What was the number one song in the UK on 31st October 1970?
English band Matthew’s Southern Comfort, got to number one for 3 weeks with Woodstock.
Originally written by Joni Mitchell and featured as the B-side to Big Yellow Taxi, it was then covered by Cosby, Stills, Nash and Young (it is this version that is most popular in the US) and then covered by Matthews’ Southern Comfort. All three versions were released in 1970. Interestingly, Mitchell wrote the this song about Woodstock festival even though she was unable to attend. She wrote it based on stories relayed to her by her then boyfriend Graham Nash and on press coverage of the event. Many say that she managed to capture the feel of the festival better than anyone that had been there. The song became synonymous with Woodstock festival and the counterculture of the 60s. Out of the three versions of this song, Matthews’ Southern Comfort is the weakest. I’m not a great fan of the song. It floats around without actually having that much of a purpose, but as I’ve reflected, maybe this is the perfect symbolism of Woodstock.
Lyrics
I came upon a child of God
He was walking along the road
When I asked him where are you going
This he told me.I’m going down to Yasgurs farm
Think Ill join a rock and roll band
I’ll camp out on the land
I’ll try and set my soul free.We are stardust, we are golden
And we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden.
Then can I walk beside you
I have come here to lose the smogAnd I feel just like a cog in something turning.
Well maybe its the time of year
Or maybe its the time of man
And I don’t know who I amBut lifes for learning.
We are stardust, we are golden
And we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden.
By the time I got to WoodstockThey were half a million strong
Everywhere there were songs and celebration
And I dreamed I saw the bombers
Riding shotgun in the skyTurning into butterflies
Above our nation.
We are stardust, we are golden
And we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden.We are stardust, we are golden
And we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden.
We are stardust, we are golden
And we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden.
The Playlist
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