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Preface: The hippies rose from the counterculture of the swingin' sixties, preaching peace and love. They used drugs for good, to expand their consciousness, while promoting their message of tolerance and unity. They spoke out against war and violence and prejudice, and for a brief period epitomized by the Woodstock Festival, showed the world a brighter, freer, and fuller form of life. And all of this is embodied in the revolutionary music they made, which continues to inspire today. This week, we'll listen to some of the most inspiring hippie anthems, and look at how they relate to the hippie dream.
Monday (1/07/08): The Youngbloods - Get Together [The Youngbloods, 1967]
Comments: Tolerance in the face of prejudice, and unconditional love for your fellow man, are two tenets of the hippie ideology that are represented in this beautiful folk ballad written by Chet Powers a.k.a. Dino Valenti of the Quicksilver Messenger Service. "C'mon people, now. Smile on your brother. Everybody get together. Try to love one another right now."
Tuesday (1/08/08): The Guess Who - Share The Land [Share The Land, 1970]
Comments: In an ideal society, people respect the links that bind us all together, instead of creating artificial barriers between us, using labels that fit us all into pre-defined roles as cogs in the big, corporate machine - which cares only about its own self-profit. "Maybe I'll be there to shake your hand. Maybe I'll be there to share the land that they'll be givin' away, when we all live together."
Wednesday (1/09/08): The Cowsills - Hair [released as a single, 1969] & Moby Grape - Naked, If I Want To [Wow, 1968]
Comments: "Give me a head with hair - long, beautiful hair!" Hippies were typically identified by either their decidedly bohemian fashion style, or else a genuinely rugged appearance, usually including unacceptably long hair on males - a sentiment glorified by the musical Hair, and its title track (recorded here by The Cowsills). Many self-affirming "freaks" saw this as a statement of their freedom to break unnecessary social standards, by letting their 'freak flag' fly. Alternatively, it was not unusual, on hippie communes and at various types of be-ins - including music and art festivals like Woodstock - for hippies to shed their clothing entirely and simply go all-natural. "Can I walk down your street - naked, if I want to?"
Thursday (1/10/08): Quicksilver Messenger Service - What About Me [What About Me, 1970]
Comments: The hippies grew into and inherited what looked to them to be a pretty crummy world - one that they felt they didn't want to pay for. When they discovered peace and love and mind expansion was a possibility, they openly rejected the Establishment and all of its pointless institutions. "I smoke marijuana, but I can't get behind your wars. And most of what I do believe is against most of your laws."
Friday (1/11/08): Five Man Electrical Band - Signs [Good-Byes & Butterflies, 1970]
Comments: This song captures the time period well. Hippies were discriminated against in mainstream society - considered dirty and liberal, and generally dangerous to the status quo. But of course the Establishment would try to protect itself from radical change. The hippies knew a better life, where a person wasn't ruled by signs from without, but by signs from within. "Sign, sign, everywhere a sign. Blockin' out the scenery. Breakin' my mind."
Saturday (1/12/08): John Lennon - Imagine [Imagine, 1971]
Comments: This could quite possibly be the quintessential song about the hippie utopia. Lennon asks you to imagine a world not hung up on ideas of religion, nationality, and possession, all of which create borders between people and fuel all kinds of negative energy. Instead, imagine a world where people live for the moment, in peace, sharing with one another. Despite this song's popularity, it still remains only a dream... "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one."
Sunday (1/13/08): Joni Mitchell - Woodstock (Live) [Isle of Wight Festival, 1970]
Comments: Woodstock was in many ways the culmination of the hippie counterculture. Many hippies got together for one of the grooviest music festivals ever put on, and despite being flooded by attendees without tickets, the whole thing went off without a hitch - proving that the hippies' vision of peace and love could really work. Unfortunately, not long after Woodstock, that dream began to face difficulties. And though the movement lost its momentum, many of its ideals have stuck with us through the years. "I'm gonna get back on the land. Lord, I'm gonna try and get my soul free."
Afterthought: Looking back, I think this is a strong collection of songs to reflect the hippie dream. One addition that comes to mind, not included here, is The Grass Roots' 1967 single Let's Live For Today. I think it would fit in just great with the rest of this list. "We'll take the most from living; have pleasure while we can."