Richie Havens was the very first person to perform at the infamous Woodstock music festival. He was told to continue playing because many of the artists who were set to perform were late due to the insane traffic that was encountered on the way to Woodstock. Havens was trying to buy time since he played through all of his music, so eventually he decided to improvise a song based on the the traditional Negro Spiritual “Motherless Child,” which eventually became his song “Freedom (Motherless Child).” He was quoted as saying, “I'd already played every song I knew and I was stalling, asking for more guitar and mic, trying to think of something else to play – and then it just came to me ... The establishment was foolish enough to give us all this freedom and we used it in every way we could.” After his performance at Woodstock, in which he received many calls for encores, he rose to more commercial fame and continued to make music and create for the rest of his life. In 2003, the National Music Council awarded Havens the American Eagle Award for his place as part of America's musical heritage and for providing "a rare and inspiring voice of eloquence, integrity and social responsibility." Below are the lyrics to “Freedom (Motherless Child)”:
Freedom, freedom Freedom, freedom Freedom, freedom Freedom, freedom
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child Sometimes I feel like a motherless child Sometimes I feel like a motherless child A long way from my home
Freedom, freedom Freedom, freedom Freedom, freedom Freedom, freedom Freedom, freedom
Sometimes I feel like I’m almost gone Sometimes I feel like I’m almost gone Sometimes I feel like I’m almost gone A long, long, long, way, way from my home
Clap your hands, clap your hands Clap your hands, clap your hands Clap your hands, clap your hands Clap your hands, clap your hands Hey, yeah
I got a telephone in my bosom And I can call him up from my heart I got a telephone in my bosom And I can call him up from my heart
When I need my brother, brother When I need my mother, mother