by Robert Wilkinson
Happy Western Nuevo Ano! Today’s the birthday of an antiwar musical icon, known for one big thing. But what a huge thing it was!!
Country Joe McDonald (January 1, 1942) was the founder of the 60s Bay area psychedelic band, “Country Joe and the Fish.” Definitely anti-war and psychedelic in a major way, their sound was “very trippy,” as we used to say back in the day. Today I’ll give you a few clips!
First, the GREAT BIG THING he’s known for. Vietnam was one helluva a war, waged for no particular purpose except to prove to someone somewhere that we would bomb the hell out of a country just to prove we could. As I was draft age and had a card and a number, I was definitely one who had no problem singing along with Country Joe when his “Feel Like I’m Fixin’ To Die Rag” hit the airwaves.
In fact, it became somewhat of an anthem for millions of us. It is legend that he was booked on Ed Sullivan, but once the “Fish Cheer” took off, Ed told him to keep the money and don't bother to show up! That song sure did make a lot of war mongers very uptight. In fact, Country Joe's outspoken "leftist" views made a lot of fascists uptight. He actually made Nixon's "enemies list." Now THAT'S a political statement!!
For your enjoyment and amazement, here’s his very live performance at Woodstock in 1969 of the iconic “Fish Cheer” and “Feel Like I’m Fixin’ To Die Rag” which had been preceded by “Rock and Soul Music.” We’ll close his Woodstock set with “Love”
From the legendary Monterrey Pop Festival in the 1967 Summer of Love, a live performance of “Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine” and the extremely psychedelic “Section 43."
Here’s an undated live video performance by the original line up of “Janis”
We now go to audio-only clips, some of which are great!
Here’s the first album, a protypical psychedelic offering in 1967 by CJ&TF titled “Electric Music for the Mind and Body” (I especially dig “Flyin’ High” and “Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine,” but really the entire album is a great snapshot of acid music!)
From 1968, the audio-only Country Joe and the Fish Live at the Carousel Ballroom
From 2 months later in April 1968, also at the Carousel, Joe and Barry joined Quicksilver Messenger Service in another great 42 minute show! Country Joe and a Fish with Quicksilver Messenger Service - 1968
From 1970, the entire 1 hour 33 minute audio-only concert! Country Joe and the Fish Live in San Antonio
From their 1967 second album, “Feel Like I’m Fixin’ To Die,” here’s the studio versions of “Janis” and “Thought Dreams,” which we'll follow “Eastern Jam”
Also from that album, a great live audio-only performance at the Bitter End in 1968 of the psychedelic folk acid sound of “Who Am I”
Here's an obscure tune he did in the UK in the early 1970s that most have never heard of. Musicians who played on the album included Fleetwood Mac founder and electric blues legend Peter Green, Spencer Davis, and some other greats. Check it out! "Hold On It's Coming."
Just in, a rare audio-only clip that adds another facet to what millions of us believed at the time! For your enjoyment, "Tricky Dicky." ("... He's a genuine plastic man....")
For our closer, a little 33 second ditty advertising the virtues of their favorite medicine! "The Acid Commercial."
For our encore, the legendary Pete Seeger did his own version of the "Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag" in 1970! "Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag"
For our final encore, here' Country Joe and the Fish in a live intimate performance from January 1969 on Playboy After Dark. (Remember this was before their legendary Woodstock performance!) For your enjoyment, an up close and personal live offering of "Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag"
So a big happy to you, Country Joe! Kiss the Berserkeley skies for me! “What’s that spell, what’s that spell, what’s that spell....” For your consideration, the lyrics to the song that made a lot of warmongers very mad, and put a spotlight on Wall Street for good measure!
Feel Like I’m Fixin’ To Die Rag”
By Country Joe McDonald
Well, come on all of you, big strong men,
Uncle Sam needs your help again.
He's got himself in a terrible jam
Way down yonder in Vietnam
So put down your books and pick up a gun,
We're gonna have a whole lotta fun.
And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.
Come on Wall Street, don't be slow,
Why man, this is war au-go-go
There's plenty good money to be made
By supplying the Army with the tools of its trade,
But just hope and pray that if they drop the bomb,
They drop it on the Viet Cong.
And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam.
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.
Well, come on generals, let's move fast;
Your big chance has come at last.
Now you can go out and get those reds
'Cause the only good commie is the one that's dead
And you know that peace can only be won
When we've blown 'em all to kingdom come.
And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.
Now come on mothers throughout the land,
Pack your boys off to Vietnam.
Come on fathers, and don't hesitate
To send your sons off before it’s too late
Be the first one on your block
To have your boy come home in a box.
And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.
Article © Copyright 2018 Robert Wilkinson
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