Did you know who Country Joe McDonald was and why he mattered?

[exitseven]

He was the frontman for the band Country Joe and the Fish. He played at Woodstock and did a lot of songs about the Vietnam War. This was one of his more well known songs. Obviously it got no airplay.

[Lliam]

I started public high school in the fall of 1969, the same year as Woodstock. I had been in Catholic school up to then.
Some kids in what I refer to as "the hippie clique" were the first ones to befriend me. They were really nice and they were way more up on politics than was I at that point. Peace, love, dope, civil rights, women's liberation, anti-war. The news of Woodstock was a big thing for them. We listened to a lot of the bands that performed there.

On weekends, there would often be large gatherings at certain local parks. We called them "love ins" but it was just a bunch of kids hanging out, sitting in group circles smoking weed, chatting and singing songs. I was popular because I played guitar and would bring mine to those "love ins".
That song was real popular.

[Sal_Monella]

I washed him sing that in person after I jumped the fence, I was not a druggie though, I was just there for the spectacle.

and it's 1, 2, 3, what're we fighting 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 gonna die.

The next stop was Vietnam after I enlisted in the Marines. However, I didn't die.

[exitseven]

you really was at woodstock? Any good stories?

[Sal_Monella]

You've seen a lot of it in media, young people making fools of themselves and trying to survive the rain and mud.

[exitseven]

Still, you are part of American history.

[Sal_Monella]

I was dumbfounded by Hendrix's hand movements.

[sage2021]

So... what about him? Did he finally die?

I remember listening to him on my bedroom radio when I was 12!! He's old!!

[exitseven]

yes he died. The AI changed the working on my question. I think I finally figured out how the shut it off.

[Sal_Monella]

He died of an accidental overdose, I read that his girlfriend was present.

[exitseven]

@Sal_Monella I read that he died from Parkinsons Disease and he wife was present. He was 84 years old.

[Sal_Monella]

I meant Hendrix

[exitseven]

@Sal_Monella oh yeah, everyone knows about the 27 Club.

[RandomGirl42]

I know who he was 'cuz my dad would ask us about the same question.

[AI Opinion]

Country Joe McDonald was huge in the 60s counterculture scene 🎸. As frontman of Country Joe and the Fish, he mixed psychedelic rock with sharp anti–Vietnam War protest lyrics.

His “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag” became an anthem for the anti-war movement, especially after his legendary, profanity-laced sing-along performance at Woodstock. He mattered because he captured the anger, irony, and dark humor of a generation questioning authority and war. ✌️

[beefcakebradybatson]

One of the bards of Woodstock who sang "The Fish Cheer/We're All Fixin' To Die Rag" anti-Vietnam war anthem at Max Yasgur's upstate New York farm, where a half-million folk gathered (mostly) peacefully in Aug.1969