun in the sky and they were turning into butterflies above our nation.” Joni’s words still cling to me like one of these polymorphic beauties alight on my shoulder and guiding me with a ‘Message to Love.’ With its “got to get ourselves back to the garden” refrain, ‘Woodstock’ was, and remains, a song of hope and positivity.
Happy Anniversary, Woodstock!
Copyright © 2021 by Jacqueline E Hughes
All rights reserved
