This protest song still gives me chills.

[Swede]

Melanie (last name: Safka) performed in the rain at Woodstock after she became a household name with "Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma." When the rain stopped, members of the crowd lit candles to let other people know that everything was "bright" (OK). Melanie was so moved by the sight that she wrote this song to commemorate it, then asked the Edwin Hawkins Singers (#2 "Oh Happy Day") to back her up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dskn-pyb5XE

Lay down-Melanie Safka

lay down lay down, let it all down
let your white birds smile up at the
ones who stand and frown
lay down lay down, let it all down
let your white birds smile up at the
ones who stand and frown*

we were so close, there was no room
we bled inside each others wounds
we all had caught the same disease
and we all sang the songs of peace

lay down lay down, let it all down
let your white birds smile up at the
ones who stand and frown
lay down lay down, let it all down
let your white birds smile up at the
ones who stand and frown*


so raise the candles high cause if you
don't we could stay black against the night
oh raise them higher again and if you
do we could stay dry against the rain
lay down lay down, let it all down
let your white birds smile up at the
ones who stand and frown
lay down lay down, let it all down
let your white birds smile up at the
ones who stand and frown*


we were so close there was no room
we bled inside each others wounds
we all had caught the same disease
and we all sang the songs of peace
some came to sing, some came to pray
some came to keep the dark away
so raise the candles high
cause if you don't we could stay
black against the sky
oh oh raise them higher again
and if you do we could stay dry against the rain

lay down lay down, let it all down
let your white birds smile up at the
ones who stand and frown
lay down lay down, let it all down
let your white birds smile up at the
ones who stand and frown*

[speedoo]

1. I remember Melanie.

Amazing voice. Here's more of her, singing her big hit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHF-iApfWis

And there's a 1999 performance by her of "Ruby Tuesday" on youtube as well.... she was still belting tunes out the,

[astral]

2. I love Melanie too

Her songs have brought tears to my eyes and sent shivers down my spine. I never saw her live, I was just a kid in the 60's. But I had an album or two of hers.

[samsingh]

3. wow. thanks.